Innovative fintech startups across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) are invited to sign up to gain exposure and access to Visa’s network, as well as a total of $45,000 in prize money.
The Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI), a global open innovation programme, is inviting fintech and payment startups in Qatar to showcase their innovative products and solutions, with finalists gaining firsthand exposure to key fintech stakeholders across banking, merchant, and venture capital and government sectors.
Winners of the competition will be awarded monetary prizes and the opportunity to partner with a global, trusted brand like Visa.
This year’s programme has expanded to include startups that are using cryptocurrency and ‘Visa Direct’, a payment solution that can help businesses move money to billions of endpoints worldwide via card and account rails, in innovative ways.
Finalists from across the world that are driving economic growth – including one from CEMEA - will converge for the global VEI finale in Qatar this November 2022 where up to $170,000 in total prize money will be awarded.
“Fintechs and other payments innovators are transforming the way consumers and businesses make payments, making it easier for more people to access the money they need when they need it – and the pandemic has seen this become more critical than ever,” said Dr Sudheer Nair, Visa’s country manager for Qatar.
“Supporting companies who are building solutions that power seamless money movement everywhere is a top priority for Visa. We are delighted to be bringing Visa Everywhere Initiative to Qatar and I look forward to seeing the many brilliant ideas this year.”
“Competing on a global stage alongside some of the most prestigious startups in the world and, more importantly, being able to receive that global exposure and support from a trusted brand like Visa was an exceptional achievement for PAYZE,” said Giorgi Tsurtsumia, co-founder and co-CEO of PAYZE as well as 2021 VEI CEMEA winner.
PAYZE is an e-commerce-oriented fintech that enables businesses across CIS countries to accept payments from around the world through a single integration.
With the support of Visa’s network and a cash prize of $25,000, the PAYZE team is busy fulfilling their vision, having processed more than 250,000 transactions across 2021.
The VEI network includes 8,500 startups from around the world, which continues to grow every year. Since its launch in 2015, the program has helped startups from over 100 countries collectively raise more than $2.5bn in funding, addressing one of the biggest challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs.
Every year, the scope of VEI is expanded to engage with unique startups and solve unique problems in the world of payments.
Winners of the competition will be awarded monetary prizes and the opportunity to partner with a global, trusted brand like Visa.
This year’s programme has expanded to include startups that are using cryptocurrency and ‘Visa Direct’, a payment solution that can help businesses move money to billions of endpoints worldwide via card and account rails, in innovative ways.
Finalists from across the world that are driving economic growth – including one from CEMEA - will converge for the global VEI finale in Qatar this November 2022 where up to $170,000 in total prize money will be awarded.
“Fintechs and other payments innovators are transforming the way consumers and businesses make payments, making it easier for more people to access the money they need when they need it – and the pandemic has seen this become more critical than ever,” said Dr Sudheer Nair, Visa’s country manager for Qatar.
“Supporting companies who are building solutions that power seamless money movement everywhere is a top priority for Visa. We are delighted to be bringing Visa Everywhere Initiative to Qatar and I look forward to seeing the many brilliant ideas this year.”
“Competing on a global stage alongside some of the most prestigious startups in the world and, more importantly, being able to receive that global exposure and support from a trusted brand like Visa was an exceptional achievement for PAYZE,” said Giorgi Tsurtsumia, co-founder and co-CEO of PAYZE as well as 2021 VEI CEMEA winner.
PAYZE is an e-commerce-oriented fintech that enables businesses across CIS countries to accept payments from around the world through a single integration.
With the support of Visa’s network and a cash prize of $25,000, the PAYZE team is busy fulfilling their vision, having processed more than 250,000 transactions across 2021.
The VEI network includes 8,500 startups from around the world, which continues to grow every year. Since its launch in 2015, the program has helped startups from over 100 countries collectively raise more than $2.5bn in funding, addressing one of the biggest challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs.
Every year, the scope of VEI is expanded to engage with unique startups and solve unique problems in the world of payments.
