Emlyn Pratt’s Post

Wales’ Annual Fintech Report 23/24 Released by FinTech Wales Sarah Williams-Gardener, Chair of FinTech Wales said on the report: “The Welsh fintech sector is thriving, with £70 million in investment in 2023, increased seed and early stage investment in 2024, 13,000 jobs, £1.6 billion in economic contribution, multiple acquisitions and international expansions— this is testament to the power of innovation, collaboration, and global ambition. While these achievements are remarkable, there is still much more to do to unlock our full potential. Together, we are building a world-class fintech hub that drives lasting economic growth and innovation." https://lnkd.in/dkjjzHE5 Lynsey W. Sarah Kocianski Owain Roberts Sophia Wu Sarah Jones Rhys Griffiths #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

Innovate Finance's Unicorn Council for UK Fintech Publishes the Council Members’ Recommendations to Help Maintain and Strengthen the UK’s Leading Global Position in Fintech Philip Belamant, Co-founder & CEO of Zilch said: "As a co-founder of the Unicorn Council (UCFT), we are very excited to Co-Chair this important and market first new initiative that brings together the most valuable late-stage private companies in the UK today. Akin to Zilch, the companies founded by my fellow CEOs have already delivered game changing economic value to the UK. Our sole purpose with the UCFT is crafting the go to policy playbook that outlines precisely what the government, regulators and the broader ecosystem need to address if our generation of fintech businesses are to continue thriving on a global stage". https://lnkd.in/ed_jEEqT ClearBank Charles McManus Janine Hirt Francesca Carlesi Revolut #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

I sat down with Janine Hirt and Eddie Donmez recently to discuss the Unicorn Council and how we expect this new initiative to help fintech companies in the UK continue to thrive as the world around us changes so drastically. Its exciting to see how the economic secretary to the treasury, Bim Afolami MP, is engaging with the UC this morning at the Innovate Finance Global Summit and we look forward to creating real traction. Learn more about what the industry is asking for in the video clip below 👇 #IFGS #Fintech #Zilch #UnicornCouncil

We are thrilled to announce that Scotland’s fintech cluster has achieved 8% employment growth in 2024. Highlights from 2024 include: -A tenfold increase in fintech SMEs since 2018. -The launch of the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL), securing £18m investment, addressing over 20 industry challenges, and driving collaboration between established financial firms, fintechs and academia. -Economic Impact: Supporting the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy by leveraging fintech to boost regional productivity and growth. This growth reaffirms Scotland’s position as a global hub for fintech innovation, with ongoing contributions to employment, investment, and economic growth. #FinTechScotland #Innovation #Growth #Collaboration #EconomicImpact https://lnkd.in/ehKEV2TD Nicola Anderson Stephen Ingledew OBE Jane Martin Richard Lochhead Kate Forbes MSP Scottish Enterprise Scottish Development International The Scottish Government Scottish Business Network The Scottish National Investment Bank Edinburgh Innovations Jackie Leiper

Fintech Innovation in Scotland Delivers Growth With 8% Increase in Employment Nicola Anderson, CEO at FinTech Scotland said: “Our cluster initiatives are delivering a positive economic outcome through more jobs, investment and innovative SME businesses. The Financial Regulation Innovation Lab highlights our leadership in using collaboration and technology adoption to deliver this growth and shape the future of financial services.” https://lnkd.in/eUyTZwTq Mickael Paris Lauren Cassells Trish Quinn Vicky Gorman Stephen Ingledew OBE Jane Martin Scottish Enterprise The University of Edinburgh #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

Scotland’s fintech cluster is celebrating an 8% rise in employment in 2024, bringing the total number of people working in fintech – the technology used to support banking and financial services – to over 11,300. The data has been revealed by FinTech Scotland, an organisation founded by University of Edinburgh, Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC and Scottish Enterprise, and set up to help drive sustainable economic growth in financial services. A significant cluster development over the past year has been Fintech Scotland’s successful implementation of the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) which has delivered new jobs and investment to the local economy, achieving £18m investment for the region in its first year. Growth has also been underpinned by increasing technology adoption and partnerships with financial firms, with a tenfold increase in the number of fintech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland. Catherine Martin, Vice-Principal Corporate Services at the University of Edinburgh: “As a founding partner of Fintech Scotland, we are proud to be an active participant in the cluster and to support its impact by leveraging our world-renowned expertise in data-driven innovation, and interdisciplinary research to address real-world challenges in finance.”

