About

What is First Rate?

A global leader in WealthTech with more than 30 years of experience. First Rate provides innovative technology solutions to the wealth management industry.

First Rate has a presence on four continents, and over the coming years, we will continue to expand our global footprint. Through our continuous innovation, our customers are able to more easily manage the most internationally diverse and complex portfolios. The way we see it, no corner of the financial world should be beyond reach.

First Rate Connect

First Rate Connect is a venture accelerator in Singapore. We are backed by our parent company First Rate, and launched in partnership with EnterpriseSG. We offer an outcomes-driven 14 week program through our focus on sales and go-to-market strategy. Our mission is to help founders go to market, fast. We directly connect our cohort to qualified prospects from our own customer base in the US, consisting of 500+ Financial Institutions.

FAQs

If we haven't answered your question, please reach out at connect@firstrate.com

What stage of companies is First Rate Connect designed for?

First Rate Connect is designed for FinTechs that are post-revenue and operating in the early to mid-stages of their development, typically ranging from Seed to Series A funding rounds. At a minimum, we are seeking FinTechs that have clients in the SEA region and are looking to further scale and expand their market presence.

Is the WealthTech Accelerator a virtual program?

First Rate Connect is not curriculum driven as we respect founders' time. Instead, we offer a hybrid program that combines both in-person and virtual engagements. This hybrid model allows for flexibility and accessibility for participating companies.

What is the duration of First Rate Connect?

First Rate Connect is 14 weeks in duration. The first four weeks consist of consultative design where we do a Market Fit Analysis for participating FinTechs. The remaining ten weeks focus on Go To Market strategy, with a clear roadmap to integration with First Rate, and we also prepare FinTechs for demo day in Singapore and in the US.

Is there a program fee to participate in First Rate Connect?

Yes. Here are the fees you can expect to pay: 100 USD application fee; 4,000 USD core program fee; and 4,000 USD optional fees for startups that are qualified to integrate with First Rate and/or to access additional incubation support.

We have aligned our offerings and fees to address specific needs of FinTechs after numerous conversations with founders. Our goal is to help all FinTechs in our cohort de-risk business expansion into new territories.

Are there any grants to subsidize the cost of the program?

First Rate Connect is amid application to be an Accredited Mentor Partner under Startup SG’s “Startup SG Founder” scheme by the end of Q4 2024, where startups may apply to receive additional financial support from the government. Please refer to overview and eligibility criteria directly on Startup SG's website.