Fintech Lab

Fintech (financial technology) covers any innovation that improves, challenges or reimagines the way financial services are delivered. If your solution works with money, payments, investments or financial products you’re a great match. Examples include:

• Payments & Transactions – digital wallets, payment gateways, cross-border transfers
• Lending & Credit – alternative lending models, BNPL, credit scoring solutions
• Banking & Open Finance – neobanks, embedded finance, open banking APIs
• Wealth & Investment – robo-advisors, trading platforms, digital asset management
• Insurance & Risk – insurtech solutions improving coverage, claims or risk modelling
• RegTech & Compliance – tools helping businesses meet regulatory obligations faster
• AI & Data-Driven Finance – fraud detection, personalised financial insights, predictive analytics

If your startup touches any part of the financial ecosystem, there’s a strong chance it qualifies.

Fintech Lab is Creative HQ’s leading accelerator programme for Fintech startups. Over three months, we provide founders with intensive coaching, strategic connections and access to industry partners to accelerate growth and investment readiness.

We welcome applications from early-stage to pre-scale ventures. You should have a clear problem definition, early customer insights and a working concept or MVP. Prior funding/investment is not required.

Early-stage fintech founders solving real financial problems in New Zealand or globally. Whether you’re building payments, lending, banking, compliance or wealth-tech solutions, if your venture can drive innovation in the financial sector, Fintech Lab is for you.

We welcome applications from overseas Fintech startups. You will need to be able to attend key dates in person. As the programme is funded by the New Zealand Government you will be asked to pay either a programme participation fee or equity in your startup.

Our application form is designed to structure your response in a way that aligns with our assessment criteria. Here is an overview of some of the key considerations:

• Problem/Solution
  • Can the team demonstrate that there is a real problem to be solved and that they understand how their solution is a match for that problem
• Growth Potential/Scale
  • Is there a large, scaleable market for this startup?
• Team/Representation
  • Does the team have the right skills and experience to tackle this problem?
  • Does the team contribute diversity to the cohort?
• Impact
  • What social/environmental/cultural impact does the team have?
  • Are there particular benefits to having them in the cohort or catalytic potential for the wider sector?

Participation is completely free but you will be required to travel for the kick-off and closing events in Wellington

Fintech Lab 2026 runs as a hybrid accelerator for three months, combining in-person intensives with targeted coaching and partner engagement sessions. Expect a mix of workshops, 1:1 mentoring, investor readiness preparation and real-world testing. We expect you to be working full-time on your startup to make the most of the programme.

You’ll access:

• Entrepreneurial skills building
• Pitching fundamentals.
• Problem definition & customer discovery.
• Market mapping
• Financial impact and technology roadmapping.
• Direct introductions to industry leaders, regulators, and investors
• Expert mentors across fintech, legal, compliance, product, and growth
• Connections to key ecosystem players like the Financial Markets Authority and NZ Fintech Fund
• A lifelong founder network from your cohort and alumni community