Fintech Incubator Launched by Franklin Templeton and F10 in Singapore for Early-stage Startups

In a significant move to bolster the fintech ecosystem in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region, asset manager Franklin Templeton and fintech startup accelerator F10 have joined forces to establish the FT Singapore Fintech Incubator. The program, set to commence in July 2022, aims to support early-stage fintech startups and develop a robust regional fintech ecosystem.

The two-year joint program will offer selected startups a plethora of benefits, including seed funding from Franklin Templeton, individualized milestone-based programming, extensive mentoring, and guidance from both entities. The startups will also have access to Franklin Templeton’s funding, a comprehensive startup curriculum, and a network of investors, financial industry partners, and mentors from F10.

The incubator's focus remains on various fintech sectors, including artificial intelligence/machine learning, capital markets technology, cybersecurity, blockchain, P2P lending, digital distribution, wealth management technology, insurtech, regtech, data science, predictive behavior analytics, and more.

Startups admitted into the FT Singapore Fintech Incubator may be considered for collaboration opportunities with Franklin Templeton, including early business unit exposure, technology steering, potential Beta customer trials, and early-stage funding.

Jonas Thuering, Head of F10 Singapore, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, believing it will repeat the success both organizations have achieved with their existing programs. Chetan Karkhanis, SVP of Digital Strategy and Wealth Management APAC at Franklin Templeton, will lead the incubation program in Singapore.

The startups will be housed at the 80RR fintech hub in Singapore's business district, providing a conducive environment for their growth and development. The incubator also aims to engage with local stakeholders, including academic and research institutions and government entities, to establish a strong regional fintech ecosystem.

Jonas Thuering believes that the collaboration between Franklin Templeton and F10 for this incubation program will be beneficial due to Franklin Templeton's experience with startups in North America and F10's established incubation programs in Singapore. This unique opportunity for founders from across APAC will provide them with a platform to scale their businesses and make a significant impact in the fintech industry.

The FT Singapore Fintech Incubator boasts an extensive support network, with over 120 venture capitalists, a global corporate partner network in the financial services industry, and a mentor network of over 70 individuals, all readily available to the startups.

As the program kicks off in July, the fintech startups from the Asia-Pacific region are invited to apply for support under the "FT Singapore Fintech Incubator" between July 2022 and June 2024. Specific names of eligible startups are yet to be announced.

[Image: A creatively edited photo by Christoph Theisinger via Unsplash, representing the collaboration between Franklin Templeton and F10.]

Fintech Incubator Launched by Franklin Templeton and F10 in Singapore for Early-stage Startups