The FinTech Innovation Lab New York, a 12-week accelerator program run by Accenture and the Partnership Fund for New York City, has announced its latest cohort of 11 early- and growth-stage fintech companies. Operating in one of the world’s most competitive markets—New York City—NYC stands as a global fintech hub, with New York’s fintech sector driving innovation and growth in financial technology. This year’s program, marking its 15th anniversary, underscores the program’s global significance as one of the world’s leading fintech accelerators. The 2025 cohort represents the next wave of fintech startups that will shape the future of financial services. The Lab’s leadership, including co-founder Maria Gotsch, has played a pivotal role in shaping the program and supporting the advancement of the fintech ecosystem. This year’s program emphasizes the growing role of agentic AI in transforming financial services.
Introduction to the Program
The FinTech Innovation Lab stands as a prestigious accelerator program at the heart of the financial services industry, dedicated to fostering fintech innovation and business growth. As a premier global initiative, the lab offers a unique platform for startups to scale their businesses and technologies in one of the world’s most competitive markets—New York City. With a strong emphasis on product and business development, the program empowers participants to refine their solutions and strategies, positioning them for long-term success in the financial industry. By connecting startups with senior executives from top financial institutions and venture capital sectors, the FinTech Innovation Lab has become a leading force in driving innovation and shaping the future of financial services in New York and beyond.
Key Takeaways
- This year’s cohort features 11 fintech companies, with a strong focus on agentic AI applications.
- Since 2010, the program has helped 119 companies, leading to over 3,000 jobs created and more than $2.98 billion in venture financing raised.
- Selected participants will present their progress at Demo Day in late June at BNY’s Manhattan office.
Top investors and industry leaders will be present at Demo Day to evaluate the progress of this year’s cohort.
Accelerating Business Growth Through Innovation
Founded in 2010, the FinTech Innovation Lab New York provides a crucial platform for fintech startups to accelerate their product and business development, and helps early-stage companies accelerate growth. The program connects these companies with financial services and venture capital executives, fostering collaboration and refinement of their solutions. Over its 15-year history, the lab has been instrumental in the success of numerous technology companies, having assisted entrepreneurs through mentorship, resources, and connections to industry leaders. Graduates have created thousands of jobs and secured significant venture funding, with investments made through the program to support startup growth, and 31 companies achieving acquisition.
The Rise of Agentic AI in Financial Services
This year’s cohort prominently features companies developing agentic AI applications. These advanced AI architectures are designed to orchestrate and automate complex business workflows, aiming to boost productivity, enhance decision-making, and improve overall operational efficiency within financial institutions. Agentic AI is also impacting finance and investment strategies, enabling more effective funding decisions and supporting the growth of emerging businesses. Beyond agentic AI, other participants are focusing on AI and machine learning for technology modernization, as well as robust risk, compliance, and security solutions.
Steve Murphy, Accenture’s Financial Services industry solutions lead, highlighted AI as a top investment priority, with agentic AI emerging as a key tool for simplifying workflows and streamlining operations. He noted that the 2025 class is bringing creative approaches to critical enterprise functions, applying AI to areas like risk and compliance, insurance for underwriting and claims processing, cybersecurity, and technology modernization, as well as exploring new ways to modernize technology and improve efficiency.
The 2025 FinTech Innovation Lab New York Participants
The 11 selected companies are delivering innovative tech solutions for the financial industry:
- ANCHAIN.AI (San Jose, CA): Agentic AI platform for financial crime investigation, compliance, and fraud prevention in digital assets.
- Bloop (London): AI-powered legacy systems modernization, focusing on mainframe and midrange systems to cloud migration.
- Cardo AI (New York): Portfolio modeling and data platform for asset managers to manage unstructured data and enhance returns.
- DeepSee.ai (Salt Lake City): AI agents to help financial services firms eliminate regulatory risk and streamline operations.
- Feathery (San Francisco): AI-powered data and document intake workflows for commercial underwriting and client onboarding.
