WMNfintech founders deepen connections and accelerate growth in New York

The WMNfintech cohort has been on an immersive growth journey across key innovation hubs in North America: Toronto, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. 

WMNfintech, an award-winning program launched by BMO in collaboration with 1871, has become North America's largest alumni network of fintech founders that support the women fintech ecosystem, providing entrepreneurs with access to a robust support network to help them to grow their businesses – and connecting our teams to the newest technologies and products on the market. 

The cohort’s first stop was Toronto, to kick off the program and hold the WMNfintech Showcase, followed by Chicago, where founders experienced the city’s vibrant Tech Week to continue their growth journey.  

Third stop: New York 

The cohort's journey continued in New York City, where founders immersed themselves in the heart of its fintech ecosystem through a series of networking, learning and investor engagement opportunities. The week began with a strategic briefing from BMO leaders before visiting Nasdaq for an inside look at capital markets, including a discussion on growth and exit strategies. Founders then took centre stage as guests during the Nasdaq closing bell and were highlighted on the famous Nasdaq Times Square billboard. Next, founders were guests of Mastercard during an investor showcase co-hosted with NYC Fintech Women and Anthemis, delivering rapid-fire pitches to a curated audience of investors. 

The momentum continued with introductions to leaders from the venture capital and corporate innovation communities at Anthemis, where founders also connected with the team behind the Female Innovators Lab Fund and gained insight into supporting and scaling women-led ventures. Opportunities to build relationships with fellow entrepreneurs and fintech leaders further strengthened the cohort's network. 

“As a successful founder myself, WMNfintech has been a valuable place to engage directly with the innovators shaping the future of financial services. Not only do I get to offer insight and advice to founders, but the program goes beyond networking. It creates meaningful dialogue between founders, investors and banking leaders, challenges conventional thinking, and sparks new ideas through conversation.”

- Raymond Ross, CIO, Global Trading Solutions, Capital Markets, BMO 

The week concluded at BMO’s New York office, where founders engaged with industry leaders, corporate partners and senior BMO executives, gaining perspectives on scaling a business, navigating industry change and pursuing new opportunities. Together, these experiences help participants expand their networks, sharpen their strategies and continue building momentum for the next stage of their entrepreneurial journeys.  

Follow along as their journey unfolds:

Toronto  – read the recap

Chicago  – read the recap

Los Angeles  – coming soon