Innovative FinTech accelerator opens submissions for FinTech companies to compete for seed funding and garner industry exposure, culminating at the 2020 Barron’s Top Independent Advisor Summit
Overland Park, KS. September 3, 2019. ScratchWorks, a leading FinTech accelerator, announced today the launch of “Season 3” of its annual program to connect innovative tech companies with investment and wealth management luminaries to advance the digital transformation of the financial services industry.
The ScratchWorks website (www.Scratch.Works) is now open for submissions for emerging and startup FinTech companies to pitch their business models, products and platforms live on stage for potential investment from the ScratchWorks investors at the Barron’s Top Independent Advisor Summit, to be held March 18-20, 2020 in Louisville, KY.
Earlier this year, ScratchWorks held its “Season 2” event live at the Barron’s Top Independent Advisors Conference featuring three top FinTech companies, pitching their business models and platforms for potential investment opportunities to the investors of ScratchWorks: Marty Bicknell, CEO of Mariner Wealth Advisors, Dick Burridge, CEO of RMB Capital, John Eadie, CEO of Covenant, Jon Jones, CEO of Brighton Jones, Michael Nathanson, CEO of The Colony Group and Shannon Eusey, CEO of Beacon Pointe Advisors. Collectively, these six leading RIAs manage over $70 billion in AUM for high net worth clients.
“We were extremely impressed with the caliber of the FinTech companies that participated in both Seasons 1 and 2,” said Marty Bicknell, CEO of Mariner Wealth Advisors. “So much so, that we have increased the initial ScratchWorks investment of $100,000 in Season 1 Finalist, marketing automation firm Snappy Kraken, with a subsequent $3.5 million investment to further fuel their growth.”
Season 2 featured three additional fintech darlings, including AdvicePay, the financial planning, fee-for-service billing platform from famous advisors Michael Kitces and Alan Moore. Kitces and Moore were offered $2 million live on stage for an equity stake in AdvicePay, and entered into further discussions post event. Ultimately a deal was not finalized. Also featured in Season 2 were Solidus Link, a digital gold technology platform and 280 Cap Markets, a fixed income technology trading system.
Season 3 submissions open September 3, 2019, and close on November 29, 2019, with special preferred pricing for applications received prior to November 1, 2019.
Continuing their support of the ScratchWorks program for the third season as sponsors are Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions and the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. To learn more about the ScratchWorks FinTech Accelerator, log onto www.Scratch.Works or follow us on Twitter@_ScratchWorks.
“We’re thrilled to see ScratchWorks enter its third season,” said David Canter, head of the RIA segment for Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions. “The FinTech industry is constantly evolving as new and existing firms seek opportunities for growth, and this program continues to support a diverse set of FinTech solutions that are making an impact in the wealth management industry.”
About ScratchWorks
Founded by leading independent RIAs, ScratchWorks is a FinTech Accelerator that connects innovative tech companies with investment and wealth management luminaries to advance the digital transformation of the financial services industry.
Disclosure: Mariner Wealth Advisors, RMB Capital, Covenant, Brighton Jones, Beacon Pointe Advisors and The Colony Group are each an investment adviser registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training. For additional information about any of these registered investment advisers, including fees and services, you can visit their websites or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).
Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions® (“Fidelity”) is an independent company, unaffiliated with ScratchWorks. The information and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and in no way represent the advice, opinions, or recommendations of Fidelity. There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between Fidelity and the above financial advisors referenced in this announcement, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the information found herein. Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions and Fidelity Investments are registered service marks of FMR LLC. Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions® provides clearing, custody, or other brokerage services through National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Members NYSE, SIPC. 897204.1.0
