BME and BBF Fintech launch the first international edition of Hack & Disrupt!, the first fintech and insurtech hackathon
- The event, supported by BBK, Plaza Financiera Bilbao and F10, will bring together companies, entrepreneurs and startups to solve challenges on 25, 26 and 27 June
- Javier Hernani, CEO of BME; Manuel Ardanza, Chairman of the Bilbao stock exchange, and Berta Ares, General Manager of BME Inntech, will be among the speakers.
- Among the hackathon prizes are a prospection trip to Switzerland and direct access to the final interview to participate in the F10 incubation and acceleration programme
On 25, 26 and 27 June, Bilbao will host the "Hack & Disrupt!" event, the first hackathon focused on the international fintech and insurtech sector that focusses on sustainable finance. Over two days the gathering will bring together companies, entrepreneurs and startups to solve global technological challenges as a team. BME and BBF Fintech are the organisers of this event, which is sponsored by BBK, Plaza Financiera Bilbao and SIX's startup accelerator, F10.
The aim of this event is to connect entrepreneurs and businesses to re-imagine finance and insurance through digitalisation. The real challenges that participants will be facing are geared towards innovation and sustainable finance. The event will be held in a hybrid format due to the pandemic, combining a face-to-face part, at the BBF Bilbao Berrikuntza Faktoria, where all protection measures against Covid-19 will be followed, and an online part, through a technological platform, which will feature different stands, chats and work rooms. The opening and closing ceremonies, as well as various panels related to the entrepreneurial world and the fintech and insurtech ecosystem, will be streamed from the platform.
The event will begin on Friday 25th at 17 hrs. Among others, the opening will be attended by Lander Beloki, dean of the University of Mondragon; Ainara Basurko, regional member of parliament for economic promotion; Xabier Ochandiano, councilor for economic development, trade and employment of the City Council of Bilbao, and Javier Hernani, CEO of BME, who will reflect on innovation in the securities markets. Afterwards there will be a panel discussion on sustainability.
At 18 hrs on Friday the challenges will be introduced, and the teams will start working on their resolution at 18:30 hrs They will have until Sunday 27th at 11 hrs. That day, at 18 hrs, the winners will be announced. Saturday 26th features presentations by several experts, including Berta Ares, General Manager of BME Inntech, and Manuel Ardanza, Chairman of the Bilbao stock exchange.
The winners will be eligible for three prizes: a prospection trip to Switzerland, where they will be able to get to know its fintech ecosystem in detail, the possibility of participating in the incubation Programme and in BBF Fintech’s II Open Innovation Programme, the public-private fintech incubator promoted by Bizkaia’s provincial council, Bilbao’s City Hall, the University of Mondragón and Dominion, as well as direct access to the final interview to participate in the F10 incubation and acceleration programme.
Javier Hernani, CEO of BME, believes that BME's presence at this event reaffirms the company's commitment to digitalisation, innovation and the promotion of SMEs and disruptive startups, which adds to other initiatives, such as the Pre-Market Environment. "Today's startups can be tomorrow's stock market blue chips," he stated. “We also reiterate our support for Bilbao as an innovative financial centre, where BME closely follows the entrepreneurial ecosystem”, he added.
Registration can be done via this link: https://hopin.com/events/hack-and-disrupt
