IMPACT Connects Early-Stage Fintechs With Venture Capital
Finovate launched IMPACT Funders & Founders in 2026 to extend its deal-making model beyond links between banks and technology vendors. The event gives early-stage fintech founders and scale-ups direct access to venture capital firms, corporate investors and industry operators through curated meetings and pitches. Its debut comes as investors grow more selective, with artificial intelligence, longer private-company holding periods and tighter capital allocation reshaping fundraising strategies.
The inaugural IMPACT event took place on Sept. 11, 2026, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York, closing the three-day FinovateFall program. FinovateFall featured more than 70 fintech demonstrations, each limited to seven minutes, while IMPACT opened with private founder-VC meetings before moving to two conference stages, roundtables and a rapid-fire Startup Spotlight. Speakers included investors from VIM Investors, Rebalance Capital, Plum Alley and BankTech Ventures. Organizers disclosed no aggregate funding or transaction value.
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2 original reportsThe Backstory
The history behind this eventIMPACT Event Connects Fintech Founders With Investors
Fintech startups frequently need more than capital to scale, relying on investor networks, industry expertise and access to financial institutions. The inaugural IMPACT Funders and Founders event is designed to bring entrepreneurs and funders together, creating a forum for potential partnerships and investment. Its launch underscores continued interest in companies developing the next generation of payments, lending and other digital financial services.
IMPACT Funders and Founders has now made its debut, positioning itself as a bridge between fintech founders and investors and pledging to support continued innovation in financial services. The available report did not specify the event date, venue or organizing institution. It also provided no participant list, funding target, disclosed investment amount or completed transaction, leaving the event’s immediate commercial impact yet to be measured.
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