In September 11, 2019 – Wells Fargo & Company has announced that startups ARGO and The Climate Service have joined the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator, bringing the total number of companies in the portfolio to 25.
“Wells Fargo continues to invest and work closely with fintech companies to help integrate their big ideas into the banking services of tomorrow,” said Lisa Frazier, head of the Innovation Group at Wells Fargo. “Teaming up with ARGO, The Climate Service, and other startups in the accelerator program helps us look past the current horizon to disrupt, innovate and deliver the experiences customers demand.”
ARGO, based in Montpellier, France, develops augmented reality technologies to build new business models and experiences that bring to life print and digital mediums, providing just-in-time contextual information, anywhere, and without a manual search.
Pierre Addoum, CEO of ARGO, commented:“The way consumers experience the printed and digital world is changing rapidly, and augmented reality will play an increasingly immersive role in that space”. He added, “We are excited to work closely with Wells Fargo to help further develop these rich experiences for consumers.”
Now in its fifth year, the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program began in 2014 to advance emerging technologies in pursuit of breakthroughs for financial services. Startups are eligible to receive up to USD $1 million in funding, along with guidance from Wells Fargo business and technology leaders to help refine and scale their companies. The virtual, six-month, non-exclusive program has received more than 2,800 applications from innovative companies in more than 100 countries since the program’s inception.
Wells Fargo stated that the startups ARGO and The Climate Service reaffirm the company’s commitment to investing and exploring emerging technologies, and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy and reducing the impacts of climate change.
The other awardee, The Climate Service, enables corporations and financial services firms to measure, monitor and manage their financial risks and opportunities related to climate change.
“The financial system’s demands for robust climate analytics require rapid growth and powerful partnerships,” said James McMahon, CEO of The Climate Service. “We are proud to collaborate with an organization that understands the impact climate risk poses, and the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program is perfectly designed to support the intense scaling to come.”
Applications for the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program can be submitted throughout the year at www.wellsfargo.com/accelerator.
Image credit: ARGO
About the author
Sam Sprigg
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.
