CO-WESTERN-UNION-COMPANY
14.7.2020 14:32:11 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Western Union (NYSE: WU), a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement, and Techstars, the global platform for investment and innovation, today announced the launch of its second class of the Techstars & Western Union Accelerator . From machine learning and artificial intelligence, to cloud services, digital banking and advanced analytics, the common thread across the portfolio of 10 companies is their commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to create greater access to global and local economies, through inclusive finance.
The 2020 Accelerator companies are led by founders originating from across the world, including the Philippines, Egypt, Gambia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, South Africa and the United States. They share Western Union’s commitment to inclusive innovation by developing products and services that accelerate access for a more equitable global financial system.
The concept of financial access served as the North Star throughout the 2020 Accelerator selection process, as program leaders contemplated the question: In the face of a global health crisis, which companies are best positioned to accelerate and expand financial access in a post-COVID world?
The startup founders will participate in an intensive 13-week virtual program during which they will focus on growing and evolving their companies with the mentorship, entrepreneurial expertise, business strategy and marketing guidance of fintech subject matter experts in a range of areas, including compliance, mobile wallets and settlement.
“The Western Union team is tremendously impressed with this diverse group of founders and entrepreneurs who are actively addressing challenges across the financial services ecosystem,” said Western Union President of Product and Platform, Shelly Swanback. “I am confident that the breadth of perspective, experience and technologies represented in this year’s portfolio will drive us to be even more disruptive as we endeavor to develop more inclusive financial services and payment technologies in a rapidly changing global economy.”
Swanback added, “I am especially proud of the fact that many of the companies in the accelerator are led by founders from many different countries, which nicely reflects the global diversity of our employee, customer and partner base. A global lens is critical as we look to create opportunities for billions of people to access the latest innovations in finance, innovate opportunities for businesses and customers, and help close the growing inequality gap.”
According to the New American Economy, a U.S.-based bipartisan research and advocacy organization focused on federal, state, and local immigration policies, in 2019 approximately 45% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children.
“We are proud to announce the companies selected to participate in the 2020 Techstars & Western Union Accelerator,” said Ethan Austin , Managing Director of the Techstars Western Union Accelerator. “Each of these companies is tackling systemic industry obstacles with innovative and original solutions using leading edge technologies. We are excited to support their continued growth over the next 13 weeks of our program and beyond.”
The 2020 Techstars & Western Union Accelerator will culminate with a Demo Day on Oct. 8, where startup founders will pitch their products and services to potential investors. This year, the program has shifted from an in-person to virtual program due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2006, Techstars has worked with more than 2,000 startups, forging deep and meaningful relationships between young startup companies and global corporations. The competitive selection process for the Techstars & Western Union Accelerator began in early 2020 with hundreds of entrepreneurs vying for one of 10 coveted spots.
Techstars and Western Union extend a hearty congratulations and a warm welcome to the 2020 Techstars & Western Union Accelerator companies.
2020 Techstars Western Union Accelerator Roster
|
||||
AidBanc Little Rock, AR | USA and LA
AidBanc empowers NGOs with digital banking and spend management tools to seamlessly disburse aid in an increasingly cashless world.
|
Plentina San Francisco, CA | USA Cloud services provide alternative credit scoring and lending for global financial inclusion. |
|||
Gig Wage Dallas, TX | USA Gig Wage is a payments platform specializing in independent contractors. Their technology makes it simple, fast and easy to pay, manage, and support contractors. |
Rise Capital Lagos, Nigeria A technology-driven finance company connecting everyday Africans with the best dollar-denominated investment opportunities around the world. |
|||
Heights Labs New York, NY | USA AI and network analytics platform for risk, fraud, compliance, and AML/CFT to mitigate risks and threats across the compliance, intelligence, and national security landscape. |
Robbie AI Boston, MA | USA Facial recognition technology through real-time streaming in natural settings. |
|||
Line San Francisco, CA | USA
AI-powered technology helps qualified and banked individuals establish credit and access to affordable financial services.
|
Vested Finance Berkeley, CA | USA Investment advisory platform promoting sustainable wealth creation by empowering local Indian investors to go global. |
|||
Logicluster San Francisco, CA | USA An Artificial Intelligence powered pricing engine to enable businesses to grow revenue through optimized pricing. |
Yunit Oakland, CA | USA Allows users to save money with their friends. |
|||
WU-G
About Techstars
Techstars is a global platform for investment and innovation. Techstars founders connect with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporations to grow their companies. Techstars operates three divisions: Techstars Mentorship-Driven Accelerator Programs, Techstars Corporate Innovation Partnerships, and Techstars Community. Techstars accelerator portfolio includes more than 2,200 companies with a market cap of more than $26 billion. www.techstars.com
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of March 31, 2020, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering our branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts.
