The Founders Arena, born from a partnership between the City of Arlington, Arlington Economic Development Corporation and First Rate, Inc., is an innovative WealthTech Accelerator designed to meet the needs of startup tech entrepreneurs. 

The 10-week intensive gives participants access to networking, funding, training and mentorship. Participating startups have created innovative products that banks and wealth management companies across the world can use to better serve their clients. The Founders Arena, headquartered at the new First Rate, Inc. campus in North Arlington, aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship while actively engaging the local community through workshops, seminars, hackathons and networking events. 

The inaugural WealthTech Combine took place on Oct. 10-11, 2023. Members of the first Founders Arena cohort spent two days networking with industry experts, honing their business pitches and attending sessions on topics from artificial intelligence to the current state of wealth management and everything in-between. Learn more about each member of the inaugural cohort through the Arlington Economic Development Corporation’s “Founders Arena Spotlight” series.  

Name of Founder and Company
Bart Vanhaeren, CEO & Co-Founder and David Connor, Managing Director at InvestSuite

What makes your product unique? 
BV: We provide white-label solutions to financial institutions. We originated in Belgium, and David is our guy based in Boston, with clients in Europe and the Middle East. We help banks and financial institutions bring digital wealth management solutions to the market. If they want to launch their own trading platform or robo-advisor, it’s quite hard to do that. Through our software, we can help them to accelerate their journey and do it in months instead of years. It comes at a lower cost, and hopefully we also add some magic dust to it. 

What encouraged you to apply to the Accelerator?
BV: We’re trying to get into the U.S. and we’ve been working with various intermediaries. This [program] was highly recommended by different people we know in the ecosystem, and the people who are behind the Founders Arena are very high quality. We were very excited when we heard that we made it.

What’s the best part of the program for you?
DC: The exposure that we’ve gotten so far within the community is something that’s really valuable.  It’s already paid dividends through more exposure and the conversations we’re having. I think the quality of the people running the program makes a difference. The City has really opened up their arms to kick off this event. It was just fantastic the reception that we got. 

BV: I’m doing most of the program virtually, but it’s been great to meet the people behind Founders Area and meet with potential clients like UBS, Morningstar. High level introductions are key. I’ve been to different incubator programs, and at the end of the day, it’s about networking and high-level contacts. We’ve become very critical of events and where we go. We have the highest compliments for this program. Maybe later we’ll imagine setting up a company here. The connections with the university [UT Arlington] and the City are interesting to consider in the future. 

How has working with the Founders Arena helped you achieve your goals?
BV: Our dream is to get clients in the U.S. With SEI, Morningstar, and UBS – if we sign a contract with them, that’s a big win.

What’s next?
BV: To have lots of contracts. If we have contracts with one player, we’d gain reputation and it would be much easier to sell it – for us, it’s a big milestone. A little seed that has been planted and then grow the product in the U.S. market.