The SPARKS Programme

Your opportunity to validate and develop your early stage FinTech solution

Overview

Early stage FinTech companies experience a variety of obstacles and challenges when defining, validating, and subsequently launching their product. Engine’s SPARKS Programme is here to help!

SPARKS validates and develops pre-seed FinTech start ups in the asset and wealth management space. Eligible FinTechs will be able to apply to enter the programme by completing an application form including a 2 minute video and a Value Proposition Canvas.

 

Up to 2 FinTechs will ultimately be chosen for the programme and will have the opportunity to work closely with specific Engine Advisory Panel taskforces that sit in the areas of distribution, investments and operations. The taskforces and the Engine team will review their offering, provide feedback and guidance, and ultimately assist in validating the solution and its place in the industry.

If you would like to receive a notification when applications open then please click the "register your interest" button.

Register your interest

Benefits of the Programme

Successful SPARKS applicants benefit from the following:

  • The opportunity to pitch to an Engine Advisory Panel task force that will provide you with crucial feedback and developmental suggestions
  • Advice and support from the IA Engine team and partners
  • Policy advice and support from IA experts
  • Access to the IA knowledge centre that contains whitepapers, guidance, consultations responses, stats and more
  • 3 months of free *IA FinTech membership upon completion of the SPARKS programme (to be used within 12 months).

If you are selected to participate in the SPARKS programme then you will be able to use the above badge in your email signature and on your website.

Problem Statements

We accept applications from FinTechs providing any solution applicable to the investment management industry but through research the following have been identified as key areas of focus.

  • How to better communicate with, attract and support the underserved retail investor
  • How to delivering a better user experience for customers in the form of services offered post sales, including fact sheet reports
  • How to best publicly publish baseline ESG data in a standardised format for the retail investor
  • How to collect client preference data and match against portfolio holdings and ESG datasets
  • How to manage data from multiple third parties to cater for public and private market needs, removing shadow accounting system and reconciling exposures, fees, etc
  • How to map the numerous ESG standards and reporting of major and alternative industry data providers
  • How to integrate organisational departments and workstreams to provide a single repository of analysed ESG data enabling reduced duplication and more informed investment decisions of cross company teams
  • How to implement an end to end centralised component operational system, removing established siloed practices
  • How to consolidate the requirements and obligations of regulatory change and automate outputs
  • How to create fast, transparent, automated and digital client experience with centralised systems implementing straight through processing, removing duplication and the numerous tools to access and verify client information