Abanca launches startup program for next-gen financial services

Abanca has launched the 13th edition of its Abanca Innova Venture Client program, seeking technology startups to develop next-generation financial services. The initiative focuses on artificial intelligence, digital assets, and tokenization.

Interested startups must submit applications by October 15. Preselected projects will undergo evaluation by bank professionals to identify potential use cases. Successful candidates will participate in a technical bootcamp to define a proof of concept (PoC) and prepare for implementation in a real-world environment. This allows startups to develop pilot projects alongside Abanca's business units, validating their value propositions against actual banking needs.

Abanca noted that the program arrives during a decisive moment for the European financial sector, following the implementation of the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation. This regulatory framework provides legal certainty for the issuance and custody of crypto-assets, enabling banks to apply these technologies to services such as financing, customer service, and fraud prevention.