SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Plug and Play Fintech program enjoys another successful batch, a call for applications is now open for new startups to compete for a spot. The program empowers entrepreneurs to innovate and disrupt the financial domain while becoming a key player in the corporations' global innovation strategy.

"I can't recommend this program enough. We got two VC investments and a huge deal with one of the world's largest banks as a result of this program," says Steve Kirsch, CEO of Token. "They can provide introductions to partners that are far and away better than any VC has done for me in my entire history."

With partners including BNP Paribas, Capital One, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Banco Original, Finstar Labs, Intuit, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo, U.S. Bank, and more, the Plug and Play Fintech program has become the most prestigious financial innovation platform.

In addition, Plug and Play welcomes TD Bank, the first Canadian partner, as well as CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace. Furthermore, Plug and Play welcomes new data and channel partners: Morningstar, Plaid, and Lets Talk Payments' Medici Platform.

"Our partnership with Plug and Play has been invaluable. Based on their unrivaled knowledge of the Fintech ecosystem, they were able to match us with the leading startups in the space," commented Eiichi Kashiwagi, General Manager of Digital Innovation Division at MUFG. "We are very proud to be a part of Plug and Play Fintech."

Startups accepted into the 3-month program will receive office space in Plug and Play's headquarters, expert mentor curricula, business development, exposure to their extensive corporate partner network, and a chance to pitch in front of Silicon Valley's biggest investors at EXPO.

"Plug and Play offers startups a unique opportunity to accelerate learning, build connections, and work closely with experienced mentors and partners," said Lauren Connolley, Partner at Capital One Growth Ventures. "At Capital One, innovation and a collaborative test-and-learn environment have always been central to how we work to develop exceptional new digital experiences for our customers. We are excited to be part of the incredible network of corporate partners Plug and Play has assembled, and we welcome the opportunity to tackle pressing questions and big ideas alongside a diverse group of startups, financial institutions, and VCs."

"We constantly scan the market for new technologies for a variety of purposes - from teaming to build digital prototypes for our clients to generally optimizing the delivery of our consulting projects – and track all this with Bridge, our digital innovation management platform," says Joe Guastella, Global and U.S. Managing Director of Deloitte Consulting's Financial Services Industry Practice. "Plug and Play is a valuable part of our innovation ecosystem, and we look forward to reviewing applications and working with those selected for the next batch."

Additionally, Plug and Play recently added Morningstar, Inc. as its first data provider for Fintech startups. Morningstar is a leading provider of independent investment data and research with the mission of helping investors reach their financial goals. Financial platforms come to Morningstar for access to one of the largest and highest-quality global investment databases in the industry and now Plug and Play is able to make Morningstar's managed products, equity, market, and account aggregation data available to startups in their program during their product development cycle.

"Fintech startups introduce great technologies and innovative applications to the market but need data to power their tools. We are excited to support startup efforts to get to market quickly by eliminating barriers to their data needs," Joanna McGinley, head of global redistributor solutions for Morningstar, said.

Plug and Play has run three previous batches and accelerated a total of 72 startups. This includes the success of over 35 pilots, 27 additional rounds of funding, and two exits.

"By engaging with multiple units within each of our financial institution partners, we flatten our startups' go-to market strategy with vetted decision makers and avenues for expedited engagements," says Scott Robinson, Founder and VP of Plug and Play Fintech.

Applications are now open for startups of all sizes: http://bit.ly/applypnpfintech

Interested in meeting startups graduating from Batch 3? Come and see them live on stage along with a special keynote from Vinny Lingham, CEO of Civic, at EXPO on May 25th: http://bit.ly/MayEXPO2016

Limited Press Passes Available for Reporters, email: [email protected]

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play Tech Center is the world's largest global technology accelerator and venture fund. Since inception in 2006, our program has expanded worldwide to include entrepreneurs from 24 countries, providing necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley. With over 350 startups and 300 corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem. Plug and Play provides active investments with 180 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and more than 365 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $3.5 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. For more information, visit: http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com

SOURCE Plug and Play Tech Center

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http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com

