Top 10 US firm Jones Day is launching an accelerator programme to help equip more than a dozen fintech start-ups with the legal skills and business connections to fast-track their growth.

The ‘FinAccelerate Empowered by Jones Day’ programme is designed to give fintech entrepreneurs wide-ranging legal knowledge and connect them with financial institutions, investors and potential joint-venture partners. The three-day programme is due to take place on 25 October until 27 October across the firm’s San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices.

Abradat Kamalpour, a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office and creator of the the FinAccelerate programme, said: “Leading multinational financial institutions and corporate clients are actively seeking innovative fintech companies, and innovative fintech companies are in need of legal know-how and access to funding and institutions to grow their businesses.”

Jones Day plans to accept 16-18 companies in the first cohort, who will be invited to the three day event and given ongoing access to a network of advisors and investors. The programme will give companies insights around capital markets, regulatory law, IP, employment, corporate structure and risk management, among other topics. Companies will also have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a selection of financial institutions, venture capital firms and other investors.

The firm says qualifying fintechs will be selected based on the strength of their team members and technology innovation. 

Jay Tambe, head of the firm’s financial markets practice, said: “FinAccelerate is a unique opportunity to connect innovative fintech start-ups to investors and institutions, provide fintech companies with an overview of legal issues across disciplines and jurisdictions, and engage all active players in a flourishing ecosystem of innovation.”

Earlier this year, Allen & Overy launched the sixth edition of its tech incubator – Fuse innovation hub – with 16 start-ups from across the legaltech, fintech and regtech markets, its largest cohort to date. More than 130 startups applied for the programme globally.

And late last year, US firm Cooley partnered with Tech Nation’s Libra growth programme to support UK tech start-ups that have at least one black or multiracial with black heritage founder. Cooley will provide the 30-strong cohort with advice on securing institutional investments.