The FIS Fintech Accelerator is a corporate accelerator operated by Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), delivered in partnership with The Venture Center, and designed to help early-stage fintech startups pilot, validate, and scale solutions within real financial-services environments.

Specific Funding Stage
Pre-Seed / Seed: Core focus on early-stage fintech companies with MVPs or early traction.
Early Growth: Selective participation by slightly later-stage startups that can run pilots with FIS clients.

Investment Amount and Percentage Equity (Company-Level)
Typical Capital Support:
• Startups receive program funding and proof-of-concept capital, historically ~$50K+ per company to support pilots and integrations.
Equity Taken:
• The FIS Fintech Accelerator does not operate on a fixed “$X for Y%” accelerator model.
• There is no standardized equity percentage automatically taken at admission.
• When FIS (via FIS Impact Ventures) makes a direct investment, equity is negotiated deal-by-deal.
• Founder-side expectation (based on observed corporate-VC behavior):
– If FIS invests at seed or early institutional stage, ownership is typically a minority stake, often in the ~5%–15% range, depending on valuation, check size, and whether FIS is leading or co-investing.
Equity Structure: SAFE, convertible note, or priced equity, negotiated individually.
Governance: Strategic rights or pilot partnerships may accompany investment; board seats are not automatic.

Application / Submission Method
Submission Method: Online application through the FIS Fintech Accelerator portal during open calls.
Cohort Size: Typically ~10 companies per annual cohort.
Program Length: ~12 weeks following a short incubation phase.

Sector Focus: Fintech — payments, banking infrastructure, fraud, compliance, data, AI-driven financial tools.
 Geography: Primarily U.S.-based, with selective international participation.
 Stage: Pre-seed to early growth with a product ready for enterprise testing.
 Team: Founders with strong fintech or financial-services domain expertise.

Initial Intake: Application review for fintech relevance and enterprise readiness.
 Interviews: Shortlisted founders interviewed by FIS and program partners.
 Cohort Selection: Final startups selected for accelerator participation.
 Pilot & Diligence: Proof-of-concept development with FIS teams; investment discussions occur separately if applicable.

Strategic Capital: Program funding and potential follow-on investment from FIS Impact Ventures.
 Enterprise Access: Direct exposure to FIS clients, partners, and real-world pilots.
 Mentorship: Hands-on guidance from FIS executives and fintech operators.
 Investor Signal: Strong corporate validation that can support downstream fundraising.