Innovators

Each year FIA provides a unique opportunity for a select group of fintech startups to showcase their solutions for the derivatives industry. As the leading trade association for the listed and cleared derivatives markets, FIA has worked for decades to promote advances in the trading and clearing of derivatives, and the annual Innovators Pavilion has become a core element of FIA's commitment to accelerate the adoption of fintech solutions in these markets.

Since 2015, more than 100 startups have participated in FIA's Innovators Pavilion, demonstrating exciting new applications for emerging technologies and connecting with key players in the derivatives community. This annual showcase has become one of the most popular features of FIA's Futures and Options Expo, the industry's largest and most comprehensive conference and trade show.

Expo took place on 14-15 November 2022 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. The fintech startups selected for the Innovators Pavilion all took part in the Innovator Pitch Competition with judges drawn from Barclays, FIS, Goldman Sachs, LayerOne Financial, and Two Sigma Securities. BeZero Carbon has been named the FIA Innovator of the Year. In addition, Clouty was named the runner-up, and Kemet Trading won the People’s Choice Award. 

2022 Pitch Competition Judges 

Marianna Lopert-Schaye, Principal Investing, Goldman Sachs  

Barney Alderson, Product Manager, Prime Services, Barclays 

Tim Perevozchikov, Vice President, Digital Assets, Two Sigma 

Tito Shirley, Head of Cleared Derivatives, FIS 

Kyle Zasky, Chief Executive Officer, LayerOne Financial

2022 Selection Committee

Barney Alderson, Barclays

Fong Wa Chung, Akuna Capital

Antoine Connault, Société Générale

Connor Cunningham, UBS

Adam Hoffman, IMC

Peter Johnson, Brevan Howard

Ray Kahn, Archon Advisors

George Kalant, Chicago Trading Company

Troy Kane, Citadel Securities

Marianna Lopert-Schaye, Goldman Sachs

David Samhat, Peak6

Liam Smith, Optiver

Kimberly Trautmann, DRW Venture Capital

Katherine Wilson, Illuminate Financial

Kyle Zasky, SenaHill Partners

Staff Leads:

Will Acworth, FIA

Cortney Whitlow, FIA

Joanna Mallers, FIA Principal Traders Group

Previous Years

2021 Innovators

Eight fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2021. The winners were  Stable asthe FIA Innovator of the Year, X-Margin as runner-up, and Databento as the People’s Choice Award winner. Each startup in the Innovators Pavilion delivered a short presentation to Expo attendees, followed by a Q&A session with judges drawn from leading firms in the industry.

2020 Innovators 

Nine fintech startups were featured in the virtual Innovators Pavilion at the Expo-V 2020. FIA named Riskfuel as the 2020 FIA Innovator of the Year, Options AI as runner-up and Wematch as the winner of the inaugural People’s Choice Award. Each startup in the Innovators Pavilion delivered a short presentation followed by a Q&A session with judges drawn from Citadel Securities, DRW Venture Capital, Goldman Sachs, Nasdaq and UBS.   

2019 Innovators 

Twenty fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2019. Five of these firms participated in the Meet the Innovators pitch competition. The judges then selected data science startup Hivemind as the FIA Innovator of the Year. In addition to the title, Hivemind receives more than $20,000 in cash and other resources from FIA.  

2018 Innovators 

Fifteen fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2018. Five of these firms participated in the Meet the Innovators pitch competition. The judges then selected FreightWaves as the FIA Innovator of the Year. In addition to the title, Freightwaves receives more than $20,000 in cash and other resources from FIA.  

2017 Innovators

Nineteen fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2017.  Selected companies displayed their products and services in a TechPod on the Expo show floor. TellusLabs won the  “Meet the Innovators” competition during Expo 2017, receiving more than $20,000 in cash and other resources. 

2016 Innovators

The 18 companies chosen for the Expo 2016 Innovators Pavilion were selected by a committee of industry experts comprised of executives from venture capital firms that focus on fintech as well as executives from FIA member firms with experience in evaluating technology. The featured companies were showcased at the 32nd Annual FIA Futures and Options Expo. Five of the companies were selected for a pitch competition before a panel of judges at the Expo, and Money.Net was chosen for a prize worth more than $20,000 in cash and other resources.  

2015 Innovators

The 20 companies selected as FIA Innovators for 2015 typify a wave of financial technology innovation. Some draw on the science of artificial intelligence to improve trade processing, automate trading strategies, or identify rogue traders. Some are developing new ways for buyers and sellers to interact. Others apply big data solutions to help brokers and trading firms manage data more efficiently. And others borrow concepts from the consumer technology world to provide new tools for traders and IT professionals. 

Innovator Market Map

2021 Innovators Videos