2     The finalists were selected by a panel of industry judges from a total of 245 submissions. Many of the submissions from the growing FinTech community came from sectors such as RegTech, wealth management and cybersecurity. Financial inclusion was also a key area of focus amongst this year’s finalists, with a significant number of submissions geared towards improving banking access for underserved individuals as well as small and medium enterprises.

3     The finalists will pitch their innovations during SFF x SWITCH, and compete for a total of S$1.2 million in prize money. The winners of the FinTech Awards will be announced at SFF x SWITCH. The 40 finalists of the FinTech Awards will also be invited to a dedicated Deal Friday  networking session organised by MAS and PwC Singapore just for them to showcase their innovations to investors.

4     Mr Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer, MAS, said, “Several of our FinTech Awards finalists from past years have gone on to achieve success in the industry . This year, it is heartening to see a growing number of submissions promoting financial inclusion and sustainability. We are inspired by the innovative ways in which FinTechs are solving business challenges on a global scale. We look forward to seeing the finalists present their solutions to prospective partners and investors, and benefit from this exposure, at SFF x SWITCH and Deal Friday.”

5     Mrs Ong-Ang Ai Boon, Director, ABS, added, “ABS is pleased to partner with MAS in the annual Singapore FinTech Festival and sponsorship of the Global Award to recognise and celebrate the achievements of innovative solution providers in the FinTech space. In the digital economy, harnessing the power of technological advancement is key to a vibrant banking industry, enabling banks to create transformative and trusted products and services that benefit their customers.”

6     Ms Wong Wanyi, FinTech Partner, PwC Singapore’s Venture Hub, said, “We are very honoured to be a strategic partner of MAS and to have jointly organised the FinTech Awards for three consecutive years, including Deal Friday sessions this year. Over the years, we have witnessed a surge in the quality and innovativeness of the FinTech Awards submissions, many of which have proceeded with regional expansions. We are excited for these successful companies, and will continually support the FinTech initiatives to grow together as a community.”

7     Please refer to the Annex for details of the FinTech Awards 2019 finalists and judges, Deal Friday, awards pitch sessions and presentation ceremonies at SFF x SWITCH, and how the past year awards finalists are making progress in their respective industries.

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About the FinTech Awards
The FinTech Awards recognises innovative FinTech solutions that have been implemented by FinTech companies, financial institutions and technology companies.

Up to 12 winners will be selected under four categories - Singapore Founder , ASEAN SME , ASEAN Open  and Global  by an international panel comprising industry experts across multiple domains. All finalists will be evaluated on four criteria: (i) Impact, (ii) Practicality, (iii) Interoperability, and (iv) Uniqueness and Creativity.