MAS names finalists for 2026 fintech hackcelerator and awards in Singapore

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MAS 2026 FinTech Hackcelerator finalists

Highlights

Monetary Authority of Singapore shortlisted 18 finalists for the 2026 Global FinTech Hackcelerator, focusing on digital banking risk, wealth management, and SME business risk.
Each of the three Hackcelerator challenge winners will receive S$80,000 at Demo Day on 18 November 2026, with additional opportunities for pilot projects and follow-on funding.
The FinTech Excellence Awards attracted 131 submissions across six categories, with four finalists in each, and the 'FinTech Gives Back' initiative saw contributions from 11 organisations.

Finalists selected for November showcase

As announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, 18 finalists have been shortlisted for the 2026 Global FinTech Hackcelerator, while the remaining finalists have been named across the Singapore FinTech Festival FinTech Excellence Awards.

This year's hackcelerator is organised by MAS with the Global Finance & Technology Network and centres on three problem statements set by GXS Bank, Julius Baer and Zurich Insurance. The challenges focus on combining credit and fraud risk modelling in digital banking, redesigning wealth management for a digitally native generation, and helping small and medium-sized enterprises assess, quantify and manage business risk exposure more proactively.

The 18 hackcelerator finalists are set to present their market-ready solutions at the Global FinTech Hackcelerator Demo Day on 18 November 2026 as part of SFF 2026. One winner will be chosen for each challenge, with each receiving S$80,000 in prize money, while finalists will also be able to explore pilot engagements with the corporate champions and apply for the GFH Scale-up Grant for follow-on funding.

Industry recognition and ecosystem impact

The FinTech Excellence Awards, jointly organised by MAS and the Singapore FinTech Association and supported by PwC Singapore, recognise corporates and individuals whose initiatives have contributed to the fintech ecosystem and advanced innovation in financial services.

A total of 131 submissions were received across six categories. Of these, 119 were for the corporate categories, with four finalists shortlisted in each category, while 13 submissions were received for the individual FinTech Mentor Award, from which four finalists were selected.

MAS said the 'FinTech Gives Back' initiative drew contributions from 11 organisations this year, highlighting continued support within the fintech community for innovation and future entrepreneurs. Kenneth Gay, chief fintech officer at MAS, congratulated the finalists and stressed the importance of harnessing technology in financial services, while SFA President Holly Fang and PwC Singapore FinTech Leader Wong Wanyi pointed to the sector's ambition, resilience and ingenuity.

In our earlier article on SME Corp Malaysia’s Sinar programme, we outlined how the initiative has been supporting micro, small and medium enterprises hit by supply chain disruptions and rising operating costs. We also noted that Budget 2027 allocated significant funding for MSME development, with a focus on financing, automation, market access and capability-building to help businesses scale and stay resilient.

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