BUILD THE NEXT BIG THING IN FINTECH

Do you have an idea that could change the future of Financial Technology? We want to help you bring it to life.

The Sound Credit Union FinTech Incubator Challenge is designed to help innovators like you create the technologies that will empower people to make better financial decisions and make everyday life more affordable. One winner will receive $10,000, six-month membership to UW’s CoMotion Labs in Seattle and more. Applications open March 28.

    ENTRIES DUE May 17

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    PRIZES

    $10,000 grand prize, plus a 6-month renewable membership to CoMotion Labs to incubate your business.

    CoMotion Labs provides a multi-industry incubation environment for early-stage startups that will help you grow without taking equity. From critical infrastructure to learning, mentoring, and networking, CoMotion Labs nurtures and enables success.

    The winner will also have opportunities to collaborate with Sound Credit Union experts to develop and refine your fintech innovation through real industry insights and proof-of-concept projects.

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    HOW TO ENTER

    This competition is open to everyone who lives, works, or attends school in the state of Washington.*

    • Submit an application form and a pitch deck for your idea on or before May 17
    • A committee will review all submissions and select finalists on June 3
    • Finalists will present their ideas to a panel of judges on June 17
    • The winner will be announced on June 21 and receive a $10,000 prize!

    *Please note that it is the responsibility of participants to verify if and at what point during the competition a valid U.S. work authorization may be required. Current Sound Credit Union employees are not eligible to apply.

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      WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

      We are looking for innovators who are interested in creating new technology that can help Sound Credit Union members make confident financial decisions and make everyday life more affordable.

       

      Areas we are interested in include, but are not limited to:
      • Personalized Advice Platforms
      • Lending and crowdfunding platforms
      • Tools to enhance financial wellness
      • Ideas to gamify and make financial education fun
      • Digital lending
      • Digital banking, wallets, payments or settlements
      • Intelligent augmentation
      • Machine-assisted cognition
      • Blockchain/Cryptocurrency
      • Cyber security
      • Smart contracts
      • Asset management
      • Artificial Intelligence/Automation
      • Big Data/Machine Learning

      JOIN THE KICKOFF

      Join our virtual kickoff meeting on April 4 from 12:30–1 p.m., where leaders from Sound Credit Union and the Milgard Center for Business Analytics will give an overview of the competition and answer any questions you have.

      TIPS FOR CREATING A WINNING IDEA

      Understand Fintech

      Fintech is a multibillion-dollar industry that is fundamentally changing how we interact with money. You can get a quick introduction below:

      Know Your Customer

      To appeal to Sound Credit Union and their members, be sure to familiarize yourself with the differences between credit unions and banks. Unlike banks, credit unions are not-for-profit and member-owned, meaning they’re designed to serve their community rather than shareholders. You can learn more about Sound Credit Union at soundcu.com.

      Kickoff Meeting Recording

      Watch the virtual kickoff meeting recording, where leaders from Sound Credit Union and the Milgard Center for Business Analytics give an overview of the competition and answer the questions of the participants.

      TERMS & CONDITIONS

      Each person who submits an application agrees to the following terms and conditions.

      Terms & Conditions

      SOUND CREDIT UNION

      FINTECH INCUBATOR COMPETITION RULES

       

      1. Agreement to Rules. Each person who submits an Application agrees for the FinTech Incubator Challenge or Pitch Event (“Competition”) presented by the Milgard Center for Business Analytics of the University of Washington (“UW”) agrees to the following Rules, terms and conditions.
      2. Administration of Competition. Sound Credit Union is responsible for the administration of the Competition. All decisions as to the Competition rules and interpretations are exclusively within the sole discretion of Sound Credit Union and may be changed from time to time without notice or recourse. Sound Credit Union is not responsible for any error in administering the Competition including but not limited to the printing of any materials, information or the announcement of any Prize winner.
      3. Persons eligible to participate in the Competition include: (i) UW Showcase: UW enrolled students from the Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses of UW, and (ii) Statewide Challenge: any person over the age of eighteen (18) who lives, works, or goes to school in the State of Washington. Officials and Employees, immediate families (spouses, parents, siblings, and children) and persons affiliated with Sound Credit Union are not eligible to enter or win.
      4. Application Information. Each entrant in the Competition is solely responsible for the completion of an Application, including responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or completeness. Sound Credit Union will not be responsible for any Application or content provided in an Application Entrant understands and agrees Entrant will be sharing personal information and proprietary information to Sound Credit Union. Sound Credit Union may share Entrant information with judges of the competition officials of UW and persons directly affiliated with or performing functions related to the Competition. Sound Credit Union will not share Entrant’s information with any party not directly affiliated with the Competition.
      5. Prize/Benefits Restrictions. The Competition is not a game of chance but is based upon Competition performance criteria. Sound Credit Union and its directors, officers, employees, agents and owners accept no responsibility for an entrant failing to receive a Prize. All Prizes and benefits are awarded “AS IS” and “WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,” express or implied, (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose).The Competition benefits are non-refundable, non-transferable, and not subject to exchange. No substitute Prize or benefits will be awarded or provided. Prize Winners are responsible for payment of any applicable federal, state, and local taxes on the Prize and benefits provided.
      6. Publication of Winner. By entering, entrant understands that Sound Credit Union shall have the right to use any Prize Winner’s voice, name, likeness and photograph(s) for advertising and promotional purposes without further authorization, compensation, remuneration or notification except where prohibited by law.
      7. Release of Liability. By entering the Competition or accepting a Prize, each entrant releases Sound Credit Union and its directors, officers, employers, and agents from any liability whatsoever and waiving any and all causes of action related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Competition promotion or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use any Prize or benefit (including any type or manner of costs or damages), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty, or any other theory.
      8. By entering, entrant agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Sound Credit Union directors, officers, employees, and agents (the “Released Parties”) against any and all claims, liability, damages or causes of action, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs with respect to or arising out of either (i) entrant’s participation; or (ii) the receipt or use of any prize or benefits awarded in the Competition.
      9. Violation of Rules. Any entrant who violates the Official Rules are subject to disqualification from participation in the Competition or claiming or using any Prize or benefit. Any such decision is in the sole discretion of Sound Credit Union. Each entrant agrees that if the entrant is a potential Prize Winner, he or she may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability/Prize Acceptance Form within two (2) days of attempted notification.
      10. No Liability. In the event Sound Credit Union is prevented from continuing with this promotion, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the promotion is severely undermined by any event beyond Sound Credit Union’s control, including but not limited to fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist threat or activity, or any federal, state or local government law, order or regulation, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Sound Credit Union’s control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence). Sound Credit Union shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate the Competition at any time, without further obligation.