Trust by Design Fintech Challenge 2026 (Win Up To $50,000 Grand Prize)

Reach us on

Applications are open for Trust by Design Fintech Challenge 2026. The Trust by Design Fintech Challenge recognizes organizations designing fintech solutions that improve safety, transparency, and trust, especially for women who have traditionally been excluded from financial systems.

The Challenge seeks market-tested solutions that demonstrate how data, customer-centric product design, and responsible safeguards can strengthen trust, reduce harm, and improve adoption among women.

Winners will receive financial awards, be recognized as industry innovators in trust-centered fintech, and gain visibility with investors and the broader financial services industry through curated events, publications, and showcases.

If you are:

A fintech
A financial institution
A service provider or partner to a fintech or financial institution
An organization embedding financial services into its product or platform

And you have a solution that:

Is digitally enabled
Is already in the market
Demonstrates measurable improvements in safety and trust
Uses gender-disaggregated data to improve product design

Then They want to hear from you.

Prizes & Recognition

One $50,000 Grand Prize will be awarded to support continued innovation in trust-centered fintech.
Three finalists will each receive $10,000 awards.
Each challenge winner will also receive a complimentary ticket to attend the Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit, 2026 in London U.K., plus airfare and hotel accommodation for their attendee.
Winners will also be featured in an industry toolkit highlighting innovations in trust-building in fintech, serving as a lasting resource for the sector.
There will also be opportunities for sector recognition and visibility among a global network of impact and commercial investors.

Eligibility Criteria for Trust by Design Fintech Challenge

The Trust by Design Fintech Challenge is open to organizations providing digital financial services or enabling technologies with solutions already live in-market. Applicants should have demonstrated traction and early evidence that their solution improves safety, transparency, or utilization in financial services. We are not looking for pilots or prototypes.

Eligible applicants may include (but are not limited to):

Fintech companies (including lenders and neobanks)
Financial institutions and microfinance institutions (MFIs)
Technology providers supporting financial services
Platforms embedding financial products such as payments, credit, insurance, or savings

Eligible applicants typically:

Offer digitally enabled financial services or embed financial functionality into part of their product or platform
Have solutions already in use by customers
Demonstrate measurable improvements in safety, transparency, or customer trust
Use gender-disaggregated data to inform product design, risk management, or customer protection
Serve women customers with evidence of active usage
Operate in at least one emerging market, or have credible plans to expand into one

“Credible plans” means the organization has a clear operational strategy, partnerships, licensing pathway, or active deployments demonstrating a realistic path to serving customers in LMICs contexts.

Strong applicants will use gender-disaggregated data to inform product design and customer protection.

Trust by Design Fintech Challenge Program Timeline

Applications Open — April 20, 2026
Application Deadline — May 22, 2026, at 23:59 EDT (UTC-4); Applications must be submitted by this deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Semi‑finalists will be notified by June 2, 2026
Winners Notified — By July 17, 2026