Tokyo Financial Award, Financial Innovation Category: Now Accepting Candidate Financial Institutions!
2020.07.08
Press release
PDF ver.
Office for Strategic Policy and ICT Promotion
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
As one project in the “Global Financial City: Tokyo” Vision, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), following last year’s program will continue hosting the “Tokyo Financial Award.”
TMG has been granting a prize to financial institutions who provide and develop innovative products and services that meet Tokyo citizens and businesspeople’s needs and challenges, as well as financial institutions who work to promote ESG investments*.
We have asked Tokyo residents and businesspeople about the daily needs and issues that they face in relation to financial services, and have created the themes listed below.
The selection of businesses in the “Financial Innovation Category” will start from today. You are cordially invited to make your submission.
Additionally, we plan to start accepting candidate businesses for the “ESG Investment Category” from the beginning of August.
* ESG (“Environmental, Social, Governance”) investment refers to investment decisions based on an institution’s proactive efforts in combating global warming, empowering women, selecting outside directors, etc.
1 Selection Themes
The Financial Innovation Category includes 25 themes in the B-to-C services field, and 5 themes in B-to-B services.
We are looking for financial institutions who can propose solutions to these issues.
For detailed information, please see the dedicated website (https://finaward.metro.tokyo.
a. B-to-C services
Fields: Deposits & Withdrawals
Themes:
・Inconvenient that there are some procedures of opening an account, such as ID verification
・Difficult to manage different login IDs and passwords and verification method for multiple
online bank accounts
・Hard to find services or functions when using online banking
・Deposits and withdrawal fees remain high
・Want a simple and low-cost app for making transfers
Fields: Payments
Themes:
・Want other convenient cashless payment methods besides e-money
・Too many different types of e-money makes it a hassle to use
・The number of stores in Japan that accept credit cards, etc, is limited
・Security systems should be strengthened to prevent theft and unauthorized use of
cards/smartphones
・Want to have a payment system platform utilizing transportation/ MaaS *
*MaaS: “Mobility as a Service”
MaaS is a concept that views mobility as an integrated service for users, not simply as a
means, but rather a single mobility service using one app to provide optimum means of
transport from a place of departure to a destination.
Fields: Asset Management
Themes:
・Want tools for beginners for learning about finance
・Want to start investing, but don’t understand how to start
・Want advice on asset management products that is suitable for the respective customer
from a neutral perspective
・There are few services/goods that can be managed with a smaller amount
・Want a new service that allows investment advice to be received which is linked to daily life
Fields: Insurance
Themes:
・Insurance procedures are inconvenient
・Difficult to find out status of insurance coverage
・Want advice on insurance products that is suitable for the respective customer from a
neutral perspective
・Want a service that allows insurance sharing
Fields: Financing
Themes:
・Want quicker and simpler procedures and examinations of loans
・Want advice on loans that is neutral and suitable
Fields: Others
Themes:
・Want a service that can manage financial assets collectively, such as bank accounts,
insurance, securities, inheritance etc.
・Want to have a new financial service in preparation for the coming age in which life
expectancy will average 100 years
・Want to have a proactive service to prevent financial crime
・Want to have comprehensive financial service in the event of an economic crisis
b. B-to-B services
Themes:
・Want a loan service that meets the unique needs of start-up companies and SMEs
・To suit the new work style at With/After Corona, want a service to enhance the security
・Want a service to promote data utilization
・Want to further accelerate digital transformation in the financial industry
・Want a service that promotes collaboration within the financial industry and with
non-financial industries
2 Selection Details
Eligible institutions:
Domestic and international financial institutions that offer solutions to citizens and businesspeople’s needs and challenges and who are offering services in, or plan to offer services in, Tokyo.
Submission period:
From Tuesday, July 7, 2020 to Friday, September 11, 2020
# to be selected:
3 institutions
Rewards:
・Prize money (by rank: \10 million, \5 million, \3 million)
・Support program* (Mentorship program, business matching, provision of development
environment, etc.)
* For this year, in the interest of helping prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the support program will be conducted online
<How to apply>
Please visit the Tokyo Financial Award website to apply: https://finaward.metro.tokyo.jp/en/citizen-needs/submission/
*Please see submission guidelines for details
3 Schedule
April – September
・Accepting opinions from Tokyo residents and business-people on their needs
・Accepting candidates for Financial Innovation category (By September 11)
・Accepting candidates for ESG Investment Category (By mid October)
October – December
・Initial Review, support program, final Review for Financial Innovation category
・Final Review for ESG Investment Category
January - March
・Award Announce- ment and Ceremony (Around February)
“TOKYO FINANCIAL AWARD 2020 Financial Innovation Category” The information sessions will be hold
https://finaward.metro.tokyo.j
<FYI>TOKYO FINANCIAL AWARD 2019 – Interview of awarded company in the Financial Innovation Category
1st Place: Frich,Inc.
“Tokyo Financial Award gives startups a golden opportunity to build credibility”
(Interviewee) Mr. Gentaro Tominaga, CEO, Frich Inc.
https://finaward.metro.tokyo.j
2nd Place: Fly Money Technologies LTD
“Tokyo Financial Award is a great gateway for foreign startups aiming to enter the Tokyo market.”
(Interviewee) Mr. Tal Ekroni, CEO, Fly Money Technologies
https://finaward.metro.tokyo.j
3rd Place: 400F Co., Ltd.
“Tokyo Financial Award has a hugely effective way of your promotion. Make use of it as long as you work in financial fields!”
(Interviewee) Mr. Jin Nakamura, CEO / Mr. Fumiyasu Kagami, COO, 400F Inc.
https://finaward.metro.tokyo.j
［Contact］
Assigned Operations for Global Financial City Tokyo
Special Zone Strategic Projects Promotion Section,
Office for Strategic Policy and ICT Promotion
Email: S1080102@section.metro.tokyo.j
TEL: 03-5388-2144 FAX: 03-5388-1211