- IronVest (New York): Cross-channel fraud prevention platform to eliminate account takeovers and onboarding threats.
- Lyzr (Jersey City, NJ): Agent infrastructure platform for building, deploying, and managing production-grade AI agents with responsible AI guardrails.
- Multimodal (New York): AI-powered automation platform for configuring and managing digital agents in middle and back-office roles.
- Palqee (San Francisco): Real-time AI monitoring for regulated industries to detect risks and ensure AI-driven decision-making compliance.
- Runhouse (New York): Developer platform simplifying machine learning experimentation and deployment on cloud infrastructure.
- Wellthi (Arlington, VA): Financial technology embedding social and AI-driven banking features into mobile apps to attract younger customers.
Several participants are also collaborating with top financial services firms to pilot their technologies.
Benefits for Participants
Startups selected for the FinTech Innovation Lab gain access to a wealth of resources designed to accelerate their business development and innovation journey. Participants benefit from direct exposure to capital markets and receive expert guidance on regulatory compliance, helping them navigate the complexities of the financial industry. The program fosters collaboration with industry leaders through one-on-one meetings, panel discussions, and exclusive networking events, enabling startups to forge strategic partnerships and gain critical market insights. With a focus on supporting early-stage and growth-stage fintech startups, the lab helps companies enhance their tech and security solutions, achieve key business milestones, and position themselves at the forefront of New York’s dynamic fintech sector.
New York City Ecosystem
New York City’s vibrant ecosystem is a driving force behind the success of the FinTech Innovation Lab and its participants. The city’s unique combination of leading financial institutions, robust venture capital sectors, and deep technological expertise creates an ideal environment for fintech innovation. Startups in the program benefit from unparalleled access to industry leaders, investors, and a diverse pool of entrepreneurial talent. New York’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs has solidified its reputation as a global fintech powerhouse, with the FinTech Innovation Lab playing a pivotal role in advancing the city’s leadership in the industry.
Partnership with Industry Leaders
Collaboration is at the core of the FinTech Innovation Lab’s success. The program is built on strong partnerships with top financial institutions, venture capital firms, and technology companies, providing participants with invaluable access to industry leaders and decision-makers. Through its extensive network of senior executives, investors, and entrepreneurs, the lab offers startups the opportunity to showcase their innovations, gain feedback from experts, and connect with potential partners and investors. This collaborative approach not only drives fintech innovation but also helps reduce risk and increase access to capital, supporting the growth and development of the next generation of fintech startups.
Innovation Lab Structure
The FinTech Innovation Lab is meticulously structured to provide a comprehensive and supportive environment for participating startups. Its curriculum addresses the unique challenges faced by fintech companies, including regulatory compliance, security, and data management. Through a blend of workshops, mentoring sessions, and networking events, participants are equipped to refine their business strategies, develop innovative products, and prepare for the highly anticipated demo day. The lab’s leadership—including its co-founders, CEO, and the president of the Partnership Fund—work closely to ensure the program remains at the cutting edge of fintech innovation. By leveraging the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and agentic AI, the FinTech Innovation Lab empowers startups to access venture financing, partner with industry leaders, and create impactful solutions for the financial services industry.
A Proving Ground for Fintech Innovation
Maria Gotsch, president and CEO of the Partnership Fund for New York City, emphasized that the FinTech Innovation Lab continues to be a vital proving ground for cutting-edge companies. These innovations directly benefit New Yorkers by improving financial services and creating jobs across the city. She added that by working directly with financial institutions, this year’s cohort has the opportunity to demonstrate how AI-driven tools can unlock efficiency and reinforce New York City’s position as a global fintech leader, highlighting York’s fintech sector and its continued growth and recognition.
Cathinka Wahlstrom, chief commercial officer at BNY, expressed excitement about the diverse and innovative thinking brought by the cohort, anticipating that AI will become integral to nearly every product and service delivered by financial institutions.
Add Comment