Startup Companies Showcase Their FinTech Innovations at 2018 VC Accelerator Demo Day; Program Extended for 2019

​Key facts
 

• More than 400 banking executives, business leaders, and investors attended Demo Day to see presentations from 10 startup participants
   
• State of Arkansas and FIS announce extension of program for 2019
   
• FIS announced that it has entered into letters of intent with several 2018 program participants to potentially leverage their technologies as part of commercial solutions for FIS clients

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 18, 2018 – More than 400 banking executives, business leaders, and investors attended Demo Day 2018, held here today, to see presentations of the 10 startup companies participating in the VC FinTech Accelerator program, sponsored by FIS™ (NYSE: FIS), the Venture Center (VC), and the State of Arkansas.

At the event, which concludes the 12-week program, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and FIS Chairman, President and CEO Gary Norcross announced the extension of the program for 2019.

FIS also announced that it has signed letters of intent with several 2018 program participants to potentially leverage their technologies as part of commercial solutions for FIS clients. FIS is also in commercial discussions with other 2018 program participants.

Technologies showcased at Demo Day 2018 ranged from virtual ATMs and point-of-sale digitized coins to next-generation password authentication, blockchain-powered instant payments, and consumer lending credit verification using big data and social media.

"The financial technology industry was born in Little Rock and, with the Venture Center here, Little Rock continues to attract entrepreneurs and innovators with FinTech,” said Governor Hutchinson. “Demo Day is graduation day for The Venture Center’s Class of 2018. Congratulations to this year’s cohort of 10 companies. The Venture Center and the entrepreneurs it mentors help us make the best use of the rapidly changing tools of banking and finance.”

“Congratulations to the graduates of the 2018 VC FinTech Accelerator program,” Norcross said. “This program is a key element of our strategy to identify, invest in, and bring to market the most modern, advanced financial technologies in the industry. We were impressed with the level of ingenuity we saw again this year. Special thanks to Governor Hutchinson, The Venture Center for their support, and to the FIS clients and executives who participated in mentoring the startups.”

“Our selection process combined with the extraordinary resources that FIS and the State of Arkansas have dedicated to this program help make The Venture Center’s Fintech Accelerator a world-class program,” said Wayne Miller, managing director of the VC FinTech Accelerator.  “We’re grateful for the support and proud of these entrepreneurs and the results.”

For more information on the 10 startup companies in the 2018 program, see www.venturecenter.co/demo-day.

About FIS
FIS is a global leader in financial services technology, with a focus on retail and institutional banking, payments, asset and wealth management, risk and compliance, and outsourcing solutions. Through the depth and breadth of our solutions portfolio, global capabilities and domain expertise, FIS serves more than 20,000 clients in over 130 countries. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., FIS employs more than 52,000 people worldwide and holds leadership positions in payment processing, financial software and banking solutions. Providing software, services and outsourcing of the technology that empowers the financial world, FIS is a Fortune 500 company and is a member of Standard & Poor’s 500® Index. For more information about FIS, visit www.fisglobal.com.

Follow FIS on Facebook (facebook.com/FIStoday), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/fis) and Twitter (@FISGlobal).

About The Venture Center
The Venture Center helps entrepreneurs turn their startups into viable, high-growth businesses. By leveraging the expertise of a world-class team of mentors, intensive programming and introductions to the investor community, The Venture Center serves as an engine for economic growth in Central Arkansas and beyond. In the first three years, The Venture Center’s member companies have created more than 445 jobs, generated $28 million in revenue and have raised a combined $39 million in capital. For more information, visit http://www.venturecenter.co.

For More Information
Kim Snider, 904.438.6278
Senior Vice President
FIS Global Marketing and Communications
[email protected]

Jessica Head, 214.938.1330
Director of Operations & Program Development
The Venture Center
[email protected]