JFIA2025en | Japan Financial Innovation Award

JFIA 2025 Overview

JFIA started from 2020 to promote innovative initiatives in the financial services by adopting information technology and to share best practices in the industry, expecting to further expand open innovation beyond the corporate group and business sector. JFIA2025 consists of 3 categories, including Startup, Financial Institution, and Collaboration. FINOLAB, the FinTech Center of Tokyo, administrated the evaluation process by extracting about 400 innovative initiatives from press releases during the year 2024. Final candidates and winners will be selected by a group of professionals, FINOVATORS, based on the evaluation on innovation, growth, and transformation. Further Judgment is scheduled on Mar. 3 to announce Grand Prix and Category Excellences.

Title

Japan Financial Innovation Award 2025 Ceremony
(at Future Frontier Fes by FINOLAB )

Date and Time

Mar. 3, 2025

Venue

OCA TOKYO【By invitation only】

Host

FINOLAB Inc.

Co-Host

FINOVATORS

Future Frontier Fes by FINOLAB (4F)

“4F” is an annual event for various stakeholders of financial innovation to gather and discuss their future action. There, the JFIA Award Ceremony, FINOPITCH (a pitch contest by domestic and foreign startups) and its award ceremony, various lectures, keynote speeches and panel discussions are held. It started in 2020 with the aim of becoming a participatory festival where stakeholders of innovation can share their experience and information, as opposed to a conventional conference.

4F

JFIA 2025
Grand Prix and Category Excellence

Grand Prix

JRE BANK service to be launched in May.

East Japan Railway Company
Rakuten Bank, Ltd.

Remarks :
Their collaboration enabled the entry of railway businesses into banking services with the use of BaaS, and they were highly evaluated for establishing new customer relationships through unique services.

Startup Category Excellence

JOC Token Achieves Japan’s First Simultaneous Listing on Six Global Exchanges.

G.U.Group, Inc.

Remarks :
In addition to improving the recognition of Japan-originated blockchain, the establishment of a framework by G.U.Group to promote future practical implementation of blockchain was highly evaluated.

Financial Institution Category Excellence

No Winner

Collaboration Category Excellence

Credit Engine Group to Become a Wholly Owned Subsidiary by PayPay, Inc.

Credit Engine, Inc.
PayPay Corporation

Remarks :
The deal was highly evaluated for demonstrating the potential for new developments leveraging the strengths of both companies. At the same time, it became a new exit model for startups.