Barclays plans to ‘make it rain’ with Rainmaking fintech partnership

Banking giant Barclays is expanding its fintech incubator Rise with a host of new programmes run by corporate innovation firm Rainmaking.

The tie-up will start with the immediate launch of Rise Start-Up Academy, a virtual digital skills-building accelerator aimed at idea and early-stage founders in the wealth equality, climate and future of money.

Start-Up Academy is a non-equity programme and is open for applications right now.

Later this year the Rise Growth Academy will launch to provide more detailed support around investment readiness, recruitment, sales and leadership.

Finally a Fintech Venture Studio will be opened later this year to focus on developing entirely new ventures working with both internal employees at Barclays, startups and other partners.

“We have been humbled and changed by the incredible FinTechs we have worked with,” said Mariquit Corcoran, group chief innovation officer at Barclays.

“We understand first-hand the power of collaboration to evolve and unlock opportunities for our customers, clients, colleagues and the communities in which we operate.”

For those who don’t know, Rainmaking is a corporate innovation firm that helps companies to design run these kinds of programmes and claims to work with 10 per cent of the Fortune 500.

“We are working with Barclays to drive positive change and play an active role in stimulating growth and opening up future revenue opportunities for founders of new businesses,” said Chris Locke, CEO of Europe at Rainmaking.