Blockchain-based social network GetGems was named ‘Most Visionary Social Media Solution,’ spell bitcoin wallet Billon took abode the title, ‘Most Innovative Blockchain Solution,’ during the Citibank Europe, Middle East as well as Africa (EMEA) Mobile Competition.
The annual competition, started but end year, was pose together past times leading global banking concern Citi as well as sponsored past times IBM Cloud Computing as well as Mastercard Start Path, the payment company’s fund to boost fiscal innovation.
Startups from eighteen countries pitched 77 fiscal products as well as services to Citi executives as well as applied scientific discipline experts at showcases held inwards Nairobi, Jerusalem, Warsaw as well as London. Citi made the telephone band for startups to apply inwards Feb as well as held the actual contest inwards April.
Other startups that took abode titles inwards the EMEA contest included textbook subscription app Kytabu, omnichannel digital banking platform Avoka Transact, as well as mobile banking solution for the visually impaired Allianz.
Citi also hosted similar competitions inwards Latin America as well as the United States, but EMEA was the exclusively i to involve maintain digital currency startups involve maintain abode titles.
“We invited applied scientific discipline developers to re-imagine digital banking, as well as they went far beyond,” said Heather Cox, principal customer experience, digital as well as marketing officeholder for Global Consumer Banking at Citi. “They presented solutions that could transform fiscal services as well as fuel progress inwards other industries similar transportation as well as education. These developers are genuinely inspiring. Selecting the endure on innovations was a challenge, as well as nosotros are excited to explore bringing their solutions to market.”
Besides the gratuitous press as well as networking opportunities, GetGems as well as Billon mightiness involve maintain the run a peril to operate alongside partners from this event to aid involve maintain their products as well as services to market. Israel-based GetGems already launched its social network inwards Oct of end twelvemonth afterward raising $111,0000 inwards a crowdsale as well as receiving a $400,000 investment from Magma VC.
Billon, which describes itself equally a banking solution for the unbanked (and uses bitcoin equally the payment rails), has however to launch as well as is currently conducting a soul beta inwards the startup’s abode dry reason of Poland. According to its website, Billion was founded belatedly end twelvemonth past times a squad including ex-Mastercard employees as well as bankers, as well as already has partnered alongside Plus Bank, Alior Bank as well as E-Card.