Switzerland based Tenity in collaboration with Copenhagen Fintech announce the launch of the “New Nordic Challengers” program. This pre-seed fintech program is designed to propel Nordic and Baltic Fintech startups onto the global stage, offering opportunities for growth and innovation in the financial services sector. Empowering the Next Generation of Fintech Innovators The “New Nordic Challengers” program is crafted to support and accelerate the growth of early-stage fintech companies from the Nordic and Baltic regions. By providing participants with EUR 50k pre-seed capital and a potential f ..read more

In Sweden, the digital revolution in the real estate industry is in full swing, driven by a rapidly expanding ecosystem of proptech players that now counts nearly 150 companies, a new report by Planima, a local tech provider serving the real estate industry, says. The report, released on March 20, 2024, looks at the Swedish proptech sector, exploring the 146 companies comprising the space. According to the report, Sweden is home to a wide proptech ecosystem of startups offering diverse technologically innovative products and new business models for the real estate market. Many of these startup ..read more

In Iceland, the financial landscape is witnessing a dynamic interplay between traditional lenders and innovative fintech companies. These partnerships are reshaping Iceland’s financial sector, fostering innovation and providing customers with more efficient and diverse services. Over the past year, a flurry of domestic banks have announced new partnerships with fintech startups and tech providers to enhance financial services and improve customer experience. Kvika Banki has been among the most active lenders in payment innovation, unveiling a partnership with card issuing company Enfuce in Jun ..read more

Norway based Signicat has announced the acquisition of SmartWorks, Iceland’s largest provider of digital identity and fraud prevention in electronic signing. With a Europe-wide presence and global coverage, this strategic operation aims to strengthen Signicat’s presence and expand its reach in Iceland. Since 2019, Signicat has expanded its European footprint through six strategic acquisitions to strengthen its proprietary technology, customer base, and market expertise, including Encap Security, Electronic IDentification and Anti-Fraud and Identity Technology Company Sphonic. Through its solut ..read more

The banking industry stands at the brink of a major transformation, driven by rapid technological advancements and changing customer expectations in a dynamic digital landscape. This transformation is not without its challenges, as banks grapple with the critical task of bridging the gap between traditional banking services and the demands of a digital-first customer base.  Factors such as the unbanked population, system outages, cybersecurity threats, and the rise of fintechs pose significant barriers to this connection, underscoring the urgent need for banks to fortify their operational ..read more

Leading financial institutions, Fintech companies, and Latvian and European financial industry associations opens application opportunities for the international Fintech hackathon “OpenFin Hack”, which aims to promote innovation to make financial services more secure, inclusive and accessible. The OpenFin Hack hackathon will take place online from 9 to 13 April. Participants will also be able to meet in person at a networking event on the final day in Riga. The hackathon is open to new idea authors and early-stage startup teams. Industry expert support and assistance will be available to creat ..read more

CapitalBox, the Stockholm based alternative financing specialist for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), announced its acquisition of Copenhagen-based Omniveta Finance. Omniveta is an invoice purchasing company dedicated to improving lending liquidity for SMEs across Denmark. Founded in 2012, Omniveta specialises in invoice purchasing, complimenting CapitalBox’s current alternative finance solutions offering. In development since last year, this acquisition was spearheaded by CapitalBox Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Nemira Palaimienė. Omniveta will assume the name CapitalBox moving ..read more

2023 was a tough year for the Swedish fintech industry as companies continued to face a challenging fundraising landscape, fueling a slowdown in new recruitments, and as regulatory requirements persisted in burdening fintech operations, a new report by the Swedish Fintech Association (SweFintech) says. For Sweden to remain competitive in the face of rising fintech hubs including Lithuania and Estonia, several measures must be put in place to encourage innovation and support the growth of young ventures. The 2024 edition of the Fintech Report, released earlier this year, gives an up-to-date pic ..read more

Brite Payments, a Stockholm based leader in instant bank payments, announced that it has partnered with Northe, a one-stop platform for electric vehicle (EV) charging, to provide customers with a more streamlined payments process. Founded in Stockholm in 2020, and buoyed by fresh funding in early 2023, Northe is connected to an extensive network of public, semi-public, and private partners. It provides customers with an all-in-one platform that facilitates and automates the management of everyday EV charging needs. Via the Northe charging app, private and business customers access th ..read more

Over the years, the Nordic and Baltic regions have emerged as vibrant hubs for fintech innovation, fueled and facilitated by advanced digital infrastructure and digitally literate populations, government support, and strong collaboration between traditional financial institutions, startups and technology companies. The Baltics, which include Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, boast a skilled workforce, favorable taxation and a strong startup culture, a favorable landscape that has contributed to the advent of a burgeoning fintech ecosystem of 600 companies. The Nordics, which encompass Sweden, Fin ..read more