News

Jacksonville, FL, November 3, 2025 – L Marks, in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, is delighted to announce Paysafe and the University of North Florida (UNF) as the founding partners for JAX Hub, a strategic initiative set to accelerate financial innovation and attract global investment to northeast Florida.

Building on the efforts of the Department of Business and Trade through the UK-Florida Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023 to deepen trade and innovation ties, JAX Hub represents a flagship outcome of that partnership, connecting Jacksonville’s financial services ecosystem with global innovators to pilot and scale innovative, transformative fintech solutions.

Startups and scaleups joining the program will gain access to Paysafe’s industry expertise, real-world testing opportunities, mentorship, and Jacksonville’s expanding economic and innovation ecosystem, enabling them to develop solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers, businesses, and financial institutions. UNF Coggin College of Business will provide graduate student talent and research support throughout the program, helping develop the next generation of fintech professionals and strengthening the local innovation ecosystem.

Daniel Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, L Marks, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Paysafe and the University of North Florida as the founding partners of JAX Hub. This collaboration brings together the global expertise of an industry leader with the academic strength of a top regional university, all in partnership with the City of Jacksonville. Together, we’re creating a platform that empowers innovators to redefine the future of financial services and establishes Jacksonville as a global center for fintech excellence.”

Donna Deegan, Mayor of Jacksonville, said:

“JAX Hub will be a real catalyst for Northeast Florida, giving local companies and entrepreneurs a powerful bridge to a global network of innovators. By partnering with Paysafe and UNF, we will blend corporate innovation with startup energy. That mix is exactly what cities like Jacksonville need to accelerate growth.”

Paysafe, a leading payments platform with an extensive track record of serving merchants and consumers in the global entertainment sectors, is seeking solutions in the following categories:

• Advanced financial services:Technologies that help transform digital wallets into comprehensive financial hubs, enabling spending, borrowing, investing, and protection. We welcome suppliers developing solutions such as micro-loans, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), credit cards, fractional investing, micro-insurance, or merchant-exclusive perks. Solutions that offer a full suite of services, are infrastructure-ready and enhance customer control and engagement will be of particular interest.
• Building the merchant loyalty engine:Loyalty technologies that enable a multi-merchant rewards ecosystem within its digital wallet. Innovative solutions that support both merchant-specific programs and shared loyalty networks, where users can earn and redeem rewards across multiple participating vendors. Ideal partners will offer infrastructure-ready, interoperable platforms that empower merchants to manage their own offers while driving cross-merchant engagement. These solutions should help Paysafe create a dynamic, collaborative loyalty environment that enhances user value and strengthens its role as an ecosystem facilitator.
• Family friendly finance:Solutions to help families manage money together through a single app. We welcome suppliers developing solutions that combine parental visibility and control with child-friendly tools for learning, independence, and financial empowerment. Infrastructure-ready solutions that make cross-border transfers, cash-to-digital top-ups, and multi-currency wallet management simple and secure are of particular interest.
• Wildcard:Unconventional ideas that may not fit neatly into traditional financial technology categories. These are solutions that could have an indirect but meaningful impact on digital payments, financial services, or the broader fintech ecosystem. These solutions challenge traditional perspectives, introduce bold, out-of-the-box innovations, and expand how we think about the future of financial services and digital commerce.

Bob Legters, Chief Product Officer, Paysafe, said:

“Innovation thrives through collaboration and shared purpose. At Paysafe, we’re proud to support Jacksonville’s growing tech community by connecting with global startups and local innovators who are shaping the future of technology and helping us grow together.”

Dr. Albert Loh, Interim Dean, Coggin College of Business, University of North Florida, said:

“We are very excited to be part of this important partnership and what it represents for both our students and the Jacksonville community. Through JAX Hub, talented graduate students in programs such as FinTech, Business Analytics, and Accounting and Data Analytics will have the opportunity to engage directly with real companies, explore emerging financial technologies, and contribute to innovative solutions. This collaboration strengthens the link between education and industry and supports Jacksonville’s continued growth as a center for financial innovation.”

For more information and to apply, please visit jaxhub.us.

Applications for the inaugural JAX Hub cohort are now open and will close on January 7, 2026. Selected companies will begin pilot engagements with program partners in April 2026.