FinTech Australia announces 2026 Finnie Award Finalists
FinTech Australia has named the finalists for the 2026 Finnies Awards as the awards celebrates its 10th year.
The Finnies celebrate achievements in the fintech sector, which contributes $13.8 billion in direct value added to the Australian economy and 50,200 jobs directly within fintech businesses..
This year’s awards received 312 entries, across 22 categories with 160 finalists and will be celebrated at ILUMINA in Sydney on 18 June. The Gala night will bring together more than 500 founders, investors, and fintech thought leaders for the announcement of winners. Tickets are available via https://www.thefinnies.com.au/.
The judging process for the Finnies Awards involves two rounds, featuring more than 90 independent experts from the Australian fintech ecosystem.
This week, 35 professionals have started judging the second round to pick one winner from each category.
FinTech Australia CEO Rehan D'Almeida congratulated the finalists, saying the quality of entries showcased how the sector continues to thrive despite a challenging economic environment, and arrives at a pivotal moment for Australian fintech. The Government is progressing reforms to payments licensing, scams prevention and the Consumer Data Right, areas where fintech innovation is directly relevant to consumer outcomes.
“Behind each of these 160 finalists is a business that is measurably changing how Australians access finance, move money, insure their assets or protect their data,” D’Almeida said.
Collectively they represent an industry that Deloitte Access Economics has forecast will add $37 billion to GDP by 2035 with the right infrastructure and policy settings.
“This shortlist is effectively a snapshot of where that growth is coming from and the choice fintech continues to deliver to consumers, small businesses and enterprises," D’Almeida said.
With the awards in its 10th year, D’Almeida said these finalists highlighted the critical role fintech plays in driving innovation and competition, as well as improving choice for Australian consumers and small businesses.
The winners will be announced at ILUMINA, Elizabeth Street on June 18. Tickets are available from the Finnies website (https://www.thefinnies.com.au/).
THE FINALISTS:
Positive Impact Award
Bless Payments
DAS (Digital Agriculture Services)
OtherPay
OwnHome
Pebl Payments
Remitly Australia
Trade For Good
Outstanding FinTech Leader of the Year
Alfonso Porcelli - DoxAI Austral
Caroline Tran - Hello Clever
Chris Brycki - Stockspot
Danny Pezeshki - Instantia
Kym Whitford - Remitly
Tom Rundle - Azupay
Trevor Wistaff - Zepto
Anish Sinha - upcover
Best Workplace Diversity
BTC Markets
Hello Clever
Inlogik
Kanopi
Macropod
PokitPal
Stockspot
Upcover
Best Innovation in Open Banking / Open Finance
ANNA Money
Beforepay Group
Fiskil
PocketSmith
Primary
Stryd
Excellence in Insurtech
Kanopi
myVal
The FreightSafe Group
upcover
Most Innovative Fintech Product or Service
Ausloans Finance
Block Earner
Curve Securities
Kanopi
MVSI OnBoard
Otivo
RedOwl
TermPlus
Zepto
Most Innovative Application of AI in Finance
CreditorWatch
Fortiro
LoanOptions.ai
Otivo
RDC.AI
RedOwl
TRM Labs
upcover
FinTech Organisation of the Year
CoinJar
DoxAI Australia
FrankieOne
Hello Clever
Monoova
OwnHome
Quickli
Zepto
Female FinTech Leader of the Year
Delia Burrage - Macropod
Emma Fawcett - Compare Club
Erica Xie - Tanggram
Irene Tsang - LIFTwomen
Kym Whitford - Remitly
Rebecca del Rio - Bizcap
Sarah King - Stockspot
Skye Theodorou - upcover
Excellence in WEB3 (Blockchain or Crypto)
AUDC
Block Earner
Chainalysis
CoinJar
Kraken
Macropod
Swyftx
TRM Labs
Excellence in Wealth Management (including PFM and Robo)
Blossom App
Briefcase
Curve Securities
Jacobi
PocketSmith
Stockspot
Tanggram
TermPlus
Excellence in Regtech
Chainalysis
FrankieOne
Haast
IDV Pacific
LAB Group
MVSI OnBoard
Napier AI
Nuj Super
TRM Labs
Excellence in Industry Collaborations & Partnerships (Single or Multiple)
Aussie and Bridgit
BNDRY and CherryHub
DoxAI Australia and WhiteHawk
FrankieOne and Pexa Group
OwnHome and Aussie Home Loans
Tanggram and NextGen Partners
The FreightSafe Group
Zepto and Employment Hero
Excellence in Establishing Global Market Presence
Change Financial
CoinJar
Data Zoo
DoxAI Australia
Ezypay
Hello Clever
Mint Payments
Tangerpay Australia
Excellence in Consumer Lending
Block Earner
Bridgit
DoxAI Australia
Household Capital
OwnHome
Spark Finance
Wisr
Zeroo Home Loans
Excellence in Business Lending
Banjo Loans
Carrington Labs
DoxAI Australia
Kashcade
Lumi
Moneytech
MyGigsters
Prospa
Excellence for Provision of FinTech Support Services
King & Wood Mallesons
LaunchLink Communications
Radburn Partners
Rixon Capital
Sensiba Australia
Stone & Chalk
The Escrow Company
Triple Bubble
Emerging Fintech Organisation of the Year
Eldium
Choosey App
Instantia
Giftbee
Sequential
TermPlus
RedOwl
Zeroo Home Loans
Best Innovation in Payments (including Remittance/FX)
ANNA Money
Cymonz
Ingenico
Mint Payments
MyGigsters
RedOwl
Remitly Australia
Sniip
Emerging FinTech Leader of the Year (under 35)
Aaron Bassin - Bridgit
Alex Simmons - Kashcade
Alfonso Porcelli - DoxAI Australia
Anastasia Varlamova - BTC Markets
Elliot Cohen - Pebl Payments
Jessie Lin - Stockspot
Julian Fayad - LoanOptions.ai
Melanie Hayden - Truyu
Finalists are determined based on both the quality and quantity of eligible submissions. Giving Back to the Fintech Community and Excellence in Green Fintech or Sustainability Initiatives did not meet the minimum threshold of eligible entries required to uphold the integrity of the awards to proceed this year.
About FinTech Australia
FinTech Australia is the not-for-profit peak industry body for the Australian fintech sector, representing over 400 fintech companies and startups across the nation. FinTech Australia’s vision is to make Australia the leading market for fintech innovation and investment by working with both sides of government, industry and the Australian fintech community to create a supportive environment and partner ecosystem in Australia and abroad.
