Introduction
The Israel Fintech Center (IFC) is an NGO supporting Israel’s financial technology ecosystem. Established in 2013 and formerly known as City TLV, it connects fintech innovators, financial institutions, investors, regulators, advisers, academia and international ecosystem partners. IFC works to strengthen fintech adoption in Israel and introduce Israeli financial innovation to global financial markets.
What is IFC and who does it represent
IFC’s ecosystem includes fintech startups, established financial technology companies, financial institutions, investors, regulators, government-linked bodies, consultants, legal advisers, accountants, academic participants and technology partners.
Its coverage is broader than one fintech vertical. The centre’s ecosystem spans payments and remittance, banking infrastructure, financing and lending, wealthtech and investment, insurance and risk, compliance, accounting, tax, cybersecurity and other financial innovation areas.
Mission and advocacy focus
IFC works as a bridge between Israel’s fintech innovators and the wider financial services industry. Its role is to help local fintech companies gain visibility, connect with relevant institutions and participate in the development of Israel’s financial innovation ecosystem.
The centre is especially relevant where Israeli fintech intersects with payments, remittance, financial infrastructure, cybersecurity, compliance, lending, capital markets, insurance, digital identity, risk management and global financial partnerships. Its work is ecosystem-oriented: connecting market participants, supporting collaboration and promoting Israel’s fintech capabilities internationally.
Policy domains
- Fintech ecosystem development — Support for collaboration between startups, financial institutions, investors, advisers, regulators and technology partners.
- Payments and remittance — Relevance for PSPs, remittance firms, wallets, cross-border payment providers and payment infrastructure companies.
- Banking infrastructure and financial platforms — Coverage of core banking technology, embedded finance, account services, APIs and financial software.
- Financing and lending — Relevance for digital lenders, SME finance providers, credit technology companies and alternative finance platforms.
- Wealthtech, investment and capital markets — Support for investment technology, trading infrastructure, asset management tools and financial analytics.
- Insurance, risk and cybersecurity — Relevance for insurtech, fraud prevention, cyber risk, compliance, identity and operational resilience.
- International fintech collaboration — Connections between Israeli fintech companies and global banks, investors, corporates and ecosystem partners.
Geographic scope and cross-border reach
IFC primarily focuses on Israel and the Israeli fintech ecosystem. It is most relevant to companies operating in Israel, entering the Israeli market or seeking partnerships with Israeli fintech companies, financial institutions, investors and innovation stakeholders.
The centre also has strong international relevance because many Israeli fintech companies are built for global markets. Its activity helps position Israeli fintech innovation for engagement with overseas financial institutions, investors, technology partners and industry networks.
Why IFC matters for payments operators
IFC matters for PSPs, remittance providers, payment infrastructure companies, wallets, acquiring platforms, fraud prevention firms, compliance providers and embedded finance companies interested in Israel. Its ecosystem role helps payment operators identify Israeli fintech partners, understand local innovation trends and connect with companies working on payment, security and financial infrastructure problems.
For payment firms, IFC is especially relevant where payments intersect with cross-border money movement, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, compliance, digital identity, banking infrastructure, merchant services, fintech partnerships and global expansion. Israel’s fintech ecosystem is known for technology depth, so payment operators may find relevant partners in risk, data, security, infrastructure and financial software.
The teams most likely to follow IFC include partnerships, business development, product, strategy, innovation, risk, fraud, compliance, investor relations and senior leadership teams.
Who runs IFC and who are the members
IFC operates as an NGO with an executive board, advisory board, strategic partners, members, programmes, events and ecosystem initiatives. Its public positioning is centred on building bridges between Israeli fintech innovators and the wider financial industry.
The centre is supported by strategic partners and membership fees. Its community includes both fintech companies and the wider professional infrastructure around them, including financial institutions, investors, advisers, academia and public-sector stakeholders.
Members and participant categories
IFC’s network is best described by ecosystem role rather than by fixed named-member examples. Its members and partners may include several types of organisations active in Israel’s fintech market.
| Category | Typical participants |
|---|---|
| Payment and remittance firms | PSPs, remittance providers, wallets, cross-border payment companies and payment infrastructure firms |
| Fintech startups and scale-ups | Early-stage and growth-stage companies building financial technology products |
| Financial institutions | Banks, insurers, investment firms and financial service providers interested in innovation |
| Banking and infrastructure providers | API platforms, embedded finance companies, financial software firms and infrastructure vendors |
| Lending and finance platforms | Digital lenders, SME finance providers, alternative finance platforms and credit technology companies |
| Wealthtech and investment firms | Trading platforms, investment tools, analytics providers and asset management technology firms |
| Risk, compliance and cybersecurity firms | Fraud prevention, AML, KYC, digital identity, cyber risk and regulatory technology providers |
| Ecosystem partners | Investors, accelerators, legal advisers, consultants, accountants, academic institutions and public-sector stakeholders |
Programmes and community activity
IFC supports ecosystem activity through programmes, events, member engagement, strategic partnerships, community initiatives and international connections. Its activity may cover payments, remittance, banking infrastructure, lending, wealthtech, insurtech, compliance, cybersecurity and fintech investment.
