Global Shinhan Innoboost 2026 sees applications triple, expanding open innovation in the banking and financial sector

Global Shinhan InnoBoost is an annual Open Innovation program designed to connect fintech startups with subsidiaries within the Shinhan financial ecosystem in Vietnam through Proofs of Concept (PoCs) tailored to real-world business challenges. The program focuses on accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies while providing a launchpad for startups to integrate into the operational environments of large-scale corporations.

Over the years, Shinhan Future’s Lab Vietnam has actively driven ecosystem connectivity, fostering strategic collaborations between Shinhan’s member companies in Vietnam—including Shinhan Bank, Shinhan Finance, Shinhan Life, Shinhan Securities, and Shinhan DS—and startups across various fields such as digital finance, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), customer experience, and process automation. The InnoBoost program aims to establish a pragmatic partnership mechanism where startups work directly with business units to develop, pilot, and validate the feasibility of their solutions in real-world environments.

InnoBoost 2026 features rigorous, in-person evaluation rounds between representatives from Shinhan's subsidiaries in Vietnam and startup co-founders. This process is meticulously designed to comprehensively evaluate how well each technical solution aligns with actual corporate needs, while assessing execution capabilities, synergy potential, and the mutual commitment of all parties throughout the PoC implementation phase.

Notably, for the 2026 cohort, Shinhan Future’s Lab Vietnam has partnered with GenAI Fund as a co-organizer to broaden its reach within the fintech and tech startup communities across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Leveraging an extensive network of corporate partners, industry experts, and tech startups, both sides aim to unlock greater synergy and collaboration opportunities between Shinhan’s subsidiaries and high-potential, innovative ventures capable of delivering practical business solutions.

Startups selected for the PoC phase will have the unique opportunity to deploy their pilots directly with Shinhan's subsidiaries in Vietnam. Upon successful completion of the PoC according to the program's evaluation criteria, cohorts can receive financial support of up to VND 200 million. Throughout the 12-week implementation phase, participating teams will receive intensive mentorship from industry experts to refine their solutions and enhance their commercialization potential. The entire process adheres strictly to open collaboration principles, requiring no equity exchange while ensuring robust data security and compliance with information safety standards.

Mr. Ryu Je Eun, representing Shinhan Bank Vietnam and Shinhan Future’s Lab Vietnam, stated: “We believe that open innovation only delivers true impact when startups and corporate enterprises co-create to address real-world business challenges. Startups bring agility, a pioneering spirit, and disruptive perspectives, while member companies within the Shinhan financial ecosystem offer deep industry expertise, robust execution capabilities, and extensive market scale. When these complementary strengths converge, creative initiatives move beyond mere potential and transform into tangible solutions that deliver real value to customers, businesses, and the community. We are confident that this collaboration will serve as a powerful catalyst for breakthrough innovations and sustainable growth in the future.”

Ms. Laura Nguyen, Fund Director of GenAI Fund, remarked: “An increasing number of tech startups possess advanced solutions but struggle to break into large-scale corporate markets. We expect InnoBoost to continue serving as a vital bridge, connecting startups with authentic market demands while enabling corporate enterprises to access innovative solutions tailored specifically to their digital transformation needs.”

Previous cohorts of the InnoBoost program have yielded significant collaborative milestones between startups and Shinhan’s financial subsidiaries post-pilot. Most notably, in 2025, two InnoBoost alumni successfully transitioned into formal commercial partnerships with Shinhan's entities in Vietnam. Specifically, Finan signed a strategic partnership agreement with Shinhan Bank Vietnam to co-develop 'Shinhan Store'—a digital platform designed to support business households with sales management tools, electronic payments, and financial access. Meanwhile, Fineksi is currently deploying its AI-driven credit analytics software into the corporate credit appraisal and underwriting workflows of Shinhan Bank Vietnam.

These milestones underscore the vital role of Global Shinhan InnoBoost as a proven catalyst connecting corporate demands with the disruptive innovation capabilities of the startup ecosystem. Over years of operating in Vietnam, Shinhan Future’s Lab has expanded its mandate beyond merely scouting technology solutions to establishing sustainable, long-term collaboration models between corporations and startups. Through InnoBoost, all stakeholders have the chance to co-test, evaluate, and scale solutions that carry the potential to generate tangible value for both consumers and the broader market.

Global Shinhan InnoBoost 2026 is entering its deep-dive evaluation phase, where shortlisted startups undergo meticulous screening prior to the final selection of cohorts for Proof of Concept (PoC) deployment across Shinhan’s financial ecosystem in Vietnam.

Giang Nguyen