Global cyber, digital ID competition launches in Tel Aviv

The Agora Fund Run launches today in Tel Aviv to identify startups and early stage companies with the latest solutions to help solve the challenge of secure, convenient digital authentication for next generation financial services. With a prize fund of over $50,000, the Agora Fund Run is launched by MagnaCarta Communications and Transfotech in partnership with Miratech Group, Rise Tel Aviv powered by Barclays, Israel Export and The Open Bank Project. The competition is seeking to identify the latest innovations from any geography in a field that will power global migration to digital financial services in the next decade. From use of biometrics, new forms of cryptography and digital signatures to experimental technologies such as zero knowledge systems, the opportunities for startups in this area are as broad as the financial services industry itself. A market with an anticipated value of $1 trillion by 2020 in Europe alone. The competition is open for entries until 21 October. Startups, entrepreneurs and founders with an idea or working technology that can be applied to an area of financial services should enter through the competition website at www.theagora.org Finalists will be announced by 5 November and invited to the judging and demo day in Tel Aviv on 15 November where the winner will be announced. The competition winner will receive a $50,000 investment and co-working space at Rise Tel Aviv. The winner will be selected by an international panel of judges including representatives of the Chief Scientist of Israel, Barclays, Cisco Systems, Intel and EY. As consumer and business identities, and commercial activity proliferates online passwords are rapidly becoming outdated. Join us in the race to replace them.