Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) will host the global final of an innovation program and competition for startups and fintech companies – Visa Everywhere Initiative on September 14, 2021.
The Visa Everywhere Initiative helps fintech innovators in two ways: as a program, it plugs them into the network of startups that our product teams from all over the world access when searching for solutions; and as a competition, it gives them a forum in which to make a pitch to a panel of payments experts, win prizes and gain wider attention.
The mechanic of entering the competition requires submitting an online application form via www.visa.com according to the terms and conditions of the contest, which follows by the selection of Regional-Finalists from Latin America, CEMEA, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe. On the next stage, those five regional winners are nominated on the global finals, in order to be determined the final winner of the competition.
This year, the first place for CEMEA and $15,000 in prize money went to Payze of Georgia. Payze now advances to the global finals and compete against the regional winners from 4 regions being held on September 14 with $100,000 in prizes available including $50,000 for the overall winner.
“We are extremely proud that Payze will enter the competition with a national pride and represents Georgia and CEMEA region on global final of the Visa Everywhere Initiative on September 14, 2021. At Visa, we strongly believe, that fintechs and startups remain the main drivers of constant development and the unique idea of the competition will support them to create a culture of innovation across the globe, gain global exposure and desirable collaboration with Visa. We are looking forward to seeing Payze on the final stage and wish a successful performance in the contest,” said Diana Kiguradze, Visa Country Manager for the Caucasus region.
Founded in 2020 by Giorgi Tsurtsumia and Kakha Gelashvili, Payze is an innovator of financial transactions, helping businesses in CIS countries accept payments from around the world through a single integration. By April 2021 Payze has been processing more than serving more than 200 merchants growing 35% month over month in gross transaction volume.
“Visa Everywhere Initiative is definitely innovational event and a great opportunity for fintech companies from all around the world. The platform empowers the best fintech products to gain access to the network, get global exposure and receive a chance to partner with Visa. We are very honored and proud to be selected as the winner of CEMEA region and represent our country – Georgia and CEMEA region on a global final stage,” told Giorgi Tsurtsumia, co-founder, Payze.
The event will be live-streamed worldwide on the leading online publisher TechCrunch and hosted by TechCrunch’s Neesha Tambe. Direct link to watch the live-streaming here
Click here to hear more from a conversation between Giorgi Tsurtsumia, Co-Founder and CEO of Payze and Otto Williams, Head of Product & Solutions CEMEA.
About the Visa Everywhere Initiative
The Visa Everywhere Initiative is a global, open innovation program that tasks start-ups and fintechs to solve payment and commerce challenges of tomorrow, further enhance their own product propositions and provide visionary solutions for Visa’s vast network of partners. The program launched in the U.S. in 2015 and quickly expanded into a global program with more than 7,000 participating startups. To date, startups have collectively raised over $2.5 billion in funding, and the program has been activated on six continents – touching more than 100 countries. For more information, visit visa.com.
