Rise created by Barclays is supporting budding founders who find themselves out of their fintech jobs due to the current economic climate with the latest cohort of its startup academy.
Rise operates fintech workspaces around the world and in a virtual community where cutting-edge startups and scale-ups can connect, create and scale their businesses, backed by Barclays’ global network of industry experts, mentors, investors and partners.
Its first Rise Start-Up Academy launched to connect founders and provide them with training and community, with a collective ambition to transform the future of fintech. But after a summer of layoffs – with an estimated 71,000 positions axed across tech startups since the beginning of 2022 – its latest programme is looking to support those impacted by recent downsizing.
Sonal Lakhani, Rise global head of programmes and strategic initiatives for Barclays Innovation, said the newest iteration of the Rise Start-Up Academy is looking for founders who are motivated and ready for ‘their second act’.
“When we started Rise Start-Up Academy, we set out to build a programme that helps entrepreneurs build their ideas into impactful products for the future of fintech,” says Lakhani. “This time, we have selected this impacted founder population because we believe out of adversity comes innovation and invention.
“Sometimes it gives you a fresh opportunity to do things you could not or did not think to do before. Historical data has shown that recessions, while tough, can spark new thinking in a needs-must environment and create a hot bed of innovative new ideas and successful global businesses.”
The Academy
The 20-week programme will support participants in bringing their new fintech ideas to life by connecting them with the technical and financial experts in the Rise community whose work aligns with theirs to help launch their idea or business.
This partnership provides learning from anywhere with 24/7 access, opportunities to apply learning through weekly activities, live workshops, and connection with peers. This helps them succeed by creating lasting, rewarding connections with other likeminded fintech founders.
Interested individuals with experience in the fintech sector can find out more programme information and submit an application at the Rise Start-up Academy website. Applications close on 20 October 2022.
Image and article originally from thefintechtimes.com. Read the original article here.