New Report ‘Scaling UK Regional FinTech’ Surveys Non-London Scaleups, Revealing Strategies for Growth Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance, said: “We are delighted to partner with Whitecap and Streets Consulting on this important piece of research providing insightful advice from FinTech scale ups and recommendations for policy-makers. The report tells the inspiring story of FinTech innovators across the UK, showing their incredible contributions and determination to grow successful businesses and drive so much positive change for a more democratic, transparent and inclusive financial services sector that benefits both consumers and businesses alike.” https://lnkd.in/eQHeur94 Streets Consulting Julia Streets Whitecap Consulting Julian Wells #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

UK FinTech Week is here, and ahead of the 10th #IFGS, The Unicorn Council for UK FinTech published core recommendations for policymakers, which are deemed critical to maintaining the UK’s position as global leader in FinTech. The six initial recommendations, Include: ✔ Regulatory Environment: Recommendation to re-think to create a more efficient environment to nurture innovation, growth, and competition. ✔ Business Asset Disposal Relief: Augmenting tax incentives is essential to attract entrepreneurs and incentivizing reinvestment in new ventures. ✔Capital Markets: Addressing capital deficiencies is paramount for the scalability of large FinTech enterprises. Recommendations encompass the abolition of Stamp Duty and strategic initiatives to bridge capital gaps. ✔R&D: Safeguarding tax relief mechanisms for FinTech research and development. ✔EMI and EIS: Rectifying exclusions for start-ups in pivotal sectors like lending, banking, or insurance is pivotal for early-stage capital acquisition. ✔VAT: The exemption of VAT for most FinTechs effectively necessitates them to secure 20% additional capital compared to startups in different sectors. To address this imbalance, the Council proposes implementing a VAT rebate scheme for early-stage FinTechs to ensure fair competition. You can read more here  - https://lnkd.in/ed_jEEqT Launched by Innovate Finance, The Unicorn Council for UK Fintech is a coalition of UK-based FinTech unicorn founders and designed to accelerate and unlock growth in the UK FinTech sector. #UKmarketentry #FinTech #Innovate #UKFinTech #Innovation #PolicyRecommendations #UnicornCouncil

🇬🇧🥳 The UK fintech sector has proven its resilience and global dominance in 2024, recording a stellar $7.3 billion in investments (as per KPMG), almost a three-fold increase compared to previous years, even as global funding trends faced a downturn. As one of the largest fintech hubs worldwide, the UK continues to attract major investments, a testament to its dynamic ecosystem and innovative approach to financial services.     📈 Here is a list of the top 10 UK fintech funding rounds in 2024, showcasing the resilience and creativity of the sector. These funding stories reflect a vibrant industry poised to lead the next wave of financial transformation. 🤖 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eq-w25wN Monzo Bank - Tom Blomfield Jonas Templestein Jason Bates Gary Dolman iwoca - Christoph Rieche James Dear Zepz Flagstone - Andrew Thatcher Simon Merchant Carmoola - Aidan Rushby Roman Sumnikov 🇺🇦 Igor Gordiichuk FINBOURNE Technology - Dermot Shortt George Beasley Thomas M. Vitesse PSP Limited - Paul Townsend Phillip M. Zopa Bank - Giles Andrews OBE Dave Nicholson Form3 - Michael Mueller Mike Walters 9fin - Steven Hunter #tech #funding #news #fintech #UKtech #UKstartup #fintechstartup #technology #VC #investment #innovation #startup

🚨 Nearly 40% of fintech founders find the UK’s regulatory environment “poor,” with many contemplating relocations to regions like the US and Middle East. 💡 According to an Evelyn Partners survey, difficulties with regulation and access to funding stall innovation. 💳 At Paynetics, we believe new regulations don’t have to impede business. A proactive regulatory environment, when enforced well, not only levels the playing field but also creates a solid foundation for investment and growth. 👀 Read more about the report in The London Standard. 👉 https://lnkd.in/d8ZMbNPY #EmbeddedFinance #Payments #PaymentRegulation #Fintech #Finance