Successful applicants will join a 12-week programme, gaining support from the NatWest Innovation team to explore collaboration opportunities with the bank, access mentorship from senior decision makers, and connect with NatWest’s wider innovation ecosystem through in-person events and workshops.It targets pre-series A and series A fintechs with proven product-market-fit and traction, with a particular focus on agentic AI and the emergence of smart devices,David Grunwald, director of innovation at NatWest Group, says: “The pace of advances in AI and technology is fundamentally changing how customers interact with financial services. To stay ahead - whether through new channels, emerging technologies, or smarter engagement - innovation and collaboration are non-negotiables. Fintechs play a vital role in meeting these challenges, so it’s essential we support them to thrive as we come together to shape the future of banking.” Programme participants can explore collaboration opportunities with NatWest - with several of last year’s start-ups engaging in extended discussions with the bank and its partners. This includes Tunic Pay, provider of a real-time payment intelligence platform dedicated to preventing fraud and scams. The fintech is now piloting fraud prevention for NatWest’s retail customers through transaction authentication in the mobile app.