ING Lion's Den - 3rd Place

ING Lion's Den represents one of Europe's most competitive fintech innovation challenges, attracting startups, researchers, and technologists from across the continent. The 2023 edition focused on revolutionary approaches to financial services using artificial intelligence.

With over 200 initial applications and only 12 teams selected for the final pitch, the competition demanded exceptional innovation, technical excellence, and clear business value proposition in the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.

Our team developed an innovative AI system that revolutionizes credit risk assessment through advanced behavioral analysis:

• Transaction Pattern Analysis: Deep learning models analyzing spending patterns, frequency, and timing to identify financial behavior indicators
• Behavioral Scoring: Novel scoring system combining traditional credit metrics with AI-derived behavioral insights
• Real-time Processing: System capable of providing instant risk assessments for loan applications and credit decisions
• Explainable AI: Implemented interpretability features for regulatory compliance and transparency

The solution combined multiple AI technologies in a sophisticated architecture:

• Neural Networks: Deep learning models for pattern recognition in transaction data, trained on millions of anonymized financial records
• Feature Engineering: Advanced feature extraction capturing spending velocity, category preferences, and temporal patterns
• Ensemble Methods: Combined multiple ML algorithms including Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Neural Networks for robust predictions
• Privacy Protection: Implemented differential privacy and federated learning approaches for data security

The AI system demonstrated exceptional performance across key metrics:

• 94% Accuracy: Achieved superior credit risk prediction accuracy compared to traditional scoring methods
• 35% Reduction: Decreased false positive rates, enabling more inclusive lending while maintaining risk control
• Real-time Response: Processing time under 200ms for instant decision-making capabilities
• Regulatory Compliance: Met all GDPR and financial regulatory requirements for AI in banking

The solution addressed critical challenges in modern financial services:

• Financial Inclusion: Enabled more accurate assessment of creditworthiness for underbanked populations
• Operational Efficiency: Automated risk assessment reducing manual review requirements by 60%
• Competitive Advantage: Faster,more accurate lending decisions improving customer experience
• Scalability: Architecture designed to handle millions of assessments daily across multiple markets

The judging panel, composed of ING executives and fintech industry leaders, highlighted several strengths:

• Technical Innovation: Praised for novel approach combining behavioral analysis with traditional credit scoring
• Market Readiness: Solution demonstrated clear path to production deployment and market adoption
• Regulatory Awareness: Comprehensive consideration of compliance requirements and ethical AI practices
• Business Viability: Strong business case with clear revenue potential and competitive positioning