Visa Everywhere Initiative funding arrives as competition prize money — plus something harder to buy: exposure to Visa's global network of banking, merchant, venture-capital and government partners. Launched in the US in 2015, the Visa Everywhere Initiative is the payments giant's global open-innovation competition, and nearly 12,000 startups have applied to date.
Visa Everywhere Initiative funding: how the competition works
Startups pitch innovative solutions to the future of payments and commerce, competing through regional finals toward a global final. Winners receive monetary prizes alongside access and exposure to Visa's vast partner networks and the credibility of one of the world's most trusted brands. The 2021 global finals show the stakes: overall winner Moov (North America) took $50,000 plus the $25,000 Audience Favorite award, Finerio Connect (Latin America and the Caribbean) took $15,000 for second place, and PearlPay (Asia-Pacific) took $10,000 for third, with finalists including PAYZE (Central Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Fiskl (Europe).
Regional editions — including India
The initiative runs dedicated country editions — including South Africa, Kenya and Egypt — and it has a real India footprint: the India edition targets themes such as growing digital-payment adoption beyond the metros, increasing access to credit, and scaling commercial payments. In Africa, Visa pairs the competition with the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator, which takes up to 40 startups a year through a three-month intensive program of business growth and mentoring, with capital investment in select participants afterwards — part of Visa's $1 billion pledge to Africa's digital transformation.
Categories and who should enter
The competition casts a wide net: Emerging Spaces (artificial intelligence, big data and open banking, cloud, digital identity and biometrics, cybersecurity and privacy, fraud and risk), Money Movers (remittances, P2P, cross-border and B2B payments), Enablers (embedded finance, core banking, BaaS), neobanks and digital wallets, lending, and crypto. The sweet spot is fintechs with products that deliver innovative payment and commerce solutions to consumers or businesses.
How to apply for funding
How to get funding from Visa Everywhere Initiative? Register as a participant through Visa's regional Everywhere Initiative pages or the global application form (the 2024 global edition accepted submissions via Typeform, per Visa's official terms and conditions). Submissions are judged by panels of Visa executives and industry leaders, with regional finalists advancing to the global final. Watch for your region's edition — deadlines and briefs vary by market.
Why it matters for founders
For fintech founders, this is one of the few global stages where a strong pitch converts directly into cash prizes, Visa partnerships and investor visibility. If payments or commerce is your game, the Everywhere Initiative should be on your calendar.