
Why this Challenge?
Digital assets are moving from experimentation to strategic relevance for financial institutions. For Caisse des Dépôts, this challenge is an opportunity to identify French and European solutions that can help shape the next generation of financial markets. We are looking for projects that bring concrete value to professional use cases across the value chain, from issuance and investment to post-trade, servicing and infrastructure.
Apply to join our open innovation programme Innovea to build together the finance of tomorrow!

The Startup Challenge

Digital assets for financial institutions
The Startup Challenge's Context:
Caisse des Dépôts is exploring how digital assets can support more efficient, secure and sovereign financial market infrastructures. This includes the tokenization of cash and securities, as well as the related services needed to operate them at scale: custody, asset servicing, distribution, compliance, reporting and workflow integration. The focus is strictly institutional, with no retail or speculative use cases.
What we are looking for:
We are seeking platforms, services and technology solutions designed for financial institutions, asset managers and market infrastructures. We welcome mature or emerging offerings that enable new products, improve front-to-back processes, strengthen interoperability and support European strategic autonomy. Solutions must address real institutional needs and exclude retail-focused solutions.
Selection Criteria
Relevance
Solves a concrete institutional need for financial market participants
Strategic Fit
Aligns with Caisse des Dépôts priorities and ambitions
Maturity
Demonstrates credible execution, real traction, and deployment readiness
Business Value
Creates measurable efficiency, new services, or market opportunities
Sovereignty
Strengthens European autonomy, resilience, and strategic technological control
Rewards
Timeline
FAQ
Who can apply?
Can I apply for more than one Startup Challenge/Award?
What is the difference between a Startup Challenge and an Award?
Is applying for an Award or Startup Challenge free?








