Innotribe, SWIFT’s
initiative to enable collaborative innovation in financial services, announced
that KlickEx and Waratek have been awarded “Top Startup” and “Top Innovator”
respectively, in the Innotribe Startup Challenge final held on September 18, 2013
at Sibos Dubai.
KlickEx won the title of “Top Startup” with a
regulated clearing service for Central and Commercial Banks. As “Top Startup”
of the Challenge, KlickEx has won the $50,000 prize. Waratek won the title of
“Top Innovator” with a solution that solves a specific problem affecting the
future use of Java as the industry moves towards higher levels of
infrastructure virtualisation and private Clouds.
Both companies have been recognised by the SWIFT
member community and senior innovation executives of global financial
institutions, VCs and angel investors as the most promising startups likely to
deliver new services that will shape the development of the financial sector.
Robert Bell, Founder of KlickEx said: “Winning the
Innotribe Startup Challenge has been a huge recognition and validation of our
work and we are encouraged that the banking community is starting to consider
the need for a regulated clearing service. The Innotribe Startup Challenge has
definitely been a catalyst in helping KlickEx gain international exposure
within the banking circle and being at Sibos has also given us the opportunity
to participate in critical dialogue amongst key industry leaders. We hope to
build KlickEx into a global brand that provides CLS for everyone.”
"In selecting Waratek as the Top Innovator for
2013, Innotribe has confirmed our vision to solve a very specific problem
affecting the future use of Java as the banking industry and other major
technology users,” said John Matthew Hold, Founder and CTO, Waratek.
"We very much look forward to working with SWIFT and its members to
continue deploying the Waratek platform in support of the entrepreneurship and
innovation economy around the world."
Over 200 early-stage startups and growth-stage
companies from around the world competed as part of the 2013 Challenge. A panel
of over 100 industry experts, including senior innovation executives at global
financial institutions, VCs and angel investors selected 45 semi-finalists to
participate in 3 regional events in London, Singapore and New York earlier this
year. 15 of the 45 companies were selected as finalists at those three events
to compete at Sibos Dubai.
Javier Perez-Tasso, Head of Marketing at SWIFT
said: “The Innotribe Startup Challenge 2013 has taken another huge step towards
facilitating innovation between the startup and wider financial communities.
Since its inception the Challenge has grown in popularity and success, which is
evident by the high caliber of audience attendees we’ve seen here in Dubai. Over
the last year we’ve seen a number of previous participants gain recognition in
the industry and secure significant funding to help them take their innovations
to the next level, and I am proud that Innotribe has played a part in that
journey. I am delighted that we are able to give KlickEx and Waratek the
opportunity to do the same. The Startup Challenge is now truly embedded into
SWIFT, and we look forward to working with more startups in 2014 to give them
that all important exposure to the financial industry.”
Each year, Innotribe invites a limited number of
industry leading financial institutions, technology vendors, investors,
government agencies and professional services providers to join us in
supporting innovation in the financial services industry. Sponsors enjoy
visibility, relationship development opportunities and access to financial and
startup industry decision makers. The Innotribe Startup Challenge 2013 is
sponsored by Invest NI, HP, Level39 and Sberbank.
To be notified of the launch of the 2014 Challenge,
register for the Innotribe Startup Challenge email list at www.innotribestartup.com.
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