Innovators
To promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the derivatives industry, FIA has created a fintech showcase - the Innovators Pavilion - at its annual Futures and Options Expo to highlight the latest advances in financial technology.
Each year FIA provides a unique opportunity for a select group of fintech startups to showcase their solutions for the derivatives industry. As the leading trade association for the listed and cleared derivatives markets, FIA has worked for decades to promote advances in the trading and clearing of derivatives, and the annual Innovators Pavilion has become a core element of FIA's commitment to accelerate the adoption of fintech solutions in these markets.
Since 2015, more than 150 startups have participated in FIA's Innovators Pavilion, demonstrating exciting new applications for emerging technologies and connecting with key players in the derivatives community. This annual showcase has become one of the most popular features of FIA's Futures and Options Expo, the industry's largest and most comprehensive conference and trade show.
Expo 2024 with the Innovators Pavilion sponsored by Connamara took place from 18-20 November at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. The 10 fintech startups selected for this year's showcase had a techpod in the Innovators Pavilion on the trade show floor and took part in a pitch competition before Expo attendees, including senior executives from exchanges, clearinghouses, banks, brokers and trading firms.
At the end of Expo, FIA named this year's FIA Innovator of the Year 2024 - Tradewell Technologies. Both ClearToken and Grão Direto were named runners up. Read the full release here.
2024 Innovators
2024 Details
- Alex Gheorghe, Investor, Illuminate Financial
- George Kalant, Venture Capital Lead, Chicago Trading Company
- Nathaniel Jackson, Director, Prime Derivatives Services, Barclays
- Mira Witzig Borja, Vice President, Markets Strategic Investments, Citi
Who should apply: Companies that have been in business for five years or less that offer innovative products and services relevant to the global markets for derivatives.
When to apply: The FIA Innovators Pavilion Committee will begin to accept applications soon. Applications must include a description of their product and/or service, an explanation of why it is innovative, a history of the company, and other relevant details. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprising experts from FIA member firms and venture capital firms with expertise in capital markets fintech. Selected firms will be notified on a rolling basis.
What is included:
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In-person access to Expo delegates via conference sessions, trade show exhibits and networking events
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A “TechPod” in the Innovators Pavilion section of the show floor with power and internet access for one day
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Media exposure through press releases, social media, and website features
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Opportunity to compete for the FIA Innovator of the Year Award and People’s Choice Award FIA Innovator Award
FIA is seeking startups that are leveraging emerging technologies to create new products and services, improve operational and capital efficiency, automate workflow, enhance the delivery of products and services to customers, and strengthen surveillance and regulatory compliance.
To qualify, the startups must offer products or services that are genuinely innovative. The innovation may come from developing new applications for emerging technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, robotic process automation, distributed ledger technology and software as a service. Alternatively, the innovation may come from applying existing technologies in new ways that unlock more value for companies in the global derivatives markets.
Areas of interest for the Innovators Pavilion include the following:
- new exchanges and other trading venues
- new types of derivatives contracts
- cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance
- blockchain and tokenization
- climate, carbon and sustainability solutions for capital markets
- connectivity to exchanges and other trading venues
- market data and alternative data
- data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence
- post-trade matching and reconciliation
- collateral management
- risk management
- compression and margin optimization
- regulatory compliance and surveillance
What Startups Receive:
Build your brand recognition with a tech pod in the Innovators Pavilion on the Expo trade show floor.
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Leverage the potential of your complimentary booth with a short video, marketing brochures, contact information and other materials that tell your startup story.
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Connect with derivatives markets professionals.
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Highlight your team members that are staffing the booth and participating in sessions.
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Chat with attendees during dedicated trade show hours and schedule 1:1 meetings.
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Use the event app to make individual connections with attendees.
Participate in the Pitch Competition and compete for an award.
FIA Innovator of the Year Pitch Competition:
Each startup gives a short presentation and then responds to questions from a panel of independent judges. The judges will determine winners based on the quality of innovation and the potential impact on the derivatives industry.
