EY Startup Challenge Looking for Blockchain Solutions

Jamie Qiu runs the Startup Challenge. "We are looking for startups using blockchain that have a beta product launched, have some seed funding, and are looking for access to clients and customers in order to continue to grow and develop," he said in a statement. EY wants applicants that have moved beyond pitch decks and theoretical designs.

In media and entertainment, EY wants blockchain systems that track content rights from the moment creators produce work through distribution and incorporation into larger projects. The firm also seeks solutions that let creators and platforms control access to content, ensuring users have the proper rights to view or use what they're paying for. Payment flows matter too: EY wants tools that automate royalties and licensing fees between content owners and whoever uses their work.

Energy trading operates in a system clogged with friction and complexity. EY wants blockchain to cut through it. A workable solution would make trading more transparent, less complicated, reduce costs, accelerate settlement, and lower the risks baked into current market structures.

This marks the third London iteration of EY's challenge. The firm ran a Berlin program before this. Earlier this month, EY sponsored two blockchain competitions at the Viva Technology summit in Paris. Those contests sought a system to automate the verification of financial statements and another that could certify contract information between two parties for use by tax lawyers. As one of the world's largest accounting and consulting firms, EY has become an active investor in the blockchain startup ecosystem, backing competitions and mentorship programs across multiple countries.