AUTOMOTIVE & MOBILITY
Open Innovation for Financial Services & Banking
Elpis Labs connects banks, insurance companies, asset managers, and fintech companies with market-ready startups in AI-powered underwriting, blockchain infrastructure, fraud detection, embedded finance, and regulatory technology.
Through startup scouting, CVC deal flow, and our thought leadership event series, we help financial services corporations adopt technologies that reduce friction, improve compliance, and create new revenue streams.
150+
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
IN LATEST CHALLENGE
THE CHALLENGE
What Financial Services Leaders
Face Today
Innovation teams at banks, insurers, and financial institutions face pressure to adopt AI and blockchain, meet evolving regulatory requirements, defend against fraud, and deliver digital-first experiences while managing systemic risk.
AI Transformation in Regulated Industries
Financial institutions need to deploy AI across underwriting, claims processing, fraud detection, and customer service while meeting regulatory standards for explainability, fairness, and data governance. Identifying startups that understand both AI and financial regulation is a critical scouting challenge.
Fraud, Cyber Risk & Compliance
Fraud losses, cyberattacks, and regulatory complexity are increasing simultaneously. Financial institutions need next-generation solutions for identity verification, transaction monitoring, KYC/AML automation, and real-time threat detection that keep pace with evolving attack vectors.
Blockchain, Stablecoins & Tokenization
The GENIUS Act stablecoin framework, SWIFT’s digital ledger initiative, and the growing tokenized assets market are moving blockchain from pilot to production in capital markets. Insurance and banking need startups building programmable settlement, trade finance, and cross-border payment infrastructure.
Embedded Finance & Digital Distribution
Insurance, lending, and payments are becoming embedded in non-financial platforms. Banks and insurers need startup partners building API-first products, white-label infrastructure, and distribution technology that enable them to reach customers through new channels.
WHAT WE DO
Our Services For Financial Services & Banking
Elpis Labs provides end-to-end innovation support tailored to the regulatory environment, compliance requirements, and technology procurement cycles of banks, insurers, and financial institutions.
01
FinTech & InsurTech
Startup Scouting
Targeted identification and validation of startups in AI underwriting, blockchain infrastructure, embedded finance, RegTech, fraud detection, and digital banking. Elpis Labs evaluates regulatory readiness, compliance posture, and integration capabilities alongside technology innovation.
03
CVC Deal Flow
& Investment Matchmaking
Curated pipeline of investment-ready fintech and insurtech startups for corporate venture arms at banks, insurers, and asset managers. Elpis Labs aligns deal flow with CVC theses spanning payments, lending, wealth management, insurance, and blockchain infrastructure.
05
U.S. Market Access
for FinTech Startups
Softlanding and go-to-market programs for international fintech and insurtech startups entering the North American market. Includes guidance on U.S. regulatory landscape, state licensing, corporate introductions, and investor matchmaking.
02
Innovation Challenges
& Pilot Programs
Structured programs where financial institutions present specific technology challenges and vetted startups compete to deliver solutions. Elpis Labs manages the full cycle from challenge definition through startup screening, pitch coaching, regulatory assessment, and pilot facilitation.
04
Financial Services
Learning Expeditions
Custom visits to U.S. fintech hubs, neobanks, insurtech startups, blockchain companies, and financial services-focused VCs in New York, Miami, and other innovation centers. Designed for executive teams evaluating emerging financial technologies.
06
CVC Event Series
& Thought Leadership
Elpis Labs’ 2026 CVC Thought Leadership Series brings together corporate venture arms from financial services, insurance, and adjacent industries. Our inaugural panel featured Prudential Financial’s Director of Emerging Tech & Innovation alongside venture leads from Mondelēz and Alumni Ventures (formerly SAP CVC).
Speak with an Elpis Labs innovation expert about your financial services challenges.
Ready To Find Your Next Financial Technology Partner?
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Technologies We Scout In Financial Services
Elpis Labs identifies and validates startups across the following technology domains within financial services and insurance innovation.
Recent Corporate PoCs
Innovation Challenge: Automotive In-Cabin Technology
Client
Leading Japanese chemical and materials manufacturer operating across automotive, electronics, and healthcare sectors.
144
Scouted startups
30
Startups validate
Project
Elpis Labs managed the full innovation challenge as part of JETRO NY's J-Bridge program, attracting 144 startup applications across three industry verticals.
3
Winners Chosen
4
Day Program
CVC & INVESTMENT
Corporate Venture Capital In Financial Services
Financial services CVC is one of the most mature and active segments globally. Banks, insurers, exchanges, and payment networks all operate dedicated venture arms investing in fintech, insurtech, and blockchain startups. With over 40% of the largest global corporations now operating CVC units, financial services leads in both deal volume and strategic sophistication.
Elpis Labs has direct engagement with financial services CVC teams through its event series. Our inaugural CVC panel at Civic Hall featured Ashlyn Lackey, Director of Emerging Tech & Innovation at Prudential Financial, alongside Sallie Jian from Alumni Ventures (formerly SAP CVC). These connections give Elpis Labs firsthand insight into how insurance and financial services innovation teams evaluate startup partnerships.
Kenneth Huynh, Elpis Labs Managing Principal, brings deep expertise in AI transformation for regulated industries, with specific focus on how blockchain, stablecoins, and tokenization are creating new infrastructure for claims verification, reinsurance settlement, and cross-border payments — the high-friction workflows where programmable ledgers create compounding operational value.
