Plaid FinRise is now Plaid Accelerate – and applications are open for our 3rd Cohort!

We’re incredibly excited to announce that Plaid FinRise, our fintech accelerator program designed to support founders of color, is now Plaid Accelerate. This new name reflects our commitment to not just elevate equity within the financial ecosystem, but to accelerate it. 

Over the last year and a half, we’ve been fortunate to champion and support the incredible work our participating founders have accomplished. We’ve also seen interest in our program grow and have witnessed firsthand the significant impact that our collective efforts can drive toward in powering an equitable financial ecosystem. We’ve shown that we can rise up, and now we want to accelerate – accelerate our commitment to equity and inclusion, our support for our participating founders, and the scope and reach of our program.  

And what better way to underscore our commitment to accelerating equity in the financial ecosystem than by launching the application process for our third cohort of founders! Plaid Accelerate will continue to include all of the aims and benefits of our prior FinRise program – including our partner network – along with an invigorated emphasis on the acceleration and expansion of our mission. 

Plaid Accelerate has helped participants navigate important business goals from releasing new apps and products, to refining revenue models and go-to-market strategies. We've been so excited to see program alumni go on to have very successful fundraising rounds, report record increases in growth, and even a recent successful exit acquisition. We look forward to many more exciting milestones.

Launching our next call for founders to apply

Plaid wants to support even more BIPOC founders on their entrepreneurial journey. That’s why we are now opening applications for our third cohort. The program is specifically tailored to the needs of the founders – and this round is best suited for startups who have seed funding or are preparing to raise a seed round, have a product in market with customer traction, and are looking to accelerate their growth. 

During the five-month long intensive program, participants will have access to the Plaid team and technology, tailored programming and mentorship, as well as support from a strong partner network of industry leaders – from VCs, to law firms, to technical experts – who have come together to offer their time, expertise, and resources to help founders as they launch and grow their businesses.

Interested in accelerating your startup? The first step is to apply here.

Thanks to our partners

None of this would be possible without the support of our partners who have dedicated countless hours helping founders optimize for success. These partners include venture firms, law firms, technology companies, and more. A full list can be found below. 

Our goal is to build a more thriving and diverse fintech ecosystem that works for everyone. Learn more about the Plaid Accelerate program.