Mastercard For Fintechs 2025 Names Cense as Champion of European Innovation

From 244 applicants to one winner: Cense takes the spotlight in a Mastercard program that connects, educates, and accelerates fintechs across Western Europe

Cense emerged as the big winner of the second edition of the Mastercard For Fintechs 2025, the Mastercard program that spotlights the most talented fintechs in Western Europe. 

The competition, held last night at Torres Gloriès in Barcelona, brought together fintechs from Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands alongside industry leaders, innovative startups, and key representatives of the European financial ecosystem.

Cense is a regtech company that decodes complexity so banks can safely accept crypto money - automating checks, ensuring compliance and reducing friction for faster onboarding. The fintech secured a prize package that includes € 100.000 in marketing support, exclusive access to Mastercard’s Start Path final selection day, and mentorship from experts and founders from the ecosystem.

The six finalist fintechs presented their projects to a jury composed of Mastercard executives and external partners. Projects were evaluated according to a set of key criteria such as team experience, degree of innovation, economic viability and scalability potential.

Mastercard For Fintechs: A growing program

The 2025 edition attracted significant interest: 244 fintechs applied to the program. Of these, 140 formally registered for the competition, leading to the identification of 100 candidates and 67 fintechs shortlisted. 

In total, 23 fintechs advanced to the semifinals, participating in local events held in Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Amsterdam. Their projects spanned diverse areas, including real estate payment solutions, digital POS, financial education, renewable energy, digital health, collaborative economy, SME solutions, loyalty programs, and Web 3.

The scale of the pre-selection events was remarkable, drawing more than 400 professionals across different markets.

The success of Mastercard For Fintechs is evident in its ability to foster and expand connections within the ecosystem. A testament to this strength is the growing collaboration: 68 companies joined the initiative as partners in this second edition, 10 more than last year.

The Mastercard For Fintechs program is built around three fundamental pillars:

• Education, providing the knowledge and tools fintechs need to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities.
• Events, fostering meaningful connections within the ecosystem.
• Competitions, offering visibility and recognition.
  
  

Through this initiative, Mastercard aims to empower fintechs not only to overcome obstacles but also to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

According to Paloma Real, President of Mastercard's Western Europe Division: “I am deeply proud of the impact that Mastercard For Fintechs is achieving in Western Europe. This second edition has shown the innovative talent of our fintechs and their potential to transform the sector with disruptive proposals. The participation and quality of the projects have been extraordinary. At Mastercard, we remain committed to supporting startups with resources, training, and strategic connections to help them scale their solutions. I congratulate Cense on this recognition, which will undoubtedly give them greater visibility and strengthen their position in the sector.”

Hugo Leijtens, Chief Strategy Officer at Cense stated: "We are very grateful for this recognition and for the opportunity that Mastercard gives us to continue growing. This award represents not only a boost to our project but also motivation to keep innovating and adding value to the fintech ecosystem. We firmly believe that collaboration and access to new resources will allow us to scale our impact and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable financial sector in Europe”. 

Six finalist fintechs: Innovation and diversity in the European ecosystem

The six final fintechs were selected from among the best candidates, standing out for their innovation and potential to drive significant impact across a range of sectors within the fintech ecosystem. These finalists represent diverse areas of fintech, with each company tackling unique challenges and opportunities within their respective verticals.

• Aria (France) provides innovative financing options and API-based payment solutions specifically designed for SaaS platformand marketplace operators, enabling smoother and more efficient transactions
• Auric (Belgium&Luxembourg) enables merchants, communities, and football clubs to offer personalized debit cards, integrating financial services and advanced analytics to boost loyalty programs and customer engagement.
• Cense is a regtech company that decodes complexity so banks can safely accept crypto money - automating checks, ensuring compliance and reducing friction for faster onboarding.
• Paynest (Portugal): Focused on enhancing financial well-being, the company offers tools to help employees better manage their personal finances and improve their overall financial health.
• Silkpay (Spain) simplifies payments in the real estate sector by automating rent collection, offering a seamless solution for landlords and tenants alike.
• Subbyx (Italy): A circular economy platform built around subscription models. Subbyx is offering flexible, sustainable access to Tech products through personalized, commitment-free monthly plans.