Here’s all you need to know about the Female Focused Fintech Prize

Early-stage fintech accelerator DFS Lab has partnered with Flourish Ventures to launch the Female Focused Fintech Prize (F3).

The initiative aims to honour innovative digital financial products that help narrow the gender gap in financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The prize — which is supported by Women’s World Banking and FinEquity — will award the winner with $5000 and two runners up with $2000 each.

In addition winners will also receive structured mentorship from DFS Lab, its network of experts and members of the F3 Prize’s advisory and sponsorship committee.

Applications for the F3 Prize will close on 15 May

F3 Prize winners will also be featured in various media and be honoured at the Financial Times and International Finance Corporation Transformational Business Conference and Awards Dinner on 13 June in London.

Fintech startups that have products that primarily serve a female customer base have until 15 May to apply.

In an email earlier today (23 April), DFS Lab communications and marketing consultant Alina Kaiser said to be considered for the prize startups must:

• Target the mass market in Africa and South Asia (including Indonesia)
• Have made gender inclusion a priority, both in their business models and their company culture
• Be able to demonstrate that their products and services address the gender gap in financial inclusion through increased access to financial services for women and or a deeper impact on the daily financial lives of women and their families

Featured image: Flourish via Twitter