Pepper Money and Pollenizer have joined forces to back an
Australian startup as part of a strategy to boost innovation in the financial
services industry.
Following a micro-hack in December, startup, SmallStash, was
selected by Pepper Money to complete a 12-week incubator program, with Pepper
Money investing close to $100,000 to the full support of the startup
including the space and resources they need to focus on bringing the idea to
life.
According to Pepper Group’s head of innovation, Dr Matthew Tinker,
many financial services businesses are looking to innovate in a traditional
way.
“Often a company’s internal agenda can hijack the innovation
process,” he said. “Pepper Money wanted to disrupt this process by creating a
program that allowed external, unbiased innovation”
But Tinker stressed unlike other incubator programs, Pepper hasn’t
yet taken a direct equity percentage in the startup as part of the process, as
they aim to develop an offering that addresses the whole finance sector, not
just a Pepper challenge. However, he highlighted the prospect of taking equity
isn’t out of the question in the future..
“We believe this project
could create a fundamental change in the way Australians deal with money and
finance, having massive ramifications on the way financial services can operate
in Australia,” Tinker added. “Pepper is proud to bring to life a program that
is encouraging entrepreneurial spirit whilst providing an environment that
nurtures ideas.”
SmallStash takes aim at financial education
for kids, assisting parents to better educate their children on money and
savings.
The selected team members left their corporate jobs to embark
on the startup journey through the program. The group is now entering the incubator
program, with Pepper and Pollenizer to provide financial support and guidance
to further progress SmallStash’s ideas to bring to market a relevant commercial
offering.
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