In 2015, the Digital Finance Institute launched the first Canadian FinTech Awards to recognize innovators, leaders and professional advisors behind existing and emerging FinTech companies and to recognize the talent of entrepreneurs, financiers, advisors and many others who help develop and support companies in the financial technology sector in Canada. The awards are presented annually in Toronto.

There are eight awards, as follows:

Investor of the Year

One of the key elements necessary for a FinTech to succeed is financial support. This award is presented to the investor whose financial support created the most innovative technologies and/or developed the FinTech space the most in Canada. This award is targeted at recognizing the investor that has shown the most initiative in supporting FinTech companies with the capital that they need to grow their businesses, and shifts the focus on the people working behind the scenes on FinTech financing in an impactful way. The investor will not necessarily have invested the most capital, in dollar terms in the FinTech sector, but that will be a significant factor.

FinTech of the Year

This award is presented to a newly emerged and fast-growing FinTech company wholly or partially based in Canada that has shown the most entrepreneurial success in the past year in FinTech. Success is measured on a number of factors, including innovative technology, solving a technology need, capturing a new sector or market with FinTech, disruption of a service or market segment, ability to generate media interest in the product or service, successful financing, client adoption, application of product or service and traction in, or ability to obtain traction in, the international marketplace.

Financial Institution Innovator of the Year

This award is presented to a Canadian Financial Institution which has adopted FinTech into its services in the most innovative and successful way. This award is targeted at recognizing the FI that has shown the most initiative in adopting FinTech solutions to extend new solutions or improve efficiency across areas such as lending, payments, trade finance and risk and liquidity management, among others. It will also take into account an FI that has substantially collaborated with the FinTech sector in an impactful way.

Professional Service Organization of the Year

Support for FinTech in Canada is an important aspect to increase growth and innovation in Canada. This award is presented to the Professional Service Organization which has been the most supportive and created the most awareness for FinTech in Canada. Support could come in the way of financial support, media support, and/or the development of technologies or ideas through research or conferences. This award is targeted at recognizing the Professional Service Organization that has demonstrated the most leadership in promoting FinTech in Canada, and shifts the focus to the people behind the scenes working to build the FinTech ecosystem.

Governance Person of the Year

Support for FinTech in Canada is an important aspect to increase growth and innovation in Canada. This award is for the individual working in a Governance position who has been the most supportive and created the most awareness for FinTech in Canada. Support could come in the way of financial support, media support, and/or the development of technologies or ideas through research of conferences. This award is targeted at recognizing the Governance person that has demonstrated the most leadership in promoting FinTech in Canada, and shifts the focus to the people behind the scenes working to build the FinTech ecosystem.

Academic Institution Program most supportive of FinTech

This award is presented to the academic institution which has been the most supportive and created the most awareness for FinTech in Canada. Support could come in the way of financial support, media support, and/or the development of technologies or ideas through research of conferences. This award is targeted at recognizing the academic institution and/or that has demonstrated the most leadership in promoting FinTech in Canada, and engages the ecosystem of students, entrepreneurs and organizations, and shifts the focus to the people behind the scenes working to create the tech that lies at the heart of every FinTech operation.

Accelerator, Incubator or Entrepreneurial Network most supportive of FinTech

This award is presented to the accelerator or incubator of the year, which has demonstrated the most success in helping start-ups to successfully launch their businesses, and work with incumbents to develop corporate innovation that delivers a positive impact to their employees. This award is targeted at recognizing the importance of incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurial networks in developing the conditions for Canada to be a FinTech leader by engaging key stakeholders in the success of entrepreneurs.