The Mastercard Lighthouse FINITIV program has launched its 11th round with 15 outstanding fintech and fintech-enabler startups. This fall, the partnership program will focus on Sweden, Finland and Lithuania, with an ambition to stimulate and contribute to the already active and growing startup scene is these countries. Focus areas in the upcoming program include financial literacy, ecommerce payments, blockchain payments, fraud prevention and personal finance management to name a few. Mastercard Lighthouse is committed to supporting innovation and partnerships both vertically – with investors, banks and other corporate partners, and horizontally – among the startups and early scaleups that participate in the program.

Since its launch in 2018, Lighthouse FINITIV has been a catalyst for innovation in the Nordic and Baltic fintech industry. This year, in the midst of an economic downturn, the program is particularly focused on how fintech can support businesses and individuals during economically challenging times. Fintech has already proven to be a valuable tool in driving financial inclusion, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs, and Mastercard is committed to supporting innovation in the industry by facilitating partnerships through its Lighthouse program.

Lighthouse FINITIV’s goal is to strengthen the financial services industry across the region–and thus far, the Nordic and Baltic regions have made consistent contributions to innovation and growth within financial services industry and the broader commercial ecosystem.

Waya Finance & Technology is a cloud based, end-to-end invoice management platform. Digitally managed with no manual processes at a fraction of the cost of a legacy system configuration.

Kwikk helps companies build D2C channels (Direct to Consumers) and start selling online, as easy as copy-and-paste.

Bits Technology designs dynamic onboarding flows and prevent fraud by using multiple data sources for your identity needs.

Vaulter is a payment solution that increases trust between sellers and buyers by holding the founds until delivery.

Tjing The Wallet is a digital wallet for kids that stimulates financial literacy by making money and finances genuinely fun.

Fideum is a financial aggregator to help retail and institutional clients-control and manage all assets in one platform.

DappRadar is helping users make informed decisions about blockchain-based gaming, NFTs, DeFi services, and metaverse collectibles.

Torus is a SaaS intelligence platform empowering card payment providers to improve their profits.

Spenfi is a comprehensive spending management software simplifying financial management.

Fundvest is a solution for your long-term financial wealth.

Starcart solves the online shopping problem: how to buy things easily and cheaply. It’s the Booking(dot)com of e-commerce.

Narvi Payments is a Banking as a Service focused on mid-size growth companies.

PayUp is a mobile application for managing and paying one’s bills.

CHAOS is an AI-driven search platform that provides business forecasts and insights.

Book Salon is licensed Payment Facilitator and a PSP and provides saloon software as a service provider for hair, beauty and wellness.

The program participants are both enhancing and challenging existing practices, and their solutions cater to the shifting demands and expectations of customers. Mastercard Lighthouse is dedicated to working with these organizations to provide customers, merchants, banks and enterprises with safe and cutting-edge payment solutions. Together, we can build a more open, interconnected, and sustainable financial ecosystem and we are excited to embark on that mission with the fall class of 2023.

Mastercard Lighthouse remains one of the most competitive programs of its kind for startups and early scaleups in the Nordic and Baltic region. As part of their applications, each candidate has proposed partnership scenarios with Mastercard and our banking partners. The shortlisted candidates were invited to present their solutions and partnership intentions to the program stakeholders prior to the selection of the final class.

During the fall program round, admitted program participants will be able to present their solutions and discuss possible collaboration areas with Mastercard, SEB, Swedbank and OP Group in a 1 on 1 setting during a series of events and workshops. During the program, the program participants will also be introduced to relevant investors from the Mastercard Lighthouse’s Investor Circle, counting 100+ investors covering Europe, the UK and North America. Additionally, the companies will meet growth advisors such as AWS, Fintech Mundi and Invenio Growth. Moreover, the program facilitates meetings with various Mastercard stakeholders, including Marketing and Communication teams for guidance in making their story and messaging clear and enticing, as well as to optimize media exposure during and after the program.

Press contact:
Karin Strand, Communications Mastercard Nordic & Baltics, Karin.strand@matercard.com