The Venture Center, ICBA open fourth fintech accelerator program

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and The Venture Center, with support from the state of Arkansas, launched its application period for the 2022 ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program this week.

The 2022 program builds on three consecutive successful programs. This year’s program will feature virtual and in-person visits in support of community bank-fintech collaborations.

Named Finovate’s 2020 Best Fintech Accelerator, the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator supports ICBA’s mission to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. Interested fintechs are invited to submit an application by Oct. 15, 2021.

“As community banks continue to transform to meet the diverse needs of their customers and the broader community, developing key partnerships will be paramount,” ICBA Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Charles Potts said. “ICBA is proud to continue its work helping forge these deeply valuable relationships between innovative entrepreneurs and the community banks we serve.”

Since its inception in 2018, the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program has connected innovative, cutting-edge fintech companies around the world with more than 1,000 community bankers and industry leaders.

The program speeds participants’ go-to-market strategies and provides critical feedback, allowing fintech founders to tailor their solutions to the unique needs of community banks and their customers.

Notable ICBA ThinkTECH alumni include ICBA preferred service providers Teslar Software, MK Decision, Adlumin, Finzly, BotDoc, and WellThi (formerly Invest Sou Sou).

“Since we began the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator in 2018, we’ve seen our participating companies benefit tremendously after meeting with hundreds of bankers, receiving meaningful feedback, and collaborating with fellow participants,” said Wayne Miller, The Venture Center’s executive director. “We are honored to play a role in bringing impactful fintechs and community banks together for another year of collaboration and innovation.”

ICBA and The Venture Center’s selection committee will evaluate Accelerator candidates for the team’s strength, product maturation, and product-market fit. Selected companies will receive a capital investment and will be immersed in a rigorous 12-week bootcamp program, where they will be mentored during one-on-one meetings by C-suite bank executives, investors, and subject matter experts.

The ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program will kick off its fourth year beginning Jan. 11, 2022 and conclude with a showcase at ICBA’s annual convention, ICBA LIVE in San Francisco and a Demo Day in Little Rock, Ark., in March.

For more information about the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator, or to apply or nominate a fintech for consideration, visit here.