Additionally, westernunion.com , our fastest growing channel in 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional territories, to move money around the world. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends, and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200714005456/en/
Link:
Social Media:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Doubtless Pet Care Launches to Provide Peace of Mind to Pet Parents and Help Their Pets Live Happier, Healthier Lives29.6.2026 10:15:00 CEST | Press release
Doubtless combines industry-leading pet insurance with innovative care solutions, protecting more than 6 million pets across 10 global markets Doubtless launches today with the goal of helping more pet parents across the world access quality care for the pets they love. The company brings together a leading global portfolio of pet insurance brands with a growing range of connected solutions designed to support pet parents at every stage of their pet’s life. With over 4,000 employees, Doubtless insures 6 million pets across 10 markets in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. “Uncertainty about the financial commitments associated with having a pet should never keep families from experiencing the joy of a life with pets,” said Dirk Beeckman, CEO of Doubtless. “By harnessing the power of our international footprint, we are building on our leadership in pet insurance to create a global suite of solutions for pet parents, veterinarians and industry partners that makes pet care easie
Samsung Bioepis Announces Positive Preliminary Phase 1 and Phase 3 Data for SB27, a Proposed Biosimilar to Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)29.6.2026 09:19:00 CEST | Press release
Phase 1 study demonstrated pharmacokinetic (PK) equivalence between SB27 and Keytruda; Phase 3 study demonstrated equivalent objective response rate (ORR) at Week 24Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies expected to be completed within 2026 Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. announced today that the Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies on SB27, a proposed biosimilar to Keytruda1 (pembrolizumab), have met their primary endpoints. “We are excited to announce preliminary results from the Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies for SB27, our pembrolizumab biosimilar candidate. These topline positive results reinforce our scientific expertise and leadership in biosimilar development,” said Donghoon Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Sciences Division at Samsung Bioepis. “We are on track to complete both Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies within this year. Leveraging our robust quality management system, we remain committed to advancing our biosimilar portfolio to broaden access to life-saving biologic medicines for patie
IQM Named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Quantum Computing 2026 Vendor Assessment29.6.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
IQM today announced it has been named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Quantum Computing 2026 Vendor Assessment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260629748732/en/ IQM named a major player in the IDC MarketScape IQM believes this recognition comes as institutions worldwide move quantum computing out of shared cloud access and into infrastructure they own and operate themselves. IQM calls this Production Quantum: full-stack, open-architecture superconducting systems deployed on premises, inside customers' own data centers and HPC environments, where organizations own the hardware, build internal expertise, and run quantum processors alongside their existing classical infrastructure. According to the IDC MarketScape, "For institutions building long-term quantum programs, this means the workflows and intellectual property developed on IQM hardware remain portable." The report further advises: "Consi
Zambon Announces Positive CHMP Opinion for Hopledo® (IPX203) for Adults with Parkinson’s Disease and Moderate to Severe Motor Fluctuations29.6.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
Positive CHMP opinion is based on data from the Phase 3 RISE-PD trial, which demonstrated significantly more “Good ON” time with fewer daily doses compared with immediate-release levodopa/carbidopa More than one million people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the European Union, and over 80% experience motor fluctuations during the course of their disease, highlighting the need for additional treatment options Hopledo® contains a unique formulation combining immediate-release granules and extended-release pellets, providing both a rapid onset of action and a longer duration of effect, sustaining the levodopa therapeutic effect for a longer period of time If approved, Zambon expects to make Hopledo® progressively available to patients with Parkinson’s disease across Europe starting October 2026 Zambon today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending the granting of a marketing authorization by the European M
Enhertu® Approved in the EU as First Tumor Agnostic HER2 Directed Therapy and Antibody Drug Conjugate for Patients with Previously Treated HER2 Positive Metastatic Solid Tumors29.6.2026 08:30:00 CEST | Press release
Approval based on three phase 2 trials of Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca’s Enhertu that demonstrated clinically meaningful responses across a broad range of tumors Enhertu now approved for six indications in the EU Enhertu® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) has been approved in the European Union (EU) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+) solid tumors who have received prior treatment and who have no satisfactory treatment options. Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and being jointly developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN). The approval by the European Commission follows the positive opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency and is based on results from subgroups of patients with HER2 positive (IHC 3+) tumors across thr
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom