DALLAS (SMU), Sept. 16, 2026, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With North Texas emerging as a leading U.S. financial hub, opportunities are growing for entrepreneurs, especially those who specialize in fintech. MassChallenge, a global, nonprofit startup accelerator network, and the SMU Cox School of Business are partnering to launch the new SMU Cox FinTech Coalition. The national platform is designed to establish Dallas as a leader in fintech innovation. SMU-led and MassChallenge-operated, the Coalition will connect fintech startups with corporations, investors, students, faculty and the broader financial services ecosystem.
At the center of the Coalition is the SMU Cox FinTech Accelerator, a highly selective program designed to help promising fintech companies prepare for enterprise adoption and commercial growth. The broader Coalition will extend beyond the accelerator through year-round executive forums, founder and investor engagement, a signature SMU Cox FinTech Summit and opportunities to connect emerging companies with the talent and institutions shaping the future of financial services. Because of the much-heralded influx of stock exchanges, as well as financial and corporate relocations to the area, the SMU Cox FinTech Coalition comes at an important time.
“The growth of ‘Y’all Street’ in North Texas creates the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups to innovate at the intersection of technology and financial services,” said Executive Director Josh Taylor of the SMU Cox William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership. “Our entrepreneurial leadership at SMU Cox prepares students and founders to create new ventures and investment opportunities. With MassChallenge, we have the perfect partner with nearly two decades of experience in connecting and guiding entrepreneurs. The SMU Cox FinTech Coalition gives us an opportunity to bring the innovators, financial institutions, investors and talent shaping the future of financial services together here in Dallas, with national reach and impact.”
“The opportunity with the SMU Cox FinTech Coalition is to build something that becomes part of the fabric of financial innovation in North Texas,” said Cait Brumme, CEO of MassChallenge. “SMU Cox has the reach to convene industry, academia, entrepreneurs and the broader community, and MassChallenge brings deep experience working with fintech founders and the institutions they need to reach. Together, we can create a platform that continually brings new ideas, new companies and new relationships into an already powerful financial services ecosystem.”
In August this year, Time magazine named MassChallenge the No. 2 Best Incubator and Accelerator of 2026 for its success in connecting entrepreneurs with the expertise, relationships and resources that move bold ideas forward. The SMU Cox FinTech Coalition’s annual accelerator will select up to 15 high-quality fintech startups from a pool expected to exceed 300 international applications, making the program highly selective. The program will emphasize commercial readiness, enterprise adoption, mentorship, corporate and investor engagement and measurable outcomes. Applications for the inaugural cohort will open Oct. 6.
On the day applications open, MassChallenge CEO Cait Brumme will be the featured guest at a special SMU Cox Leaders on Leadership Fireside Chat. Brumme, a leader at the forefront of the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, will share her leadership journey and the experiences that have shaped her perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation. Before becoming CEO, Brumme led MassChallenge’s global portfolio of accelerator programs and previously led the Impact Collaboratory at Harvard Business School. The event will begin at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Crum Family Auditorium, located inside the James M. Collins Executive Education Center at 3150 Binkley Ave. on the SMU campus in Dallas. All are welcome to attend, but registration is required. Register here.
Founding partner relations with leading North Texas financial institutions and organizations are currently being formalized. Founding partners will help connect participating startups with industry expertise, mentors, investors and opportunities for pilots, proofs of concept and commercial partnerships. Partners will also have opportunities for thought leadership, engagement with SMU students and faculty, and early access to a curated pipeline of fintech companies and emerging technologies. Those interested in partnering with the SMU Cox FinTech Coalition can contact spears@smu.edu.
About SMU Cox
The Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (SMU Cox) is committed to influencing the way the world conducts business via prolific research that provokes innovation, change and global thought leadership. SMU Cox offers a full range of business education programs, including B.B.A., Full-Time MBA, Working Professional MBA (part-time, in-person and online) and Master of Science degree programs, as well as graduate certificate programs and Executive Education tailored for C-suite leaders and management professionals. The Cox School maintains an active global alumni network, is accredited by the AACSB and is consistently ranked among the world’s leading business schools.
About MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a global institution that backs startups building solutions to complex, systems-critical challenges, working where complexity is high and the path to market is hardest. Founded in Boston, Massachusetts, with offices in Texas, Israel, Switzerland and the UK, MassChallenge connects startups with the partners, programs and capital needed to accelerate commercialization and real-world impact. Since 2009, MassChallenge has supported more than 5,000 startups that have raised over $27 billion in funding and is ranked No. 2 in the United States on TIME's list of America's Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026.
Anna Martinez SMU Cox School of Business 214-768-4474 annam@cox.smu.edu
