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NCR Inspires Future leaders to Tackle Complex Fintech Challenges

May 25, 2018
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 min read

https://ncratleos.com/news/ncr-inspires-future-leaders-to-tackle-complex-fintech-challenges

Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator powers innovation, tackles the future of fintech with NCR

WELLINGTON - 25 May, 2018 - NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions, in partnership with New Zealand-based accelerator programme, Lightning Lab hosted its Demo Day on Wednesday, May 16, following a three-month Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator (KFA) project.

Powered by Lightning Lab, KFA collaborated with some of the brightest and freshest talent to accelerate innovation and growth in the fintech space. The accelerator programme encourages innovative thinking and invites participants to demonstrate how their creative idea can help solve a real-world challenge.

As a Partner to KFA, NCR worked closely with nine start-ups to provide mentoring support and guidance on how to bring a concept from ideation into commercialisation, and managing hurdles along the way. These innovative teams, chosen from 66 start-up companies, have a unique concept and reached different stages of maturity in their journeys. All teams will leave the programme with a clear action plan of where to take their project next.

Simon Archer, Australasia Payments & FinTech Leader, NCR Corporation, commented on the initiative: “Our partnership with Lightning Lab and the Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator has provided us with an opportunity to work alongside some of the best talent in New Zealand. We’ve had the pleasure of mentoring and watching home grown innovators pitch their ideas, and learn and grow. With a strong calibre of solutions, we believe these bright minds have the potential to solve some of biggest challenges for consumers and businesses in fintech.”

Solutions out of KFA all share a common goal of making life easier for anyone interacting with their finances in the digital economy. Some of these include:

  • Decrease merchant transaction fees and redistributing half to socially impactful causes
  • Streamline common transactions for consumers and business owners
  • Predict opportunity within the local housing market through new technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence
  • Help first-time cryptocurrency investors dabble in the cryptocurrency with confidence
  • Create a digital catalogue of valued items, using photos, receipts and warranties to craft a fully customisable insurance policy
  • Transform the often-isolated entrepreneurial journey into a supported, innovative community

KFA is also designed to drive international commercialisation opportunities for intellectual property and innovation developed in New Zealand.

Laura Reitel from Lightning Lab, commented on the initiative: “It’s been an incredibly valuable partnership for Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator and Lightning Lab. The support of established leaders like NCR have given our innovators the boosts of confidence they need, along with guidance and real-world business advice to help bring their ideas to life. We believe NCR’s contribution and desire to engage with our future leaders will create a positive impact on the fintech industry.”

In addition to NCR and Kiwibank, the KFA program has also received the support of Callaghan Innovation, Ando Insurance Group, Deloitte Private, MasterCard, Simmonds Stewart and Creative HQ.

About NCR Corporation

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across financial, retail, hospitality, travel, telecom and technology industries. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier. NCR is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., with about 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. NCR encourages investors to visit its website which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about NCR.

About Lightning Lab

Powered by Creative HQ, Lightning Lab is New Zealand’s leading business accelerator program and the only “Global Accelerator Network” (GAN) in Australasia - the gold standard for the most respected accelerators in the world. The accelerator provides teams with structure, startup methodologies, business skills and focused support so participants can prove, build and launch their ideas into market with speed.

Web site: www.ncr.com

Twitter: @NCRCorporation

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation

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Media contacts

Charlotte Swindell

NCR marketing senior specialist

+61 2 9478 4154

charlotte.swindell@ncr.com

Belinda Truong

H+K Strategies for NCR

+61 2 9286 1243

belinda.truong@hkstrategies.com