The Denver-based Techstars & Western Union Accelerator just announced the 10 startups that will participate in its 2020 business development program.
Members of this year’s class hail from the Philippines, Egypt, Gambia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, South Africa and the United States. They will spend the next 13 weeks building startups that focus on increasing financial access to underserved communities, and building a more equitable global economy, according to Shelly Swanback, president of product and platform at Western Union.
Swanback said she was proud of the diverse cohort admitted to the accelerator.
“A global lens is critical as we look to create opportunities for billions of people to access the latest innovations in finance, innovate opportunities for businesses and customers, and help close the growing inequality gap,” Swanback said in a statement.
The startups will pitch their products to investors in a demo day on October 8.
This is the second class to participate in the Techstars & Western Union Accelerator, and hundreds of entrepreneurs vied for one of the 10 available spots, the group said. Among last year’s cohort was Curu, a Denver fintech startup that just closed on a $3 million seed funding round in late May.
“Each of these companies is tackling systemic industry obstacles with innovative and original solutions using leading edge technologies,” Ethan Austin, managing director of the accelerator, said in a statement. “We are excited to support their continued growth over the next 13 weeks of our program and beyond.”
The 2020 class is listed below. Descriptions were provided by Techstars but have been edited for length and clarity:
- AidBanc, a Little Rock, Arkansas, fintech startup that provides digital banking and spend management tools non-governmental organizations can use to disburse aid.
- Plentina, a San Francisco-based alternative credit score and lending platform.
- GigWage, a Dallas-based platform businesses can use to pay independent contractors.
- Rise Capital, a Nigerian startup that helps Africans invest in dollar-denominated startups.
- Heights Labs, a New York City-based platform that uses AI to identify national security and business risks, as well as hold companies in regulatory compliance.
- Robbie AI, a Boston-based facial recognition startup.
- Line, a San Francisco startup that uses AI to offer individuals alternative credit scores and lending services.
- Vested Finance, a Berkeley-based investment advisory platform that helps Indian investors drop their dollars in global companies.
- Logicluster, a San Francisco-based company that uses AI to help businesses price their products and services.
- Yunit, an Oakland startup that helps friends save money together.
