Holdun, a financial services company with roots in Montreal, announced on Thursday the launch of the Holt Fintech Acceleration Program, an initiative created to support the next generation of entrepreneurs operating in the fintech industry.
The program is designed to extend the entrepreneurial legacy of Sir Herbert Holt, the pioneer developer of utility company Hydro-Quebec and former president of Toronto-based Royal Bank of Canada.
The program will provide 10 spots for entrepreneurs to benefit from hands-on support through partners, training, mentorship and immersion in the fintech environment. Montreal-based software developer Stradigi AI, will also serve as a resource to participants.
“Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, it feels very logical to me to honour the entrepreneurial spirit that the family has been cultivating, with a focus on fintech and artificial intelligence (AI)” Brendan Holt Dunn, founder and managing partner for the Holt Fintech Accelerator Program, said in a statement. “We want to give back to the community and, thanks to this program, we’ll definitely be able to make a difference in the future for these startups.”
Holdun says future sustainability for fintech is a key consideration, and the program will look to provide support in the form of sponsorships, funds and business models.
Jan Christopher Arp, founder of Montreal-based FormFintech, will serve as co-managing partner of the program.