MAS invites entries for 2026 Global FinTech Hackcelerator and FinTech Excellence Awards
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has opened applications and nominations for the 2026 Global FinTech Hackcelerator and the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) FinTech Excellence Awards. According to a statement released on Monday, the winners will be announced during the SFF FinTech Excellence Awards Dinner on November 19, 2026.
Organized by MAS in partnership with the Global Financial Technology Network (GFTN), this year’s Global FinTech Hackcelerator is inviting fintech firms and technology solution providers to submit AI-driven proposals that address key challenges facing the financial services industry.
The competition will focus on three priority areas: integrating credit and fraud risk modeling in digital banking, reimagining wealth management for a digitally native generation, and enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to better assess, quantify, and proactively manage their business risk exposure.
The 2026 Global FinTech Hackcelerator is supported by three Corporate Champions, each contributing real-world business challenges for participants to solve. Digital bank GXS is seeking AI-powered solutions to enhance digital consumer banking and financial inclusion through the secure and ethical use of technology and data. Private bank Julius Baer is focused on reimagining wealth management for the next generation of high-net-worth clients, while Zurich Insurance is looking for innovations that help businesses strengthen resilience and improve risk management.
Up to 20 finalists will be selected to present their solutions during the Global FinTech Hackcelerator Demo Day at the Singapore FinTech Festival on November 18, 2026. Each winning team will receive S$80,000 (approximately $61,800) for its respective challenge, while Corporate Champions may also choose a finalist to develop a pilot project, subject to mutual agreement.
The SFF FinTech Excellence Awards, jointly organized by the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA) and supported by PwC Singapore, recognize organizations and individuals whose innovations have transformed financial services, advanced financial inclusion, and created new growth opportunities through emerging technologies. Eight winners will be announced at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2026, with this year’s thematic category highlighting groundbreaking applications of artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, the “FinTech Gives Back” initiative, introduced in 2023, continues to encourage established fintech companies to support the next generation of innovators by investing in the future of financial technology. In 2025, nine industry players—Ripple, Visa, HeyMax, Aspire, Experian, LexisNexis, Sumsub, Syfe, and YouTrip—contributed to the awards program, reinforcing their commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening the fintech ecosystem.
