Visa, a major digital payments player, has launched the fourth edition of the Visa Accelerator Program with an open call for applications. The initiative aims to enable start-ups in India to unlock growth potential by collaborating with Visa’s payments experts, the firm said in a release.  

Applications for this edition of the Programme opened on January 8, 2024, and will close on March 8, 2024. The selected start-ups will engage in the program from May to November 2024, culminating with a Demo Day later. 

The 2024 edition focuses on new opportunity areas – Artificial Intelligence (AI), Global Money Movement, and Loyalty of the Future, with an emphasis on areas like Digital Acceptance for Micro, Small, and Medium Businesses (MSMBs) and Embedded Finance. 

The programme, focusing on expansion stage start-ups, will emphasise the development of proof of concept, product solutions, and fast-tracked commercialisation, arming start-ups with potential collaboration and accelerated growth. 

Speaking on the launch of the programme, Sandeep Ghosh, group country manager, Visa India and South Asia, said, “The Program offers start-ups a unique opportunity to work with our subject matter experts to enhance and test their solutions with real-world opportunities, building a runway for growth.” 

A select group of start-ups from across the Asia-Pacific region will, through the programme, address evolving challenges of the payment ecosystem. They will also co-develop, test, and iterate new solutions and leverage Visa’s extensive network of financial institutions, merchants, and digital partners to pursue tangible go-to-market opportunities, the company further added in the statement.  

Launched in 2020, the Visa Accelerator Program has consistently supported advanced-stage start-ups with experienced mentors, cutting-edge technology, and opened doors to investment opportunities. In 2023, of the seven start-ups selected, two were India-based companies – Transpure and Twid.