2022 Challenge — Financial Solutions Lab

2022 Accelerator Challenge

Financial Benefits and Tools

Every day, people across the country work to strengthen their long-term financial health by applying for public benefits, accessing emergency loans, saving for retirement, and securing insurance. Accessing these financial benefits and tools can require navigating complex processes with opaque terms and limited accessibility – significant barriers for many, including low- to moderate-income (LMI), Black, and Latinx individuals.

The 2022 Accelerator Challenge will focus on addressing these gaps and identifying innovative solutions that can help LMI, Black, and Latinx communities access and navigate the landscape of financial health benefits and tools more effectively. Meet the companies selected for the 2022 Accelerator.

Meet the Cohort

Breaking Down Barriers Across Financial Services

Many LMI, Black, and Latinx individuals face systemic barriers preventing access to key benefits and financial tools, limiting their opportunities to improve financial health. The 2022 Accelerator Challenge will focus on strengthening financial resilience by improving safety nets for these vulnerable Americans.

U.S. households earning less than $30,000 are more than twice as likely to be financially unhealthy than higher-income households, forcing many families to prioritize immediate financial needs like rent and mortgage payments over planning for the future.
While public supports such as stimulus payments and child tax credits have had a positive immediate impact on liquidity for LMI, Black, and Latinx communities, systemic barriers continue to prevent these communities from building and maintaining long-term financial health.
Low-income Black and Latinx families and women of color experienced the fastest depletion of their cash balances gained during COVID.
Black Americans seeking unemployment benefits are approved 73% of the time, compared with 80% for White Americans.
52% of Black and 68% of Latinx Americans do not currently have access to a workplace retirement plan, versus just 40% of White Americans.

Who Should Apply?

The 2022 Accelerator Challenge aims to support companies developing fintech solutions that improve ease of use and access to a broader set of benefits and tools for LMI individuals and Black and Latinx communities. We’re especially interested in solutions that can:

Optimize public and private benefit experiences and tax system navigation
Enhance enterprise and consumer applications to manage healthcare costs and decisions
Deliver affordable services to help address obligations within the legal system
Strengthen resources and safety nets to protect against income volatility and economic shocks
Improve access to retirement preparation and navigation tools

The Accelerator also prioritizes supporting founders and teams with lived experience of the issues they are addressing, and companies committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles at all levels of their organizations. To explore the types of companies selected for previous Accelerator cohorts, view our portfolio. For more information, read our full Application Criteria.

What Do Accelerator Companies Receive?

Each company selected to participate in the 2022 Accelerator Cohort will receive:

Up to $100,000 from the Financial Health Network
Product and user behavioral insights to help inform development and market strategy
Guidance to navigate the legal and regulatory fintech environment
Insights on impact and customer financial health measurement
Resources for external marketing and communications
Mentorship from financial services and financial health experts
Support to further diversity, equity, and inclusion

Meet the Cohort

Addressing Financial Benefits and Tools To Improve FinHealth

The eighth Accelerator cohort features fintechs selected for their potential to help individuals strengthen financial health by better navigating workplace benefits, wealth- and credit-building programs, public systems, and more.

Explore the Cohort

Timeline

November 9, 2021: Applications open
December 20, 2021: Applications close
Q1 2022: New cohort members selected and Accelerator program begins
Q3 2022: Culmination of the 2022 program

Stay Connected

Sign up to receive updates on the Financial Solutions Lab, companies, and more.