Visa Everywhere Initiative
Visa Inc.
Up to $100K (non-dilutive)
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 4 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Visa's global fintech pitch contest
The Visa Everywhere Initiative is Visa's global fintech pitch competition, run annually since 2015. Startups developing payments and digital-commerce solutions historically competed in regional rounds — including a North America region open to US startups — with one finalist per region advancing to the global finals, historically hosted at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. There is no confirmed US/North America round since 2024; the competition continues in some international regions, but current US status is unverified — confirm directly before treating this as open. When active, the global winner receives a non-dilutive cash grand prize (figures have ranged from $50,000 to $100,000 across editions), plus additional awards such as an Audience Favorite and a Visa Direct prize. Note: this is Visa's fintech PITCH COMPETITION and is a DISTINCT program from the cataloged visa-shes-next-grant (Visa's She's Next women-owned-business grant program) — same company, different program.
- Funding type
- Award
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $10,000 – $100,000
- Realistic amount
- Most applicants gain exposure and mentorship rather than cash. Regional finalists may win tiered regional prizes (often $10,000–$25,000); only one global winner per cycle takes the top grand prize. Plan around the regional prize tier and the Visa relationship rather than the global grand prize.
- Deadline
- Unconfirmed — no published US/North America application window since 2024. Historically annual, with global finals at TechCrunch Disrupt (fall).
- Status
- unconfirmed — no confirmed US cycle since 2024
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump-sum
Who qualifies
- Startups building payments, fintech, or digital-commerce solutions
- Apply to a regional edition; US startups enter the North America region
- Generally aimed at startups with a product/solution (often growth-stage); exact stage criteria vary by edition
- Solution should align with Visa's network and partnership interests
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Non-dilutive cash prizes have no published use restrictions
- Product development and go-to-market
- Working capital and growth
How to apply
-
1
Confirm fintech/payments fit and region
Make sure your product is a payments, fintech, or commerce solution that fits Visa's interests, and identify the North America (or relevant) regional edition and its application window.
~2 hrs
-
2
Submit the regional application
Apply via the Visa Everywhere Initiative portal with a company overview, product description, traction, and how your solution advances payments/commerce.
~6 hrs
-
3
Compete in the regional round
Selected startups pitch in the regional competition; one finalist per region is chosen to advance to the global finals.
~15 hrs
-
4
Pitch at the global finals
Regional finalists pitch at the global finals (historically TechCrunch Disrupt, San Francisco) for the grand prize and additional awards, judged by Visa and industry leaders.
~20 hrs
The cash is secondary to the Visa relationship — finalists pitch a product that Visa's partner network can actually use, and the real upside is a pilot or partnership conversation with Visa, not the prize check. Lead your application with a payments/commerce use case that plugs into Visa rails (e.g., Visa Direct), and quantify traction; generic fintech ideas without a clear Visa-network angle tend not to advance.
Deadline & timing
Run annually since 2015, historically with startups applying to their regional edition (including North America) and one finalist per region advancing to the global finals, held at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco in the fall. There is no confirmed US/North America round since 2024 — treat US availability as unverified and check Visa's official page directly before applying.
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