Sun Life looks for life with fintech start-ups
The fintech (Sun) Life in One York Street in Toronto
With the unveiling of its new corporate headquarters at One York Street in Toronto, Sun Life Financial has made it loud and clear it’s on the prowl for fintech start-ups.
The super-shiny, 35-storey, 800,000 square foot office tower, is a mighty site/sight and will offer connection to Toronto’s Union (railway) Station and PATH network (i.e. lots of underground pedestrian tunnels – so you can pretend to be a rat).
It will also offer a chance to connect with start-ups and their innovation ideas. That’s your cue Mr Connor.
Dean Connor, president and CEO, Sun Life, says the new building “aligns with Sun Life’s transformation as we leverage the latest in digital innovation, data and analytics to create solutions for our clients”.
The firm reels off a lot of stats, such as 400+ collaboration and meeting spaces, but the pertinent fintech fact is its “Ignite Studio” – a “floor committed to digital and client innovation and created for agile project delivery, design thinking workshops and innovation activities”. It must really be for innovation as the firm said it twice in one sentence.
These are early days, but it will be intriguing to see what bright start-ups in Canada (or beyond) catch Sun Life’s eye.
Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of 30 June 2017 it had total assets under management of $944 billion.
