Could Greenville be the next innovative hub for financial technology

— NextGEN has brought together local stakeholders to explore what it would take to make this region the next hub in fintech innovation.

The reason makes sense.

Greenville is ideally positioned between Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina — two of the nation’s premier financial hubs, Financial Technology bullseye.

Financial-services technology is a growth sector and covers a range of applications from payment systems and online-banking services to investment platforms, among many others.

Given Greenville’s position between Atlanta and Charlotte and its widely touted quality of life, which is driving the area’s tremendous population and economic growth, NextGEN, in partnership with SC Launch and Build Carolina, is exploring how to grow fintech innovation.

“We’re not trying to be the next Atlanta or Charlotte,” said Gary Shiffman, NextGEN entrepreneur-in-residence and former fintech founder. “We’re leveraging Greenville’s distinct advantages to create something complementary.”

Shiffman is spearheading a working group of local fintech founders and other stakeholders to identify opportunities and potential roadblocks in growing Greenville’s fintech ecosystem.

The effort has led to a series of ongoing monthly roundtables where the ultimate goal is to produce a strategic plan that will guide concrete action to realize Greenville’s fintech potential.

“We’ve moved beyond simply talking about Greenville’s fintech potential,” said Eric Weissmann, NextGEN executive director. “Our working groups are developing actionable recommendations that can be implemented by stakeholders across the community.”

For more information or to get involved, contact Molly Iclán at NextGEN or visit nextgengvl.org.