Visa’s Everywhere Initiative benefits our partners as we work with startups to turn their innovative perspectives into new payment technologies. The winning ideas can become cutting edge solutions for clients, improving customer experiences and driving commerce forward.
Visa's Everywhere Initiative
Visa’s Everywhere Initiative is a global innovation program that tasks start-ups to solve commerce challenges of tomorrow, further enhance their own product propositions and provide visionary solutions for Visa’s vast network of partners. The program first launched in the U.S. in 2015 and quickly expanded into a global program with more than 2,100 participating start-ups, which have collectively raised over $2 billion in funding, with more than 131 finalists and 36 winners selected. The program activates in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, touching over 40 countries.
Compete to win money
Each regional program awards finalists and winners with a prize to execute their ideas
Deep Partnership
VEI is the starting point for lasting partnerships and the opportunity for startups and Visa to innovate together
Support
Visa provides startups with mentorship and expert advice on the payments industry
Exposure
Startups can expect increased attention from the press and other sources as they engage with one of the world’s leading payment companies
Financial Institutions
Governments
Technology Partners
Merchants
Visa Developer
Explore our APIs on the Visa Developer Platform to integrate into your pitch
Visa Ready
Certify your product with the tools and expertise of the Visa Ready team
What we look for
When evaluating submissions for VEI, we look for startups that have ideas relevant to Visa’s business, a product in market, traction with early customers, and early funding from external investors
November 2017: LAC VEI Finals in Miami
10 finalists from 5 different Latin American countries competed to win the VEI LAC finals at Finnovista fintech conference in Miami. These finals consisted of 3 days of workshops and mentoring sessions for the participating startups before the final pitches.
October 2017: MENA VEI Finals in Dubai
Working to solve challenges around Airport Transit, Acceptance, and Loyalty, 190 startups competed in the VEI MENA challenge. Finalists came from across the Middle East and North Africa region to the finals in Dubai.
June 2017: VEI live at Money 20/20 Europe
Following an announcement at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Visa launched the first European competition and hosted the finals in Copenhagen at Money 20/20 Europe. 197 startups submitted to pitch to Visa executives to take home the trophy and prize.
August 2016: VEI expands to Australia and New Zealand
With 90 startups across 3 different challenges, Visa’s Everywhere Initiative launched with the fifteen finalists pitching in Sydney in September 2016. Specific challenges focused on solving consumer and commercial business problems with Visa APIs.
May 2016: VEI goes global
Just a few months after the conclusion of the second US competition, VEI launched internationally with a competition in China, receiving over 100 submissions. Challenges included Engaging the next Generation of Consumers, Connecting with Cardholders, and Driving Cross-Border and Ecommerce Usage.
March 2015: VEI Launches
The first Visa Everywhere Initiative launched in the US with 398 applicants, challenging startups with objectives around Inspiring Millennials, Rewarding Members, and Digital Commerce. See below to view the 2015 winners or keep scrolling to learn more about VEI’s history.
