Innovators

***Now accepting applications for the FIA Innovators Pavilion***

Each year at FIA's Futures and Options Expo, the Innovators Pavilion provides a unique opportunity for a select group of fintech startups to showcase their solutions for the derivatives industry. This year's competition will take place 2-4 November in Chicago, Illinois.

FIA is seeking startups in five areas:

• new products and services for traders and clearing firms;
• new solutions for improving operational and capital efficiency;
• new ways to collect, process and analyze data;
• new ways to deliver products and services to customers; and,
• new tools for surveillance and regulatory compliance.

Selected startups will take the stage to pitch their technologies to a global audience of industry leaders, including executives from top exchanges, clearinghouses, banks, brokers, and trading firms.

APPLY TODAY

Who should apply: Companies that have been in business for five years or less that offer innovative products and services relevant to the global markets for derivatives.

When to apply: Today! The FIA Innovators Pavilion committee has begun accepting applications. They must include a description of their product and/or service, an explanation of why it is innovative, a history of the company, and other relevant details. A selection committee comprising experts from FIA member firms and venture capital firms with expertise in capital markets fintech will review the applications. FIA will notify selected firms on a rolling basis.

What is included:

• In-person access to Expo delegates via conference sessions, trade show exhibits and networking events
• A TechPod in the Innovators Pavilion on the trade show floor at Expo
• Media exposure through press releases, social media, and website features
• Opportunity to compete for the FIA Innovator of the Year Award and People’s Choice Award

Since 2015, more than 140 startups have participated, and the annual showcase has become one of the most popular features of Expo, the industry's largest and most comprehensive conference and trade show.

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

Questions? Visit our FAQ page for more information.

In 2025, AiMi won the competition, Salient Predictions won runner-up and D2X won People's Choice. Read the press release for more information.

Previous Years

2024 Innovators 

Ten fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2024. After the pitch competition, the judges selected Tradewell Technologies as the Innovator of the Year. Both ClearToken and Grão Direto were named runners up. IMX also received the People's Choice Award. Read the full release here. Each startup participated in the Innovator Pitch Competition with judges drawn from Barclays, Chicago Trading Company, Citigroup Global Markets, DRW Venture Capital, Illuminate Financial and Two Sigma Securities.

2023 Innovators 

Ten fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2023. After the pitch competition, the judges selected ClearDox as the FIA Innovator of the Year 2023. In addition, CodeComplete AI was named the runner-up, and Cumulus9 won the People’s Choice Award. Each startup participated in the Innovator Pitch Competition with judges drawn from Barclays, Cboe Global Markets, DRW Holdings, Two Sigma and UBS.

2022 Innovators 

Ten fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2022. 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. Each startup participated in the Innovator Pitch Competition with judges drawn from Barclays, FIS, Goldman Sachs, LayerOne Financial, and Two Sigma Securities.

2021 Innovators

Eight fintech startups were featured in the Innovators Pavilion at Expo 2021. The winners were  Stable as the 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.