2027 · INVITATION TO APPLY
i4 Incubator 2027
An Invitation to Swoboda Members.
Become part of the most collaborative and unique innovation programme in the credit union movement.
Submit your Expression of Interest01 – THE OPPORTUNITY
Shaping The Future Together
The future of the credit union movement will be shaped by organisations willing to learn, collaborate and innovate together.
The i4 Incubator is a unique test-and-learn environment: a structured, collaborative programme in which credit unions work alongside carefully selected Strategic Partners to develop new technologies and processes, and share learnings with each other and the wider movement.
Credit unions do not lack awareness of change; they lack enough safe, practical spaces in which to engage with it properly. The i4 Incubator gives credit unions a way to move from talking about innovation to understanding how it might genuinely improve member service, operational effectiveness and strategic resilience, without abandoning the values that make the movement distinctive.
The emphasis is not on technology for the sake of it, but on innovation learnings.
“Progressive Credit Union is proud to be participating in the i4 Incubator project. Our engagement has provided a valuable framework through which to pursue strategic innovation, combining academic rigour with practical, commercially relevant insight. The collaborative structure of the programme continues to support our efforts to think more deliberately about the future of our institution and the members we serve. I would recommend the i4 Incubator programme to any credit union seeking to build a genuine culture of innovation.
Seán Staunton
CEO, Progressive Credit Union
02 – THE i4 INCUBATOR
Ideate. Incubate. Implement. Impact.
The i4 Incubator is a flexible innovation framework designed to help credit unions explore, test and learn together. The four i’s provide a clear innovation backbone without forcing every challenge into a rigid, linear programme.
DISCOVERY LAB · DESIGN LAB
Prioritise the right problems, define opportunity and frame success.
DESIGN LAB · VALIDATION LAB
Co-design approaches, challenge assumptions and test early propositions.
PILOT LAB
Trial solutions in practice, learn from use and iterate.
SCALE LAB
Evaluate learning, consider wider adoption and share useful evidence.
03 – THE i4 PROGRAMME 2027
i4 Incubator 2027
The theme for 2027 is innovation and the programme is designed to meet credit unions where they are.
The 2027 Strategic Partners will shape the specific projects explored and Swoboda will announce those partners in December 2026. What we can tell you now is that the i4 Incubator 2027 will offer five flexible incubator environments designed to meet the needs of different credit unions and maximise collaboration across the cohort.
Five flexible environments
Depending on the Strategic Partners and projects, credit unions may participate in one or several of the following formats:
LAB 01 · IDEATE
Discovery
Understand the challenge, explore evidence and identify opportunity.
LAB 02 · IDEATE · INCUBATE
Design
Develop ideas collaboratively and shape potential approaches.
LAB 03 · INCUBATE
Validation
Challenge assumptions, test propositions and gather feedback.
LAB 04 · IMPLEMENT
Pilot
Trial potential solutions in real-world environments and learn through use.
LAB 05 · IMPACT
Scale
Evaluate learning, understand adoption potential and share what works.
“Swoboda has created the opportunity for a deeper dive into development of the tech partners and as a serial advisor I not only look at what the product could offer LCU but the wider audience and how it creates sustainable value. Swoboda should be really proud of the people they have brought together. Having seen many incubators and accelerators fail because companies try to go big, this has been a nice size for the first cohort. Would I recommend the i4 Incubator? Yes, as long as you are willing to play an active role in shaping the tech partners.
James Brown
CEO, Leeds Credit Union
04 – 2026 IN REVIEW
i4 2026: What We Built Together
In 2026, Swoboda ran the inaugural i4 Incubator, exclusively for Swoboda members.
The programme brought together eleven credit unions, nine from Great Britain and two from Ireland, and three Strategic Partners: Doshi, OnePay and Plumery. Over the course of the year, participants collaborated on live projects, attended expert workshops, and built a genuine community of innovation practice. This programme is ongoing.
WHAT THE 2026 PROGRAMME INCLUDED
4 Full-Day In-Person Workshops
Covering ethical AI, applying behavioural science to AI decisions, and participatory and responsible AI, with expert external speakers.
Monthly Project Meetings
Regular structured meetings with Strategic Partners to develop projects and inform ongoing pilots.
Podcasts & Webinars
Deepening workshop themes and bringing in wider perspectives from across the sector.
Research & Education Materials
Curated resources on AI and innovation, circulated to all participants throughout the year.
Join us for a webinar on 8th October 2026 to hear about the projects currently being developed in the i4 Incubator.
Register here05 – WHY APPLY?
Why Credit Unions Join i4
i4 is unlike any other programme available to credit unions in Britain and Ireland.
A Safe Space to Innovate
Test new ideas, tools and approaches in a structured environment, without operational risk or procurement obligation.
Peer Learning at Scale
Connect with likeminded credit unions from across Britain and Ireland. Share practical learnings across the cohort and beyond.
Direct Access to Leading Suppliers
Work directly with carefully vetted Strategic Partners who understand the credit union ecosystem and are committed to co-developing real solutions.
Expert Thought Leadership
Benefit from workshops and materials led by external experts in innovation, AI and technology, grounded in the realities of mutual finance.
Movement-Wide Impact
Contribute to outputs (playbooks, case studies, adoption resources) that benefit the wider movement, not just your organisation.
Flexibility by Design
No two innovation journeys are identical. Labs are designed collaboratively around the priorities of participating credit unions.
“Taking part in the Swoboda i4 Incubator has been a highly valuable experience, particularly in bringing together credit unions and strategic partners to explore practical ways to improve operational efficiency. The programme created space for open discussion and blue-sky thinking, which challenged our existing processes and encouraged us to consider what’s possible. What stood out most was the collaborative approach, working alongside other organisations provided a broader perspective and reinforced that many of the challenges we face are shared across the sector.
Leanne Griffiths
IT Product & Change Manager, No1 CopperPot
06 – TIMELINE & ADMISSION
Programme Timeline
Key dates for credit union participation in i4 2027:
September 2026
Expression of Interest (EOI) form released to Swoboda members. The EOI asks for information on your technology providers and commitment to participation.
September – October 2026
EOI submission period. Credit unions confirm interest and pay the admission fee.
October 2026
Webinar showcase with 2026 Strategic Partners. An opportunity to hear what’s being developed in i4 2026.
December 2026
2027 Strategic Partners announced and the full programme for the year outlined.
December 2026
Webinar held with all credit unions that submitted an EOI to walk through the programme and confirm participation.
December 2026
Credit unions confirm participation. Those who decide not to proceed receive a full refund of the admission fee.
2027
The i4 Incubator programme begins.
Admission Fee
The admission fee for i4 2027 is tiered:
- Premium Members: £1,950/€2,290 +VAT.
- Members: £2,500/€2,950 +VAT.
The admission fee is payable on submission of your EOI.
A full refund will be paid if requested by 31st December 2026 and 80% if requested by 31st January 2027.
This provides an exit route if the credit union decides that the programme and Strategic Partners are not aligned with their objectives. After that time the admission fee is not refundable.
NEXT DEADLINE
31st October 2026
Close of the EOI submission period.
Please be aware that Swoboda is in discussion with credit union associations in Ireland about their membership participating in i4 2027.
07 – APPLY
Apply Now
Expressions of Interest for i4 2027 are now open.
If you would like to participate in the i4 Incubator 2027, please complete the Expression of Interest form using the link below. The form asks for information about your organisation, your technology providers, and your commitment to active participation in the programme.
Submit Your Expression of Interest →For any questions about the programme or the application process, please contact David Fagleman, Project Lead, Swoboda: david.fagleman@swobodacentre.org