What Visa Innovation Program Europe does

Visa Innovation Program Europe (VIPE) is a fintech pilot-centered collaboration platform launched in 2018 that connects selected fintech startups with Visa's network of financial institutions and corporate partners across 15 European markets. The program is operated collaboratively by Eleven (Eleven Bulgaria AD, a Southeast European early-stage VC) and Tenity (Hackquarters Innovation LTD, a global innovation ecosystem), with Visa as the supporting strategic backer. VIPE runs an annual open application cycle (typically January to March) followed by a six-month structured program comprising discovery sessions, design thinking sprints, workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and PoC development. Program outputs include curated introductions to Visa's clients, access to Visa Developer Platform APIs, investor connections, and conference showcasing.

The platform serves three primary constituencies: (1) fintech startups and scale-ups seeking pilot partnerships with banks and corporates (primary segment); (2) financial institutions (banks, EMIs, payment institutions) sourcing innovation; and (3) corporate partners seeking fintech integrations. Thematic focus has expanded in 2025 to explicitly include AI and agentic commerce (shopping agents, financial agents, deepfake detection, hyper-personalized finance), B2B and money movement flows (stablecoins, xBorder payments, treasury, supply chain finance), and open finance and data (BaaS, embedded finance, digital identity, alternative finance, BNPL).

VIPE has no fees, takes no equity, and offers no monetary prizes; it is funded entirely by Visa as a strategic ecosystem development initiative. Cumulative outcomes since 2018 include 1,706+ applications received, 142+ fintechs selected, 1,500+ mentoring hours delivered, 600+ commercial introductions facilitated, and 110+ successful partnerships formed. The 2025 cohort drew 229 applications from 39 countries and resulted in four new commercial partnerships. VIPE is not a revenue-generating entity and has 1-10 employees, with the operating model distributed across offices in Athens, Sofia, London, Zurich, Tallinn, Madrid, and Istanbul.

Name

Visa Innovation Program Europe

Legal name

Eleven Bulgaria AD and Hackquarters Innovation LTD (Tenity)

Website

https://visainnovationprogram.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VIPE is a fintech pilot-centered collaboration platform across 15 European markets, run by Eleven and Tenity with Visa's backing. Its annual six-month accelerator connects selected fintechs with banks, corporate partners, and Visa Developer Platform APIs through curated introductions, mentorship, and PoC development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Operations: The Visa Innovation Program Europe is a strategic initiative supported by Visa. The program does not charge any program fees or take equity from participating startups. The program is funded by Visa as a fintech ecosystem development initiative, with Eleven and Tenity operating as program managers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Visa Innovation Program Europe is a 6-month fintech pilot-centered collaboration platform that connects selected startups and scale-ups with Visa's global network of financial institutions and corporate partners. The program delivers curated training, one-on-one mentoring, design thinking sprints, proof-of-concept (PoC) development, and introductions to leading European VC funds. It is an equity-free, fee-free program operating across 15 European markets (Southern Europe and Nordics & Baltics), managed collaboratively by Eleven and Tenity with Visa as supporting partner.

Product overview

Visa Innovation Program Europe is a single unified acceleration/collaboration platform rather than a multi-module product suite. The program connects fintech companies with Visa's vast network of financial institutions and corporate partners to enable proof-of-concept development, pilot projects, and commercial partnerships. Key program elements include: curated training and mentorship, introductions to selected investors, access to Visa Developer Platform APIs, and participation in design thinking workshops and discovery sessions. The program operates across Southern Europe (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Turkey) and the Nordics & Baltics (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), managed in partnership with Eleven and Tenity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIPE Nordics & Baltics: Regional edition covering Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Products and services

• Visa Innovation Program Europe A 6-month equity-free accelerator program for fintech startups and scale-ups offering curated training, design thinking sprints, one-on-one mentoring, PoC/pilot development support, and curated introductions to Visa's network of financial institutions, corporate partners, and leading European VC funds. Operates across Southern Europe (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Turkey) and Nordics & Baltics (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).

