FAQ General
RBI regards Austria, where it is a leading corporate and investment bank, as well as Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as its home market. 13 markets of the region are covered by subsidiary banks. Additionally, the RBI Group comprises numerous other financial service providers, for instance in leasing, asset management or M&A.
Around 47,000 employees service 16.8 million customers through approx. 2,000 business outlets, the by far largest part thereof in CEE. RBI’s shares are listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. The Austrian Regional Raiffeisen Banks own around 58.8 per cent of the shares, the remainder is in free float. Within the Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group, RBI is the central institute of the Regional Raiffeisen Banks and other affiliated credit institutions.
Elevator Lab is a large fintech network in CEE powered by Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) and its subsidiaries, offering various initiatives in bringing together the corporate and the startup world. With our strong footprint in CEE (14 markets including Austria, 16.8 million customers) we are a strong partner for every fintech who wants to expand to this region. For every stage you are in, we have got the right initiative through which you can partner with us:
Elevator Lab is a leading Partnership Program powered by Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) and its subsidiaries to jointly develop scalable business cases and enable international growth. It is a four-month program organizing the collaboration between fintechs and RBI Group in a structured way. Elevator Lab is looking for fintech startups with proven innovative fintech products and technologies.
In 2020 the Partnership Program consists of several tracks, each track has a different timeline and searches for fintechs in different areas. The tracks will be hosted by different Raiffeisen banks within our CEE network, being the starting point for your expansion into this region.
Once selected to take part in a Partnership Program track, as a fintech you will have the opportunity to work together with international leading experts on a proof-of-concept in order to further develop your business solution. During the program the jointly developed solution/product will be evaluated for a possible strategic long-term partnership with RBI Group.
Some of RBI’s network banks offer fintechs in the local ecosystems the opportunity to work together on a proof-of-concept in the course of their Elevator Lab Challenge. There are two types of Elevator Lab Challenges offered by our subsidiary banks:
- Local Elevator Lab Challenge – Program organized by one of our subsidiary banks in CEE targeting local later-stage fintechs to cooperate with the local Raiffeisen Bank.
- Regional Elevator Lab Challenge – Program jointly organized by several subsidiary banks in CEE (mostly banks from neighboring countries) for later-stage fintechs in the region to cooperate with the local Raiffeisen Banks.
The Elevator Lab Challenge is the best way to get in contact with your local Raiffeisen Bank. Each subsidiary bank organizes the local program in cooperation with a partner from their own local startup ecosystem. More details can be found on the respective website of each Elevator Lab Challenge.
It is a local program organized by subsidiary banks in CEE focusing on early-stage startups with stimulating new ideas and concepts. The Elevator Lab Bootcamps are designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs to grow and to work further on ideas.
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is organizing the Elevator Lab Partnership Program together with its network banks and taking an active role in the program by providing experts from various fields of business from within the banks to work together with fintechs on pilot projects. Furthermore, RBI provides the framework for the local Elevator Lab initiatives in its CEE markets (Elevator Lab Lab Challenges and Elevator Lab Bootcamps).
Elevator Lab is closely cooperating with Elevator Ventures. Elevator Ventures is RBI’s corporate venture capital entity. It invests in smart ideas, creative minds and innovative solutions that redefine the future of the financial industry. RBI can play an active role in getting you connected with Elevator Ventures. For more information about our venture capital entity, please visit: www.elevator-ventures.com
