KlickEx and Waratek win Innotribe Startup Challenge 2013

Dubai, 19 September 2013 – Innotribe, SWIFT's initiative to enable collaborative innovation in financial services, announced that KlickEx and Waratek have been awarded “Top Startup” and “Top Innovator” respectively, in the Innotribe Startup Challenge final held on September 18, 2013 at Sibos Dubai.

KlickEx won the title of “Top Startup” with a regulated clearing service for Central and Commercial Banks. As “Top Startup” of the Challenge, KlickEx has won the $50,000 prize. Waratek won the title of “Top Innovator” with a solution that solves a specific problem affecting the future use of Java as the industry moves towards higher levels of infrastructure virtualisation and private Clouds.

Both companies have been recognised by the SWIFT member community and senior innovation executives of global financial institutions, VCs and angel investors as the most promising startups likely to deliver new services that will shape the development of the financial sector.

Robert Bell, Founder of KlickEx said: “Winning the Innotribe Startup Challenge has been a huge recognition and validation of our work and we are encouraged that the banking community is starting to consider the need for a regulated clearing service. The Innotribe Startup Challenge has definitely been a catalyst in helping KlickEx gain international exposure within the banking circle and being at Sibos has also given us the opportunity to participate in critical dialogue amongst key industry leaders. We hope to build KlickEx into a global brand that provides CLS for everyone.”

"In selecting Waratek as the Top Innovator for 2013, Innotribe has confirmed our vision to solve a very specific problem affecting the future use of Java as the banking industry and other major technology users,” said John Matthew Hold, Founder and CTO, Waratek.  "We very much look forward to working with SWIFT and its members to continue deploying the Waratek platform in support of the entrepreneurship and innovation economy around the world."

Over 200 early-stage startups and growth-stage companies from around the world competed as part of the 2013 Challenge. A panel of over 100 industry experts, including senior innovation executives at global financial institutions, VCs and angel investors selected 45 semi-finalists to participate in 3 regional events in London, Singapore and New York earlier this year. 15 of the 45 companies were selected as finalists at those three events to compete at Sibos Dubai.

Javier Perez-Tasso, Head of Marketing at SWIFT said: “The Innotribe Startup Challenge 2013 has taken another huge step towards facilitating innovation between the startup and wider financial communities. Since its inception the Challenge has grown in popularity and success, which is evident by the high caliber of audience attendees we've seen here in Dubai. Over the last year we've seen a number of previous participants gain recognition in the industry and secure significant funding to help them take their innovations to the next level, and I am proud that Innotribe has played a part in that journey. I am delighted that we are able to give KlickEx and Waratek the opportunity to do the same. The Startup Challenge is now truly embedded into SWIFT, and we look forward to working with more startups in 2014 to give them that all important exposure to the financial industry.”

Each year, Innotribe invites a limited number of industry leading financial institutions, technology vendors, investors, government agencies and professional services providers to join us in supporting innovation in the financial services industry. Sponsors enjoy visibility, relationship development opportunities and access to financial and startup industry decision makers. The Innotribe Startup Challenge 2013 is sponsored by Invest NI, HP, Level39 and Sberbank.

To be notified of the launch of the 2014 Challenge, register for the Innotribe Startup Challenge email list at www.innotribestartup.com.
For more information about KlickEx and Waratek please visit: www.KlickEx.net and www.waratek.com.