Apply for Trust by Design Fintech Challenge 2026 – $94,000 in Prizes

Application Deadline:  May 22, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)

About the Challenge

Organizations designing fintech solutions that improve safety, transparency, and trust particularly for women traditionally excluded from financial systems are being recognized through the Trust by Design Fintech Challenge. Market-tested solutions are sought by the Challenge, with an emphasis on demonstrating how data, customer-centric product design, and responsible safeguards can strengthen trust, reduce harm, and improve adoption among women. Worldwide, financial exclusion affects approximately 740 million women, representing more than half of the unbanked population. A lack of trust is cited as a key reason for staying out of the financial system by one in five unbanked adults in low- and middle-income countries.

The financial inclusion gap is being narrowed by digital financial services, but sustained adoption depends on user trust. Products must be transparent, fair, and designed with customer interests in mind for users to feel confident. Yet across many markets, trust remains fragile. Customers are discouraged from adopting or continuing to use financial services by concerns about fraud, opaque pricing, over-indebtedness, data misuse, and aggressive collection practices. Trust is not only a social good it is a commercial imperative. Stronger repayment behavior, higher retention, and more durable growth are often demonstrated by products designed around customer realities. For providers competing in emerging markets, a competitive advantage has been proven to come from trust-centered design.

Challenge Benefits

Prizes:

• One Grand Prize: $50,000 – continued innovation in trust-centered fintech will be supported by this award
• Three Finalist Prizes: $10,000 each

Total Prize Value: $94,000

Additional Benefits for Winners:

• A complimentary ticket to attend the Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit 2026 in London, U.K. will be received by each winner
• Airfare and hotel accommodation for the attendee will be covered
• Inclusion in an industry toolkit highlighting innovations in trust-building in fintech will be provided, serving as a lasting resource for the sector
• Opportunities for sector recognition and visibility among a global network of impact and commercial investors will also be made available

Eligibility Requirements

Who Can Apply:

Digital financial services or enabling technologies with solutions already live in-market are being sought by organizations. Eligible applicants may include (but are not limited to):

• Fintech companies (including lenders and neobanks)
• Financial institutions and microfinance institutions (MFIs)
• Technology providers supporting financial services
• Platforms embedding financial products such as payments, credit, insurance, or savings

Solution Requirements:

The following characteristics are typically found in eligible applicants’ solutions:

• Digitally enabled
• Already in the market (not pilots or prototypes) – demonstrated traction and early evidence that the solution improves safety, transparency, or utilization in financial services must be shown
• Measurable improvements in safety, transparency, or customer trust must be demonstrated
• Gender-disaggregated data must be used to inform product design, risk management, or customer protection
• Women customers with evidence of active usage must be served
• Operation in at least one emerging market is required, or credible plans to expand into one must exist (“credible plans” means the organization has a clear operational strategy, partnerships, licensing pathway, or active deployments demonstrating a realistic path to serving customers in LMIC contexts)

Strong applicants will use gender-disaggregated data to inform product design and customer protection.

Note: Pilots or prototypes are not being sought for this Challenge.

What the Challenge Looks For

The Trust by Design Fintech Challenge seeks organizations that:

• Design fintech solutions that improve safety, transparency, and trust
• Particularly serve women who have traditionally been excluded from financial systems
• Demonstrate how data, customer-centric product design, and responsible safeguards can strengthen trust, reduce harm, and improve adoption among women
• Have market-tested solutions with measurable results

Examples of promising approaches include:

• Additional prompts that encourage users to review key terms
• Interactive tools that help customers recognize and avoid fraud
• Integration of gender-disaggregated data into product design, underwriting, and serving to better understand where risks to women’s financial security emerge and how outcomes might differ across customer groups

Selection Process

Selection Committee: Leaders from fintech, impact investment, responsible data, and consumer protection are included on the selection committee.

Timeline:

• Applications Open: April 20, 2026
• Application Deadline: May 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT (UTC-4) – Late submissions will not be accepted
• Semi-finalists Notified By: June 2, 2026
• Winners Notified By: July 17, 2026

Important Note: Progress will not be saved by the application form. For your convenience, the Trust by Design application guide should be used to preview questions before formally filling out the form. Review the official challenge rules here.

Why This Challenge Matters

Economic development, poverty reduction, and gender equality all depend on financial inclusion. Yet 740 million women globally remain excluded from formal financial systems. Among the unbanked in low- and middle-income countries, one in five cite lack of trust as a key reason for staying out.

This trust gap is not inevitable. Products that are transparent, fair, and safe can be designed by fintechs and financial institutions. When this is done, customers are not only better served but stronger, more durable businesses are built.

The Trust by Design Fintech Challenge aims to:

• Spotlight and elevate organizations that are leading in trust-centered fintech
• Demonstrate that trust-centered design is good business – leading to stronger repayment, higher retention, and durable growth
• Encourage the use of gender-disaggregated data to understand and address risks to women’s financial security
• Create a lasting industry resource through the toolkit featuring winning innovations

For fintechs, financial institutions, and technology providers serving emerging markets, financial awards as well as recognition, visibility, and connections to investors and the broader financial services industry are offered by this Challenge.

Click here to apply

For More Information: Visit the Official Accion Trust by Design Fintech Challenge