As soon as we wrapped up our second successful FinovateStartup09 in April (Have you checked out the videos from it yet? They’re awesome and free to watch.), we ramped up the search for demoing fintech companies for our flagship Finovate 2009 conference (9/29 in Manhattan).

As part of that process, over the last two months, we’ve looked at hundreds of diverse financial technology companies (some brand new, some very well-established) to find the most innovative, biggest and best new ideas. Those companies were invited to apply for a

demo spot. And those invites generated a slow trickle of applications that became a flood as this Monday (the early-bird application deadline of 6/15) approached. The quality of the applications is very high this year, and it’s going to be hard to pick.

From here, we’ll spend weeks reviewing the applications we’ve already received, accepting last-minute ones (until 7/15), and agonizing over which great companies to showcase on stage. But, regardless of the final roster of demoing companies, it’s clear that fintech innovation just keeps accelerating. It’s very exciting to watch and to get to share with you at Finovate 2009 this fall (and via NetBanker and via OBR).

We’d love to have you join us at the fall event and watch the future of finance/banking unfold onstage. If you register today you’ll save $300 via the super early bird tickets. Please note that those prices expire at the end of June.

Eric Mattson is CEO of Online Financial Innovations, the parent company of NetBanker, Online Banking Report and the Finovate Conference Series. He can be reached at eric@netbanker.com or 206-331-1178.