Participants may engage through community events, partnership activity, ecosystem programmes, member initiatives and international fintech promotion.
What does IFC publish and who does it influence
Ecosystem engagement
IFC engages with fintech companies, financial institutions, regulators, official agencies, investors, advisers, academia and global ecosystem partners. Its influence is strongest as a connector and visibility platform for Israeli fintech innovation.
The centre helps bring attention to Israeli fintech capabilities in areas such as payments, cybersecurity, banking infrastructure, compliance, lending, investment technology and insurance technology.
Knowledge resources and ecosystem visibility
IFC publishes and shares ecosystem materials, member information, community updates, programme information and event activity. These resources help companies understand Israel’s fintech landscape and identify relevant participants across fintech verticals.
For PSPs and payment companies, useful themes include payments and remittance, cross-border fintech, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, digital identity, financial infrastructure, compliance and partnerships with Israeli technology companies.
Events and convenings
IFC participates in Israel’s fintech event ecosystem and supports convenings that connect startups, financial institutions, investors, advisers and international partners. Israel’s fintech event landscape also includes FinTech Week Tel Aviv, a major gathering for the global fintech community in Israel.
These convenings are relevant for payment operators seeking market insight, partnerships and visibility within Israel’s fintech ecosystem.
How to join IFC
Companies and professionals can engage with IFC through its membership and community channels. Applicants or prospective participants typically contact the centre, share their organisation details and choose the engagement route that matches their role in the fintech ecosystem.
Membership is relevant for fintech companies, financial institutions, investors, advisers, technology providers, academics and other organisations connected to financial innovation in Israel.
IFC membership and fees
IFC is supported by strategic partners and membership fees. Public materials do not provide a simple universal fee table for all participation types.
Companies should confirm current membership options, benefits, eligibility and pricing directly with IFC before budgeting for participation.
What members commit to
Members and partners typically participate in ecosystem activity, events, knowledge-sharing, networking and collaboration with other fintech stakeholders. Participation may involve sharing expertise, attending programmes, supporting ecosystem development and building connections between Israeli fintech and global financial markets.
FAQ
Is IFC the same as FinTech-Aviv?
No. IFC and FinTech-Aviv are related to Israel’s fintech ecosystem but are not the same public identity. IFC is an NGO formerly known as City TLV, while FinTech-Aviv is commonly described as the Israeli FinTech Association and a large fintech community.
What makes IFC relevant internationally?
IFC is relevant internationally because Israeli fintech companies often build products for global banks, PSPs, insurers, investors and infrastructure providers. The centre helps connect Israeli innovation with international financial institutions, ecosystem partners and market opportunities.
How much does IFC membership cost?
IFC says it is supported by strategic partners and membership fees, but it does not publish a simple universal pricing table for all participation routes. Companies should confirm current fees, benefits and eligibility directly with the centre.
What kinds of fintech companies are connected to IFC?
IFC’s ecosystem covers payments and remittance, banking infrastructure, lending, wealthtech, investment, insurance, risk, compliance, accounting, tax, cybersecurity and financial technology services. This makes it relevant to both product companies and specialist infrastructure providers.
Is IFC useful for payment partnerships?
Yes. IFC can be useful for payment partnerships because Israel’s fintech ecosystem includes companies working on remittance, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, digital identity, compliance, financial infrastructure and cross-border payment technology.
Does IFC run FinTech Week Tel Aviv?
IFC should not be described as the sole organiser of FinTech Week Tel Aviv unless confirmed directly. FinTech Week Tel Aviv is a major fintech gathering in Israel and is relevant to the same ecosystem, but ownership and organisation should be checked through the event’s official channels.
Is IFC focused only on startups?
No. IFC’s ecosystem includes fintech startups, established companies, financial institutions, regulators, investors, advisers, academia and service providers. Its role is to connect the wider fintech ecosystem rather than only represent early-stage startups.
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