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
NIQ Launches Beta of New AI-Powered Analytical Capabilities in Ask Arthur13.3.2026 12:00:00 CET | Press release
AI-guided analysis helps brands and retailers turn data into decision-ready insights NIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, has launched new AI-powered analytical capabilities in beta within Ask Arthur on the NIQ Discover platform. The expanded experience guides users through end-to-end analysis—helping them identify what matters in the data, understand why trends are occurring, and turn insights into clear, shareable narratives with recommended next steps. As organizations navigate increasing data complexity, the ability to move quickly from insight to action has become essential. Ask Arthur helps shorten analytical processes that once took days or weeks into minutes by surfacing the key drivers behind performance changes and generating decision-ready insights directly within Discover. By connecting analysis, explanation, and storytelling in a single experience, users can move seamlessly from understanding what is happening in the data to determining what to do nex
Reply at NVIDIA GTC: Digital Twins and Physical AI Driving the Next Stage of Industrial Value Creation13.3.2026 11:24:00 CET | Press release
Reply [EXM, STAR: REY] will be present at NVIDIA GTC from 16 to 19 March 2026 in San Jose, California, showcasing how companies can optimise production and logistics processes, scale robotics and sustainably increase industrial performance using digital twin technology and physical AI. The conference is regarded as the most important international meeting point for AI developers, researchers and decision makers. This year, more than 30,000 participants from over 190 countries are expected to attend. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260313000399/en/ By attending NVIDIA GTC, Reply is showcasing how digital simulation and physical automation are already being integrated in practice. Projects for the Otto Group and the industrial edge domain show how physical AI and precise digital twins work together to create new opportunities for industrial value generation. The focus will be on two concrete use cases that demon
Klarna Board Chair Michael Moritz Acquires 3.47 Million Shares for $50 Million13.3.2026 11:05:00 CET | Press release
Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) today discloses the following transactions by the Chair of its Board of Directors and Chief Product & Design Officer, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 3. Share Purchases Michael Moritz, Chairman, through an associated entity, purchased 3,472,845 ordinary shares between March 3 and March 11, 2026, at an aggregate consideration of $49,913,138.73. David Fock, Chief Product & Design Officer, purchased 27,000 ordinary shares on March 9, 2026, for an aggregate consideration of $388,552.14. Share Sales David Sandström, Chief Marketing Officer, sold 32,703 shares on March 9, 2026, pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, established in 2025. David Sykes, Chief Commercial Officer, sold 23,799 shares on March 13, 2026, pursuant to a separately established Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, established in 2025. Form 3 filings for all transactions are available on the SEC's EDGAR database atwww.sec.gov. Forward-Looking Statements This press release
Intertek Launches Comprehensive Digital Product Passport Services13.3.2026 10:00:00 CET | Press release
Supporting circular economy and regulatory compliance Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has announced the launch of its enhanced Digital Product Passport (DPP) suite of services. This includes a comprehensive advisory service designed to help manufacturers, brands and retailers navigate the fast-evolving regulatory and sustainability landscape associated with digital product passports and circular economy compliance. Mark Thomas, Executive Vice President, Global Sustainability, Assurance, Agri World and Food at Intertek, said: “With the introduction of regulatory frameworks for improving the sustainability performance of products, companies are facing mounting pressure to implement robust systems for transparency, traceability and sustainability reporting globally. This shift marks a significant regulatory milestone, requiring organisations to strengthen data governance, engage suppliers more effectively and demonstrate credible, verifiable s
Estithmar Holding Pays the Third Semi-Annual coupon of the 8.75% Sukuk Tranche12.3.2026 21:50:00 CET | Press release
Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C. has paid the third semi-annual coupon of its Qatari Riyal-denominated Sukuk (first tranche), at an annual profit rate of 8.75%. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260312880092/en/ Estithmar Holding Pays the Third Semi-Annual coupon of the 8.75% Sukuk Tranche (Photo: AETOSWire) The first tranche, part of the company’s broader Sukuk program valued at QAR 3.4 billion and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market, was issued in August 2024. The issuance attracted a diverse pool of institutional investors including banks, insurance companies, and asset managers, with strong interest from both government-affiliated and private institutions. This demand reflects growing investor confidence in Estithmar Holding’s ability to deliver sustained value to stakeholders. EstithmarHolding was recently included in the FTSE Russell Global Equity Index, in Qatar’s Mid-Cap segme
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