Quantifiable outcome

• 142+ fintechs selected from 1,706+ applications
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability13 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Eleven (Eleven Ventures)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018One of the leading early-stage VCs in Southeast Europe, investing in startups since 2012. With 150+ collective investments over 10 years, Eleven's team has been instrumental in catalyzing the regional startup ecosystem. Acts as co-program manager for Southern Europe markets (Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Italy).
• TenitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The leading global innovation ecosystem and early-stage investor, with offices in Zurich, Singapore, Tallinn, Madrid, London, and Istanbul. Tenity's vision is to accelerate the future of finance by bringing together ambitious founders with leading companies, investors, and mentors. Acts as co-program manager.
• VisacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisa supports the program and may be involved in selection of participants. Visa provides access to its global network of financial institutions and corporate partners, developer platform APIs, and brand association. Visa accepts no responsibility for the operation of the website or Innovation Program.
• FinnovatingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe first Matching platform that connects 70K Tech startups, corporations and investors globally. Platform has created the largest community where members from 125 active countries can connect and collaborate.
• Fintech SolutionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation agency dedicated to build the future of financial services by connecting financial institutions to the fintech ecosystem. Part of Portugal Fintech with extensive understanding of European fintech ecosystem.
• EndeavorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe leading global community of, by, and for High-Impact Entrepreneurs. Endeavor is on a mission to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world.
• Fintech DistrictsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe gateway to the Italian Fintech Ecosystem, gathering the largest Fintech and Techfin community in Italy. Enables connections and innovation opportunities among fintech companies, banks, financial institutions, corporate companies, professional partners, regulators, investors and international hubs.
• AbancasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish banking institution participating as program partner for Spain/Portugal edition
• EurobanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek banking institution participating as program partner for Greece/Cyprus/Malta edition
• SantandersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Spanish banking group participating as program partner for Spain/Portugal edition
• NexisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean paytech company participating as program partner for Italy edition
• KlarnasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish fintech company participating as program partner
• WorldlinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean payment services provider participating as program partner
• CaixaBanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish banking institution participating as program partner
• Hellenic BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCypriot banking institution participating as program partner
• Bank of VallettasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaltese banking institution participating as program partner
• UnicajasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish banking institution participating as program partner
• Raiffeisen BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational banking group with participation in program for Bulgaria market
• Endeavor GreecesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal ecosystem partner supporting VIPE Greece, Cyprus & Malta edition

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Rainmaking Innovation: Corporate innovation consultancy that designs and runs innovation programs, accelerators, and venture clienting services for banks and insurers. Comparable as a third-party operator of fintech accelerator programs for institutional clients, including some of the same European banks VIPE partners with.

Emerging players

• Lloyds Lab: Lloyds Banking Group's fintech accelerator working with early-stage startups to develop propositions for UK retail and commercial banking. Comparable as a UK-based bank-led fintech cohort program with mentor and PoC support, though narrower geographic and partner scope than VIPE.
• Barclays Rise: Barclays' global fintech accelerator with hubs in London, New York, Tel Aviv, and Mumbai, hosting fintech residencies, events, and bank-sponsored program content. Comparable as a bank-led fintech accelerator in Europe but tied to a single sponsor (Barclays) rather than a payments network with multi-bank partner composition.

Direct peers

• 11:FS Foundry: Financial services innovation consultancy and venture builder that partners with banks and fintechs to build new products. Comparable as a fintech ecosystem operator working with European banks on PoC development and innovation programs, functioning as both consultancy and program manager.
• Startupbootcamp Fintech: Long-running fintech-specific accelerator program with multiple global editions (London, New York, Singapore, etc.) offering fintech startup mentorship, bank partnerships, and PoC facilitation. Comparable cohort-driven fintech accelerator model with multi-bank partner network, though structured via dedicated fund vehicles.
• Plug and Play Fintech: Large global accelerator with a dedicated fintech vertical running multi-market batch programs that connect startups with banks and corporate partners. Comparable in structure (multi-market fintech cohort + corporate partner introductions) but with broader corporate sponsorship beyond a single payments network.
• Anthemis Foundry: Anthemis's venture studio and ecosystem platform that builds and invests in fintech startups with deep connections to financial institutions. Comparable as a fintech ecosystem-builder offering studio-style program support and curated FI introductions, with a similarly equity-aligned model.
• Mastercard Start Path: Mastercard's flagship fintech accelerator offering pilots with bank and merchant partners worldwide. Directly comparable to Visa Innovation Program Europe as the principal payments-network-sponsored accelerator competing for the same early-stage fintech cohort and bank PoC opportunities.

Regional players

• Nexi Fintech District ecosystem programs: Italian fintech hub and ecosystem community that connects startups, banks, and corporates in Italy. VIPE itself lists Fintech District as a local ecosystem partner, indicating direct operational overlap in delivering fintech community and matchmaking services, with Fintech District concentrating on Italy and VIPE spanning 15 markets.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars Fintech Accelerator: Techstars' dedicated fintech accelerator (historically in New York) operating a generalist equity-for-program model with corporate partners. Comparable cohort-driven accelerator structure but operates through equity investment rather than the equity-free model VIPE uses.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights10 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visainnovationprogram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Visa Innovation Program Europe