Accion is currently accepting applications for its Trust by Design Fintech Challenge 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Accion - Trust by Design Fintech Challenge
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.
Benefits of Accion - Trust by Design Fintech Challenge
- 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.
Accion - Trust by Design Fintech Challenge Requirements
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. They 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.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
22 May, 2026
Opportunity Application
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Accion - Trust by Design Fintech Challenge
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