FAQs

We love all areas of fintech, insurtech, regtech, and financial services, or other technologies that could be relevant for the financial space. We also believe that financial technology has the power to solve global problems, and there is an important intersection between fintech and other industries.

Some examples include:

• Banking
• Credit and risk
• Insurance
• Regulatory and compliance
• Enterprise solutions
• Climate
• Data infrastructure
• Supply chain
• Healthcare
• Smart cities
• And more!

Nope!

We accept applicants from all around the world. As long as you meet our eligibility requirements, and we have the data sets and geographic coverage you need, you’re welcome to apply. Check out our data partner list to ensure we have the data provider you’re looking for. If you have questions about what specific data sets are available, feel free to contact us here.

While the Data Access Residency program itself is fully virtual, we do host in-person events throughout the year in the US and encourage startups to join when they are able.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and you can expect a response from us within one week after submitting your application. We set up an initial first-round interview to get to know your team and product, and then, based on that conversation, we set up a second-round including a product demo and follow-on Q&A with the wider team. The total interview process typically takes anywhere from 3 – 7 weeks, depending on our pipeline the time of year.

All interviews are conducted virtually.

Nope! We’re a Data Access Residency.

Fintech Sandbox is an enabler of startups, with a particular focus on removing the data access barrier to fintech innovation. Unlike a traditional accelerator or incubator program, there is no set curriculum or program timeline and we do not make a funding investment in your startup.

Fintech Sandbox actually partners with top accelerators and other fintech startup programs to refer our startups and to help fintech entrepreneurs continue to grow their companies.

If you are already part of another accelerator program, you can still apply to Fintech Sandbox and take advantage of both sets of benefits.

Your Data Access Residency begins as soon as you attend our Orientation. The Fintech Sandbox team will help you navigate which data partners are best for your product’s needs.

The average length of a startup being active in the Residency is 8-12 months. Your 6 months of data access period during residency in Fintech Sandbox starts the day you sign your first data contract with an individual data partner. You are welcome to work with more than one data provider and each individual data partner has a 6-month “clock” to access their datasets. Startups typically work with 1 – 5 data partners.

After being admitted to the Data Access Residency, the Fintech Sandbox team will connect you to the data partners as soon as you’ve decided which datasets you’d like to access. You will work with the data partner directly to get free access to the relevant dataset via the Fintech Sandbox program.

Turn-around time varies by data partner and is also dependent on the particular datasets you are requesting to access. However, most standard data offerings are available to access within 10 days after your agreement with the data partner.

Despite the name, Fintech Sandbox’s Data Access Residency is not a traditional sandbox environment as they’re known today. Instead, we have pre-negotiated agreements with our data partners on behalf of our startups for the data partners to offer up to six months of free access to their premium datasets.

How the data is delivered depends on the individual data provider. Many use APIs, some use FTP and other data files, and others use digital platforms. Once a startup is accepted into the program, we’ll work them to help them navigate which data partner and delivery method is best for their needs.

No, we do not take any equity or any fees from our startups. Fintech Sandbox is a 501(c)3 non-profit with the singular goal of advancing fintech entrepreneurs working to build the next big thing.

We are fortunate to be sponsored by some of the nation’s leading financial institutions, data providers, software companies and investors who share this goal and are excited to help however they can. Learn more about our sponsors here.

Interested in supporting Fintech Sandbox and our mission? Connect with the team.

You remain part of our community! Fintech Sandbox continues to add value to our alumni through access to our network, exposure and amplification to our community, events and speaking opportunities, and more.

We have many community members, VCs, accelerators, alumni, and partners who regularly refer startups to Fintech Sandbox’s Data Access Residency. Our program is a great way to add value to a portfolio company, assist an early-stage founder in reaching their next milestone, or help extend a startup’s runway.

You can either send the startup the application form and have them list your name as their referral source, or feel free to contact us directly with the startup’s information.