Visa invites APAC’s top startups to unlock their global potential

By Edil Corneille

Digital payments company Visa is announcing an accelerator program for startups across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region that are looking to expand their businesses into new markets. The company will select a group of up to six startups to be part of the first program cohort. The Visa Accelerator Program will focus on creating defined commercial opportunities for the startups to collaborate with Visa and its extensive network of bank and merchant partners in the APAC region.

The Visa Accelerator Program has been designed for startups that have launched successful solutions in their home markets and are looking towards the next stage of growth. As the engine of global commerce, Visa is uniquely positioned to help startups break into new geographies and reach new customer groups.

“In Visa’s ongoing work with the startup community, we often see companies face challenges when taking their business from a local success story to becoming a player in multiple markets,” said Chris Clark, regional president, Asia Pacific, Visa. “Visa has global expertise that can help startups take their expansion plans off the white board and into the real world.”

Startups in the Visa Accelerator Program have to be ready to work on pressing financial and technological opportunities in the APAC. Visa is looking for startups that want to address areas on the following:

• Expanding access to the digital economy to consumers and businesses that may be underserved or cash-dependent
• Supporting small businesses as they grapple with changing technology demands and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Leveraging the growing open data environment in the region to develop more personalised banking and shopping experiences
• Developing new ways of moving money that aren’t dependent on traditional credit and debit cards

“There is no shortage of fantastic solutions coming out of the Asia Pacific startup community. What’s most important to Visa is how we can support those solutions getting elevated to a stage where in a few months’ time they could be pitched as a commercial deal to a leading bank, retailer or technology company in the region. A big differentiator for the Visa Accelerator Program is our concentration on a small number of startups that are truly ready to unlock that next level,” said Clark.

The Visa Accelerator Program is a new part of the company’s broader set of platforms and activities for the startup community in the region. With its dedication to supporting international expansion, the Visa Accelerator Program is the right fit for startups that are Series A and above, have a long-term commitment to APAC growth and existing operations in the region, and have a market-validated proven solution.