To promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the derivatives industry, FIA has created a special program at its annual Futures and Options Expo in Chicago to highlight the latest advances in financial technology. Each year FIA provides a platform for a select group of fintech startups to show off their innovations and share their insights with Expo attendees. The companies are evaluated based on the degree of innovation and the potential application to data processing, trading and clearing, market surveillance, risk management and many other functions. 

2018 Call for Innovators - Apply Now!

Show FIA how your company is shaping the future of the global derivatives markets and be named an FIA Innovator! FIA is looking for leading-edge companies that are harnessing innovations such as blockchain, machine learning, virtual reality, big data, cloud computing, natural language processing and social trading. Selected firms will be featured in the Innovators Pavilion at the 34th Annual Futures and Options Expo, October 17-18 in Chicago. Your firm could also be selected to participate in the "Meet the Innovators" pitch competition. Applications to be an FIA Innovator must be submitted by August 8, 2018. 

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 one was chosen for a prize worth more than $20,000 in cash and other resources.  Learn More

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.