1. FinTech Startup of the Year

This award is for a new, up-and-coming FinTech company in Canada that is less than four years old and has shown the most entrepreneurial success in the past year in FinTech. Success is measured on a number of factors, including innovative technology, solving a technology need, capturing a new sector or market with FinTech, disruption of a service or market segment, novel application of a product or service, or traction in the international marketplace

·      Less than 4 years old

·      Canadian entity

·      Recognizes innovation

·      In financial services

2. FinTech Company of the Year

This award is for an established FinTech company in Canada that has been providing financial products or services for over four years and is actively engaged in innovation creation. Success is measured by a number of factors, including partnerships with banks or providing services directly to consumers, significant growth or adoption.

·      Over 4 years old

·      Canadian entity

·      In financial services

·      External adoption

·      Pattern of sustained growth

3. AI Company of the Year

This award is for an AI company that has shown the most entrepreneurial success in the past year.  Success is measured by a number of factors, including innovation, solving a technology problem with AI, disruption of a service or market segment, application of product or service and traction in, or ability to obtain traction in the international marketplace in AI.

·      Canadian entity

·      Impact in AI technology

·      Recognizes innovation

·      Open to AI companies in any sector

4. Global Impact in FinTech Award

This award is for a company or a person who creates FinTech technology that has had impact on a global scale. It is intended to capture outside-the-box thinkers or companies who develop technology that is impactful or are thought leaders whose ideas are impactful. This award is not limited to Canada.

5. AI for Good Award

This award is for a company that creates AI technology that benefits humanity or a person whose thought leadership has made a positive change in AI for humanity and examples include such as:

·      Advances technology for the disabled

·      Addresses homelessness

·      Cures diseases

·      Impacts AI in law, philosophy or diversity

This award is not limited to Canada.

6. Law Firm of the Year

This award is for a Canadian law firm that has been the most impactful in the FinTech space. It recognizes a law firm that has been in the FinTech space for a number of years and has been instrumental in helping to launch or grow FinTech companies through legal advice.

·      Canadian entity

·      Provides services to FinTechs

·      Recognizes impact in FinTech

7. Advisory Firm of the Year

This award is for a consulting or accounting firm in Canada that has been the most impactful in advisory services in the FinTech space. It is for the firm that has been in the FinTech or startup space for a number of years, and impactful in helping to develop FinTech companies either through consulting or accounting services.

·      Canadian entity

·      Provides services to FinTechs

·      Recognizes excellence in advisory services

8. Financial Institution of the Year

This award is for a Canadian financial institution, such as banks and credit unions. The nominee must be a financial institution that has had a positive impact in FinTech in Canada either by breaking down silos to support innovation internally, by creating innovating and novel FinTech for the financial institution, or by entering into partnerships that support for the development of FinTech at the institutional level.  This Award is not designed for financial institutions that adopt, deploy, or purchase FinTech created and branded by third parties, but rather is designed to recognize internal innovative initiatives that engage employees and support innovation designed in Canada by Canadians.

·      Must be Canadian

·      Bank, credit union or other financial institution

·      Recognizes FinTech created internally

9. Blockchain Company of the Year

This award is for a Blockchain or distributed ledger technology startup based in Canada that has developed the most novel, practical or utilized technology for digital currencies or Blockchain. Success could include consumer traction, tech prowess, novel or globally impactful solutions. This award is for technology in use and not for funding initiatives.

·      Canadian entity

·      Recognizes innovation

·      Technology must be in use

10. RegTech Company of the Year

This award is for the RegTech company in Canada that has demonstrated the most thought leadership and developed the most impactful technology for regulation in financial services. This award seeks to recognize companies that create leading solutions in the regulatory space.

·      Canadian entity

·      Technology must be in use

·      Intended to recognize novel innovation

11. Accelerator/Incubator of the Year

This award is for the accelerator or incubator that has demonstrated success in helping FinTech or AI startups to launch their businesses and develop technology, or work with others in the sector to develop the most impactful innovative products or services. This award recognizes the importance of incubators and accelerators in fostering ecosystem support or other forms of support in Canada that advance innovation.

·      Canadian entity

·      In FinTech or AI space

·      Recognizes accelerators or incubators that support the ecosystem inclusively

12. Investment Firm of the Year

This award is designed for the investment firm whose financial support created the most innovative technologies or developed the FinTech space the most in Canada.

·      Canadian entity

·      Recognizes investment in FinTech that has had a material impact

13. FinTech Leader of the Year

This award is for a Canadian individual who has demonstrated the most leadership in FinTech and recognizes an individual who has had shaped the FinTech dialogue and supported the FinTech community. Leadership is measured by a number of factors, including thought leadership, supporting Canada and inclusivity (e.g., a person who supports innovation of all Canadians from coast to coast to coast).

·      Must be Canadian

·      Recognizes thought leadership

·      Must have been in FinTech for over 3 years

·      Must be a notable person

·      Not intended for advisory firms

14. AI Leader of the Year

This award is for a Canadian person who has demonstrated the most leadership in AI.  It recognizes the person who has had the most impact in shaping the AI dialogue and supporting the AI community.  Leadership is measured on thought leadership, the advancement of commercial AI or investment in AI.

·      Must be Canadian

·      Recognizes a notable person in AI

·      Must have been in AI for over 3 years

15. Judge’s Choice Award

This is a discretionary award for a company or a person in any type of technology that has demonstrated thought leadership and ecosystem engagement, as decided by the Digital Finance Institute.