GoParity awarded with a MetLife Foundation grant

Inclusion Plus, the MetLife Foundation’s acceleration program, is a global competition to identify and support entrepreneurs, non-profits and existing companies that help advance financial inclusion for an estimated 2 billion people across the world.

As stressed by the Managing Director of MetLife Iberia, “Financial inclusion is the key to boosting a country’s prosperity.” This is also one of GoParity’s main goals, perfectly aligned with the first of the United Nations sustainable development goals, which we govern our actions: to end poverty in all its forms, everywhere.

Inclusion Plus is a series of country-based competitions focusing on addressing the financial inclusion needs of low to moderate income households in that country. The initiative attracted entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, and other entities focused on responding to improve the financial health. GoParity, as a Portuguese start-up, was competing in the Iberian Penisula area.

About MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was created in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its founding through the end of 2017, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $783 million in grants and $70 million in program-related investments to organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. In 2013, the Foundation committed $200 million to financial inclusion, their work has reached more than 3.5 million low-income individuals in 42 countries.

Over 40 organizations submitted innovative products, programs and services that increase financial wellbeing for low-income individuals and families across Iberia, all competing for a total of €90,000 in grant funding from MetLife Foundation to scale their solution.

In the semi-final round, 18 advancing teams worked closely with MetLife employees to refine their pitches. The finalists of the competition had the opportunity to gain exposure and to compete for the final award.

Five finalists competed at the final event on July 5, 2018 .

About the finalists

Among the finalists there were 3 Spanish and 2 Portuguese start-ups: OpSeeker, Goin, Alda, GoParity and Raize.

The results were very exciting for GoParity! Spain’s OpSeeker took home the Iberian grand prize of €40,000. GoParity came in a second place with a prize of €25,000. Goin was third with €15,000, and Raize and Alda won each €4,000 apiece as finalists.

“We are proud to support Portuguese and Spanish startups such as OpSeeker, GoParity, Goin, Raize, and Alda, winners of this edition of the Inclusion Plus Awards, to develop their projects that will undoubtedly contribute to a paradigm shift in the Iberian financial sector.” said Oscar Herencia, General Director of MetLife Spain in a statement.

We are incredibly proud because GoParity stood out as one of the most financially inclusive among 40 participants and went through the semi-finals, becoming one of 5 finalists. We were awarded a grant of 25 000 € to continue our work in the area of ​​investments with social and environmental impact.

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