BBVA Open Talent will reopen for a special two week period

The event will see thousands of businesses - from huge international banks like BBVA, to tiny startups, gather in Amsterdam to connect, explore and build the future of the financial services sector.

For those startups that attend, its a chance to find new customers, share their innovations and talk with potential investors.

For BBVA, it's also a chance for to showcase all that the bank is delivering - more than 100 new products and services delivered to customers last year alone, as well as accolades for world’s best mobile banking app and Europe’s best online banking experience.

More than that, though, it’s a chance for BBVA to demonstrate the importance the bank places on forming partnerships with those working to innovate the future of the sector.

Part of that work is done through BBVA’s annual Open Talent competition, the biggest fintech competition in the world, which this year is entering its tenth cycle.

"We felt it was right to open the registration up again, just for a couple of weeks, so we can hopefully give more startups the chance to work with us"

The registration period for this year’s event closed at the beginning of May, with once again a record number of entries received - an increase of 10% on last year - and even more countries submitting their ideas.

Open Talent Re-openned

However, to mark the involvement of BBVA in Money 20/20 Europe’s startup scene this year, the bank has taken the decision to re-open the contest for a special two week window to ensure the talent on show at Money 20/20 can also enter into Open Talent this year too.

The window will run from May 27th through to June 10th, to coincide with Money 20/20 Europe, which runs from June 4th to 6th.

Commenting, BBVA’s head of Open Talent, Marisol Menendez, said: “We have once again been delighted by the number of businesses applying to enter Open Talent 2018, not just because we have had more than last year, but because once again the quality of entries has been so high.

“But given the wealth of innovation that will be on show in Amsterdam, we felt it was right to open the registration up again, just for a couple of weeks, so we can hopefully give more startups, especially those at the conference, the chance to work with us.”

Awards

This year’s competition will see a total of €150,000 awarded for the three winners of the following prizes:

• Fintech for Future: €50,000 for the startup with the greatest potential to transform the financial sector in the next 10 years.
• Fintech for Business: €50,000 for the startup with the best solution to transform the way in which companies manage their finances and data in their operations.
• Fintech for People: €50,000 for the startup with the best solution to improve the experience of the customer in banking and the way in which people manage their money and their data.

The three winners will have the chance to take part in a BBVA Immersion Week and get exposure for their business at an important, globally-regarded financial conference. They will also get the chance to be fast-tracked into a proof of concept vehicle with BBVA, while a place will be reserved for them at the BBVA Open Innovation Global Summit to be held in Madrid.

In addition, with the aim of generating the maximum number of contacts within the fintech ecosystem, BBVA will also be selecting up to 20 other startups who will also be joining the immersion week in Madrid and the BBVA Open Innovation Global summit. The summit will bring together a large number of key influencers in the fintech world, investors and potential partners in the Spanish capital – all aimed at supporting the growth of the start-ups in terms of investors, customers and clients.

To find out more, or to register your start-up, visit https://opentalent.bbva.com/en/