ScratchWorks
ScratchWorks is a US FinTech accelerator that runs seasonal pitch competitions, selecting three early-stage wealthtech startups per cohort to pitch live to six RIA investor-leaders managing $60B+ in assets, anchored at the Barron's Top Independent Advisors Summit.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLeawood, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ScratchWorks does
ScratchWorks is a US-based FinTech accelerator founded in 2017 and headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, that runs a seasonal competition program connecting early-stage wealth management and financial services technology startups with senior registered investment advisor (RIA) investors. Each season, the company screens applicants and selects three finalists to deliver a live pitch before a standing panel of six RIA executives — Marty Bicknell (Mariner Wealth Advisors), Richard M. Burridge Jr. (RMB Capital), John D. Eadie (Covenant), Shannon Eusey (Beacon Pointe Advisors), Jon Jones (Brighton Jones), and Michael J. Nathanson (The Colony Group) — who collectively manage over $60B in client assets. The live pitch event is anchored at major industry gatherings including the Barron's Top Independent Advisors Summit, with finalists receiving broad earned-media exposure in outlets such as InvestmentNews, Barron's, ThinkAdvisor, WealthManagement.com, and RIA Biz.
The accelerator operates on a three-phase model: Apply (online application via scratchworks.secure-platform.com), Pitch (live presentation to the investor panel and attending industry audience), and Accelerate (potential on-the-spot investment offers plus ongoing strategic guidance). The program has completed at least four named seasons (Season 1 through Season 4, spanning 2018–2022), with Season 5 in development. Notable funded finalists include InvestmentPOD and Snappy Kraken (Season 1), AdvicePay, SolidusLink, and 280 CapMarkets (Season 2), Lifeworks, ACT-Analytics, and ReAllocate (Season 3), and Benjamin, College Aid Pro, and Andes Wealth (Season 4). Benjamin was explicitly reported to have scored funding in Season 4 by WealthManagement.com.
ScratchWorks' commercial model is anchored by sponsorship rather than application fees — Fidelity Institutional serves as lead sponsor, with supporting partnerships including Nexus Strategy (GTM/marketing) and the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder (academic/pipeline). The company does not disclose revenue, headcount, or pricing, and derives value primarily through facilitating investment from its investor panel into finalist companies and via sponsor support. There is no indication of a software platform, API, or proprietary technology product beyond the application portal and program operations.
ScratchWorks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ScratchWorks
- Legal name
- ScratchWorks
- Website
- https://scratch.works
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ScratchWorks is a US FinTech accelerator that runs seasonal pitch competitions, selecting three early-stage wealthtech startups per cohort to pitch live to six RIA investor-leaders managing $60B+ in assets, anchored at the Barron's Top Independent Advisors Summit.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ScratchWorks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- FinTech Accelerator
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where ScratchWorks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leawood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
ScratchWorks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Accelerator Program & Investment Returns: ScratchWorks operates as a FinTech accelerator that selects and showcases emerging FinTech companies to a panel of wealthy RIA investors. The company facilitates investment into portfolio companies and derives value through returns on investments made by its investor panel into finalist companies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
ScratchWorks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ScratchWorks runs a seasonal FinTech accelerator that selects three emerging FinTech or WealthTech startups per season to pitch live to a panel of six registered investment advisor (RIA) leaders collectively managing over $60B in assets. The program connects innovative financial technology companies with wealth management luminaries to advance digital transformation, providing finalists with the opportunity to receive on-the-spot investment offers, strategic guidance, and broad marketing/press exposure across major financial industry publications.
Product overview
ScratchWorks operates as a single unified accelerator program (not a multi-module platform). The ScratchWorks Accelerator Program connects FinTech startups with wealth management investors through a structured three-phase process: Apply (submission and screening), Pitch (live event presentation to investors), and Accelerate (investment offers and support). The program runs in seasonal cohorts, with finalists from Seasons 1-4 including various wealthtech and fintech companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ScratchWorks Accelerator Program A seasonal FinTech accelerator that connects innovative WealthTech and FinTech startups with wealth management industry leaders (six RIA investors managing $60B+ in assets) for the opportunity to pitch live, receive potential on-the-spot investment, gain industry exposure, and access strategic guidance and PR coverage across major financial publications. The program runs through three phases—Apply (online submission and screening), Pitch (live event to investors), and Accelerate (investment offers and ongoing support).
Quantifiable outcome
- Extensive media and press coverage for finalists including coverage in InvestmentNews, Barron's, ThinkAdvisor, WealthManagement.com, and RIA Biz
Companies that use ScratchWorks
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
ScratchWorks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ScratchWorks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.
- Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado BouldersupportingThe Leeds School of Business at University of Colorado Boulder is a sponsor of ScratchWorks. Boulder, CO is described as the fastest growing startup market in the country. Leeds is home to the Burridge Center for Finance and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, which are committed to providing unique opportunities that positively impact humanity, foster innovation, and shape tomorrow's leaders.
- Nexus StrategysupportingNexus Strategy is an innovative consulting firm that provides strategic marketing advice and guidance to the wealth management industry. With over 25 years of experience, Nexus Strategy brings the latest thinking, industry knowledge, and creativity to solve challenges and serves as a pipeline to the financial advisor community. Clients include major financial institutions, technology companies, wealth management platforms, investment product suppliers, broker/dealers, custodians, and investment advisors.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ScratchWorks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TIFIN: A wealthtech innovation platform that builds and backs AI-driven financial services companies, including advisor platforms. TIFIN shares ScratchWorks' wealthtech focus and operates adjacent accelerator-style programs targeting RIAs and asset managers.
- Plug and Play FinTech: A global innovation platform and fintech accelerator that runs cohort-based programs connecting startups with corporate partners and investors. Directly comparable to ScratchWorks' model of matching early-stage fintechs with strategic capital partners.
- Techstars: One of the largest global accelerator operators, with dedicated fintech programs offering mentorship, capital, and demo days. Operates the same accelerator-plus-investor-panel model as ScratchWorks, but at much greater scale and across multiple verticals.
Emerging players
- Snappy Kraken: A Season 1 ScratchWorks finalist that received investment from the panel. Operates in the RIA marketing-automation space, making it a direct downstream comparable: a wealthtech startup that went through the program and scaled.
- AdvicePay: A Season 2 ScratchWorks finalist. A fintech company serving RIAs with payment solutions, representing another downstream wealthtech that the program has supported and is comparable as a target applicant profile.
- CircleBlack: A Season 1 ScratchWorks finalist that reported strong lead-flow gains from program exposure. A wealth management technology provider comparable to other alumni of the accelerator and a representative sample of the program's portfolio.
Others
- Mariner Wealth Advisors: CEO Marty Bicknell is a core ScratchWorks investor panelist. As one of the largest US independent RIAs, Mariner is closely tied to the accelerator's investment decisions and a representative institutional buyer of the wealthtech products being accelerated.
- Brighton Jones: CEO Jon Jones is a core ScratchWorks investor panelist. A large RIA firm and a representative buyer/distribution channel for the wealthtech startups the accelerator is designed to support.
Broad incumbents
- Fidelity Investments (Fidelity Institutional): ScratchWorks' lead sponsor and a large incumbent wealth management services provider. Overlap lies in the shared goal of accelerating wealthtech adoption within the RIA channel, though Fidelity is a much broader platform than the accelerator itself.
- Orion Advisor Tech: A broad incumbent wealthtech platform serving RIAs with portfolio accounting, CRM, and reporting. Comparable in targeting the same RIA buyer base that ScratchWorks' investor panel represents, and a potential corporate partner or competitor for accelerator sponsorship.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ScratchWorks social profiles
Digital presenceScratchWorks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ScratchWorks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
ScratchWorks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ScratchWorks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ScratchWorks
What does ScratchWorks do?
ScratchWorks runs a seasonal FinTech accelerator that selects three emerging FinTech or WealthTech startups per season to pitch live to a panel of six registered investment advisor (RIA) leaders collectively managing over $60B in assets. The program connects innovative financial technology companies with wealth management luminaries to advance digital transformation, providing finalists with the opportunity to receive on-the-spot investment offers, strategic guidance, and broad marketing/press exposure across major financial industry publications.
Is ScratchWorks a public or private company?
ScratchWorks is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ScratchWorks founded?
ScratchWorks was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ScratchWorks based?
ScratchWorks is headquartered in Leawood, United States, in the North America region.
How does ScratchWorks make money?
One revenue line is on record: accelerator Program & Investment Returns.
Who are ScratchWorks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TIFIN, Plug and Play FinTech and Techstars. Emerging players are Snappy Kraken, AdvicePay and CircleBlack. Others are Mariner Wealth Advisors and Brighton Jones. Broad incumbents are Fidelity Investments (Fidelity Institutional) and Orion Advisor Tech.
Does ScratchWorks have an API?
No public API is recorded for ScratchWorks.
What industry is ScratchWorks in?
ScratchWorks's product category is FinTech Accelerator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days).