Project Nemo, the not-for-profit grassroots initiative accelerating disability inclusion within fintech, has been named the overall winner of this year’s Money20/20 Diamond Grand Prix. Winning the highest honour in global fintech in the category established to highlight initiatives transforming the industry underscores the growing momentum behind Project Nemo’s drive to increase awareness of digital accessibility needs. 

Project Nemo was recognised by the judges for a ‘transformative approach to disability inclusion in fintech’, continuously championing a greater focus on digital accessibility for the 24% of UK population living with disabilities and addressing a $13 trillion global market through inclusion by design. 

When announcing Project Nemo’s win, Money Awards judge Suzan Kereere said: “Our grand prix winner did something extraordinary. They didn't just innovate for a segment of people, they innovated for everyone...It's not just financial technology, it is human technology. In a world racing towards automation, they remind us that the goal isn't to replace people, it's to reach people. They showed us a vision of finance that not only frictionless but is also fearless, where everyone everywhere can belong in the digital environment.” 

The win comes just as the UK Government is expected to publish a Financial Inclusion Strategy, signalling that the need to address digital inclusion is firmly on the national agenda. 

Since its launch at Innovate Finance Global Summit in April 2024, Project Nemo has worked to break down the financial barriers facing those with disabilities. As the initiative has evolved, it has focused on three calls to action across the industry:  

• to ensure accessibility is being considered for all digital products and services 
• to become more disability confident as employers  
• to improve specific provision for those that need support with everyday spending, with a focus on adults with a learning disability.  

Kris Foster, Co-Founder of Project Nemo, comments: “This is breakthrough moment. Just as our government defines what needs to come next, our work has been endorsed by our industry at the highest level. Having personally experienced how a lack of accessibility can shut people out of financial services, I know the difference inclusive design can make. We’re calling on the entire ecosystem to now step forward, because when accessibility becomes embedded in design, everybody benefits.” 

Joanne Dewar, Co-founder and Project Lead, Project Nemo, adds: “Whilst the Financial Inclusion Strategy will bring financial inclusion up the agenda, the imperative is to convert words into action. We have already evidenced what is needed for adults with a learning disability, which is in line with the needs of many other users with fluctuating or declined mental capacity, and expect that with the recognition we can now get the financial backing required to continue to drive the industry forwards.” 

To date, Project Nemo has driven real measurable change across the industry. The initiative has sought to educate the industry on the everyday challenges people with disabilities face when managing money through its powerful series of short films and then establishing training partnership with HSBC Innovation Banking, HSBC and Eden Chase helping fintech and banking teams design more inclusive products, services and teams from the ground up.