INNOLAB WORKSHOP: SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES IN FINTECH

1.     Overview

The rapid development of technology brings revolutionary changes to the financial industry. Such development poses both opportunities and challenges. This workshop empowers you with the skills and knowledge to tackle tech-driven opportunities in financial industry and connects you with innovative minds that are revolutionizing financial services. Through interactive lectures, company visits, and innovation tournament, you will gain insights on how to harness the potentials of FinTech, and jumpstart your entrepreneurial career.

Program Benefits:

·      Learn the tools and frameworks to identify, capture, and implement new ideas

·      Learn how to accelerate innovations in disciplined approach

·      Attend lectures on FinTech innovation and entrepreneurship taught by successful entrepreneurs/investors

·      Build connections with start-upers and innovators from leading companies in FinTech

·      Collaborate with international entrepreneurial minds in a tournament

The program will involve experts in FinTech innovation, preeminent business school faculty, corporate innovators and successful entrepreneurs. This workshop provides valuable learning experience for those who have interests in starting new and innovative businesses to seize the opportunities in FinTech. All applicants must submit a proposal of an original business idea. Participants’ projects may be related to the following topics, but proposals of innovation with the broad theme of FinTech are welcomed.

1.    Leveraging the development of blockchain technology for financial services

2.    Tools to manage bills and track personal and/or credit accounts

3.    Mobile payments and security

4.    New investment and wealth management platforms and analytical tools

5.    Mortgage lending, consumer lending, digitization and financing platform

6.    Impact investing and application of technology to promote environmental, social and the governance (ESG) initiative.

Company Background (continue to update)

The workshop will include visits to businesses of diverse backgrounds in Shanghai, ranging from established multinational companies to innovative start-ups residing in an incubator.

1. Ke Finance (also known as 贝壳金服 or Beike Finance):

Ke Finance is the leading residential property financial services provider in China. The company started as Lianjia Finance in November 2006, and has operated independently since March 2017 with a focus on the residential property sector. Ke Finance provides financial services for consumers including payments and loans for millions of users — with its proprietary big data set and risk management capabilities in the housing vertical. As of 2018, Ke Finance is engaged in more than 90 cities and regions across China, with more than 1 million users, totaling in 800+ billion RMB in escrow, 300+ billion RMB in mortgage recommendations. Ke Finance is committed to solve the financial challenges associated with “living” in China, using fintech as the driving force to help every family improve their quality of life.

2. Plug and Play

At Plug and Play, our core objective is to catalyze technological advancement.

Over the past 12 years, we have built the largest innovation platform on the planet, bringing together startups, investors, and blue chip corporations. We are now active in 22 locations globally. We are experts in facilitating meaningful introductions, investing in startups, and bringing together key stakeholders into one world-changing network.

Since inception, our startup community has raised over $6 billion in venture funding and we continue to make over 160 investments worldwide every year.Some of our success stories include: Dropbox, PayPal (acq’d by eBay), Lending Club (NYSE: LC), NatureBox, SoundHound, Zoosk.

The industries we focus on are: Fintech, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Brand & Retail, Mobility, New Materials & Packaging, Sustainability, Food & Beverage, Travel & Hospitality, Health & Wellness, and Supply Chain & Logistics.