Open Banking Expo Digifest: Life’s a Pitch winner announced

Free debt advice solution app, Freeze Debt came out victorious at Open Banking Expo’s inaugural Life’s a Pitch competition held in association with Open Banking last week. The competition was launched to shine a light on those budding fintechs in the Open Finance ecosystem that have a proposition currently solving a problem or meeting a growing need within one of the following areas:

• Financial wellbeing
• SME resurgence
• Payments
• Open Life (Using Open Banking principles outside of financial services)
• Open Data

The shortlist made up of Freeze Debt, Plat and bill management app, Aptap were required to submit a short promo video to Open Banking Expo outlining their solution and why they should be put forward to the final. From here the shortlist of three was drawn up and each then pitched to the judging panel along with 10 minutes of grilling from the carefully curated selection of industry experts. The winner was then selected and announced on Day 2 on the main stage at Open Banking Expo Expo Digifest.

Freeze Debt will now go onto work with the team at Open Banking Expo in 2021. This will include marketing and communications support, access to the global Open Banking Hub and 1:1 consultations with a digital transformation expert to help them on their journey.

David Beardmore, Commercial Director, Open Banking commented;” It was a privilege to be part of the judging panel at Life’s a Pitch challenge. I was impressed by all the finalists and in particular the Freeze Debt team on winning the competition.  This challenge met the two criteria that I’m passionate about, namely  have a brilliant idea that ensures the proposition resonates with your target audience, and secondly build UX journeys that keep the customer at the heart with the tech enabling the flow, rather than the other way around. All of the finalists, clearly articulated their ambition to provide new open banking enabled financial services which can improve their customer’s lives.”

Adam Cox, Co-founder, Open Banking Expo said; “Now more than ever the world of fintech has the potential to aid economic recovery post Covid and where better to start than with the people that need it most, which is exactly where the Freeze Debt proposition sits. It’s a tough game launching and sustaining a viable business model in any sector, let along during a pandemic. Myself and the team look forward to working with Freeze Debt on laying the foundations of their marketing and communication strategy in 2021 and beyond. Congratulations also to Plat and Aptap for making it to the final. We also look forward to welcoming the next cohort of fintechs in 2021!”