Prior winners of FIA Innovator of the Year:
2023 ClearDox [Runner Up: CodeComplete AI]
2022 BeZero Carbon [Runner Up: Clouty]
2021 Stable [Runner Up: X-Margin]
2020 Riskfuel [Runner Up: Options AI]
2019 HiveMind
2018 Freightwaves
2017 TellusLabs
2016 Money.net
The winner of this competition will be announced at a ceremony at the end of the show. The winner will receive complimentary booth space at future FIA shows, complimentary advertising on the FIA website, and prominent mention in FIA communications with member firms.
People’s Choice Award:
All Expo attendees have the option of "voting" for their favorite startup through the event app. The People’s Choice Award winner will be named at the end of the show.
Prior People’s Choice Award winner:
2023 Cumulus9
2022 Kemet Trading
2021 Databento
2020 Wematch
- Adam Hoffman, IMC Financial Markets
- George Kalant, Chicago Trading Company
- Joseph Logozzo, Barclays
- Julian O'Leary, GH Financials
- Tim Perevozchikov, Two Sigma
- Liam Smith, Optiver
- Kimberly Trautmann, DRW Venture Capital
- Brian Zboril, CME Ventures
Previous Years
2023 Innovators
Ten fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2023. After the pitch competition, the judges selected ClearDox as the FIA Innovator of the Year 2023. In addition, CodeComplete AI was named the runner-up, and Cumulus9 won the People’s Choice Award. Each startup participated in the Innovator Pitch Competition with judges drawn from Barclays, Cboe Global Markets, DRW Holdings, Two Sigma and UBS.
2022 Innovators
Ten fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2022. BeZero Carbon has been named the FIA Innovator of the Year. In addition, Clouty was named the runner-up, and Kemet Trading won the People’s Choice Award. Each startup participated in the Innovator Pitch Competition with judges drawn from Barclays, FIS, Goldman Sachs, LayerOne Financial, and Two Sigma Securities.
2021 Innovators
Eight fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2021. The winners were Stable as the FIA Innovator of the Year, X-Margin as runner-up, and Databento as the People’s Choice Award winner. Each startup in the Innovators Pavilion delivered a short presentation to Expo attendees, followed by a Q&A session with judges drawn from leading firms in the industry.
2020 Innovators
Nine fintech startups were featured in the virtual Innovators Pavilion at the Expo-V 2020. FIA named Riskfuel as the 2020 FIA Innovator of the Year, Options AI as runner-up and Wematch as the winner of the inaugural People’s Choice Award. Each startup in the Innovators Pavilion delivered a short presentation followed by a Q&A session with judges drawn from Citadel Securities, DRW Venture Capital, Goldman Sachs, Nasdaq and UBS.
2019 Innovators
Twenty fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2019. Five of these firms participated in the Meet the Innovators pitch competition. The judges then selected data science startup Hivemind as the FIA Innovator of the Year. In addition to the title, Hivemind receives more than $20,000 in cash and other resources from FIA.
2018 Innovators
Fifteen fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2018. Five of these firms participated in the Meet the Innovators pitch competition. The judges then selected FreightWaves as the FIA Innovator of the Year. In addition to the title, Freightwaves receives more than $20,000 in cash and other resources from FIA.
2017 Innovators
Nineteen fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2017. Selected companies displayed their products and services in a TechPod on the Expo show floor. TellusLabs won the “Meet the Innovators” competition during Expo 2017, receiving more than $20,000 in cash and other resources.
2016 Innovators
The 18 companies chosen for the Expo 2016 Innovators Pavilion were selected by a committee of industry experts comprised of executives from venture capital firms that focus on fintech as well as executives from FIA member firms with experience in evaluating technology. The featured companies were showcased at the 32nd Annual FIA Futures and Options Expo. Five of the companies were selected for a pitch competition before a panel of judges at the Expo, and Money.Net was chosen for a prize worth more than $20,000 in cash and other resources.
2015 Innovators
The 20 companies selected as FIA Innovators for 2015 typify a wave of financial technology innovation. Some draw on the science of artificial intelligence to improve trade processing, automate trading strategies, or identify rogue traders. Some are developing new ways for buyers and sellers to interact. Others apply big data solutions to help brokers and trading firms manage data more efficiently. And others borrow concepts from the consumer technology world to provide new tools for traders and IT professionals.
Innovator Market Map
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