Accenture throws weight behind tech start-ups

Management consultant Accenture is on the hunt for technology entrepreneurs to take part in the UK version of its start-up mentoring programme.

The firm wants to give tech start-ups, who specialise in products aimed at the financial services industry, a leg-up by helping them to transform their products into commercially viable offerings through its FinTech Innovation Lab initiative.

"This programme can make a big difference to the commercial success of new technologies by bringing innovators and entrepreneurs together with their potential customers," said Richard Lumb, group chief executive for financial services at Accenture.

We have brilliant innovators who are striving for commercial success.

"This is important to this country, where we have brilliant innovators who are striving for commercial success."

The Lab is modelled on a similar programme in New York, where it has helped a dozen young financial technology start-ups get up and running.

Applicants can apply to take part in the lab until 1 November and, from here, six entrepreneurs will be selected.

This group of six will then go through a 12 week programme where they will be given help to hone their tech and business strategies under the guidance of executives from the London financial services community.

The participants will then be invited to take part in an "Investor Day" presentation, where they will need to illustrate what they have learned and how their products would benefit the industry.

"London is the world's number one financial centre and a global leader in technology innovation, which is why the FinTech quest for entrepreneurs is such an exciting proposition," said Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.

"The project has huge potential to help spur jobs and growth and I'm sure will attract some very bright minds whose inventions could help to revolutionise the financial services of this great city."