Company Announcement
Airwallex launches refreshed ‘Airwallex for Startups’ program empowering founders to turn finance into a growth engine
The refreshed program introduces three pillars: stage-appropriate financial infrastructure, strategic CFO mentorship, and an AI innovation sandbox
Launches in Singapore, before expanding globally to other markets
Partners include OpenAI, Google Cloud, and HubSpot, equipping founders with a comprehensive toolkit to support their growth
SINGAPORE – Airwallex today announced the global launch of its refreshed ‘Airwallex for Startups’ program1, a comprehensive initiative designed to help founders turn finance into a growth engine for their businesses. The program positions financial operations as a strategic driver of scalability, resilience, and innovation rather than a back-office function.
Yet for many founders, that vision remains out of reach. Globally, 90% of startups fail2, and nearly 2 in 5 (38%)3 stall because they run out of cash. When companies cannot effectively manage their financial operations, even strong business models and growing revenue are no guarantee of survival.
It’s precisely this gap that the ‘Airwallex for Startups’ program will address. The program will begin in Singapore before expanding to other markets in the coming months. It combines Airwallex’s financial infrastructure with hands-on CFO mentorship and an AI innovation sandbox, going far beyond traditional startup programs by helping founders build resilient financial foundations and scalable growth models.
Previously, the program supported startups across multiple regions with access to Airwallex’s financial infrastructure, startup perks, and community-building events – including a pitch competition in Singapore judged by a panel that included the Singapore Fintech Association – as well as learning and networking sessions with the likes of Square Peg, Jungle Ventures, and NextGen Ventures, Australia's first student-focused venture capital fund. Startups in select regions also had the opportunity to win business acceleration grants worth $10,000 in their respective local currencies. Building on that foundation, this next phase takes the mission further by equipping founders with the tools, guidance, and networks they need to grow beyond borders with confidence.
“The best ideas don’t just need funding; they need the right financial foundations to scale,” said Lucy Liu, Co-founder and President, Airwallex. “Feedback from our community has sharpened our focus. We’re now aligning our expertise and experience to deliver what founders value most from Airwallex: access to the tools, knowledge, and networks that turn financial operations into a growth advantage.”
The 'Airwallex for Startups’ program is built on three core pillars designed to maximise founder success:
1. Stage-appropriate financial infrastructure
Startups gain access to Airwallex products and financial perks designed to make every dollar count. Benefits scale with funding stage – from pre-seed through Series A and beyond – ensuring support grows alongside each company’s trajectory.
2. Strategic financial mentorship
Founders receive ongoing access to veteran finance leaders through the Startup CFO Expert Panel. These CFOs have guided some of the region’s most successful tech companies through hypergrowth and downturns alike. Participants join small-group sessions and operator-led masterclasses covering cash-flow and burn optimisation, valuation and cap-table strategy, fundraising preparation, and investor relations.
The program officially kicks off today with the Startup CFO Summit in Singapore, gathering over 100 founders, 20 CFOs, and a select group of investors for workshops on the financial fundamentals that make or break early-stage companies.
3. The AI Sandbox
The AI Sandbox provides a differentiated innovation track for AI-native startups. Selected teams receive real challenge statements from Airwallex – such as customer-acquisition or workflow-automation problems – and collaborate directly with internal champions to design and test solutions in live conditions.
The most promising teams may go on to develop design-partner relationships with Airwallex4, gaining early customer validation and proof points to accelerate future fundraising. The inaugural cohort focuses on growth and productivity use cases.
Beyond these pillars, Airwallex has also partnered with OpenAI, Google Cloud, HubSpot5, and other leading platforms to provide founders with an integrated stack of exclusive perks across AI, cloud infrastructure, and growth tools. This ecosystem approach creates a multiplier effect that extends beyond financial services alone, giving startups the complete toolkit they need to build, ship, and scale faster.
Interested startups and entrepreneurs can find more details about the program and apply here.
1 The Airwallex for Startups program’s availability and specific benefits vary by market and are contingent upon eligibility checks, successful onboarding (including KYC/KYB) and applicable limits. Not all program features are available in all jurisdictions. Forward‑looking statements and anticipated program benefits involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change
2 The Ultimate Startup Guide With Statistics (2024–2025), Founders Forum Group, 9 May 2025
3 The 8 Most Common Startup Cash Flow Problems and How To Solve Them, Techstars, 24 Jul 2025
4 Participation is at Airwallex’s discretion, subject to separate agreements and terms.
5 All third‑party names are the property of their respective owners. Use of these names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement.
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About Airwallex
Airwallex is building the future of global banking. As the global leader in business banking innovation, we provide trusted solutions to manage everything from global payments, business accounts, corporate cards and spend management to embedded financial services.
Built for scale, our platform removes the friction from global financial operations - empowering over 150,000 businesses worldwide, from startups to global enterprises, to operate and grow beyond borders.
Founded in Melbourne and trusted by leading brands such as TikTok, Bill.com, Canva, Deel, Navan and Qantas, Airwallex is redefining how businesses manage their finance and payments globally. Learn more at www.airwallex.com.