Wales: the Heart of Global FinTech
In the words of many of Wales’ national champions, this is a nation of innovation and possibility. The Welsh fintech sector is supported by devolved government, world-class academia, and a pragmatic, open-door business culture, giving investors and founders alike direct access to talent, world-leading digital infrastructure, and an enviable quality of life.
Wales' tech success is built on four pillars championed by FinTech Wales and echoed in policy, from skills and talent, investment and funding, ecosystem-building, to amplification. The region is now widely recognised for its insurance, banking, and payments innovation, and also for leadership in emerging verticals, including AI, WealthTech, and net-zero finance.
FinTech Wales: Connecting and Accelerating the Ecosystem
FinTech Wales is the not-for-profit engine, with a mission to make Wales a global hub for FinTech excellence. Sarah Jones, CEO, FinTech Wales calls out that their membership "is very broad because everything can now be associated to fintech - traditional financial institutions, InsureTech, PropTech, net-zero tech, professional services, and so much more.”
FinTech Wales orchestrates bootcamps, career transfer schemes, global soft-landing programmes, and a networking-first approach that brings together founders, investors, and partners at every stage of growth.
- 180+ member companies and associates, spanning traditional banks, insurers, challenger brands, and specialist tech innovators
- Four strategic priorities: skills and talent, investment/funding, ecosystem-building, and amplification of success
- Partnerships and direct market access for global players, from Mastercard, Aviva and Barclays to Starling Bank and Monzo
Its signature accelerator has helped companies from places as far as Dubai choose Wales as their new home and launch pad for international expansion. As Jones notes, "Life outside of London is increasingly attractive to investors and founders, companies like Starling Bank and Monzo have huge teams here in Wales because of the talent pool and collaborative spirit."
Success Stories That Inspire Investors
Made-in-Wales unicorns and headline-makers lead the way; Admiral, Wealthify (now part of Aviva), and GoCompare set the standard for insurance and financial technology globally, whilst rising stars like Final Rentals, Mazuma, Delio, CoinCover, and de Novo Solutions, are all scaling from Wales and impacting both domestic and international markets.
- Admiral: Headquartered in Cardiff, now the largest insurance employer outside London, and a recognised leader in digital transformation.
- Wealthify: Founded in Wales, acquired by Aviva, builds next-generation wealth management platforms.
- GoCompare: One of the UK’s best-known price comparison sites, renowned for championing consumer choice and driving digital innovation from its Cardiff base.
- Mazuma: Female-founder accounting and digital solutions firm, one of the first investments from the region’s ambitious CCR fund.
- CoinCover: Among the first crypto insurance platforms in the world, raising significant international investment from Wales.
Beyond these, the Welsh cluster boasts a list of solid case studies:
- Final Rentals: Founded in Dubai, relocated to Cardiff via the FinTech Wales accelerator, now scaling car rental marketplaces across the globe.
- Delio: Supported COVID vaccine fundraising, digital platform for raising finance at speed.
- De Novo Solutions: Top 100 UK tech business, runs an in-house apprenticeship pipeline.
The Tramshed Effect: Growing Digital Communities
No cluster can flourish without the physical and digital spaces that make innovation ‘sticky’. Tramshed Tech shines as a pan-Wales engine for tech and fintech ecosystems, helping founders, scaleups, and international arrivals launch and thrive.
Louise Harris, CEO Tramshed Tech, says, “Wales is a fantastic place to do business. We all come together and we support each other as well as being great competitors”.
Tramshed Tech is central to the soft-landing and incubation network supporting companies such as Pure Cyber, Voltric, Pryme, and MyPinPad.
- Pure Cyber: Cybersecurity specialist that expanded from Tramshed Tech to Central Square, showing sector progression into mainstream
- Voltric: Electric mobility fintech, emerged from the FTW Foundry Programme, now scaling from a Tramshed base
- Pryme: A leading international fintech brand, part of both the Soft-Landing scheme and FinTech Wales membership
- MyPinPad: Payments technology headquartered at Tramshed Tech, linking Wales to global transaction security markets
Tramshed’s model of community-first, mission-led innovation, and scalable physical hubs across the country, speaks for an agile, sustainable future.
Skills, Talent, and Inclusive Growth
Wales' talent pipeline is the envy of other regions. With three world-class universities feeding industry, and a focus on inclusivity, Wales continues to attract and retain skilled graduates. Innovative programmes including coding academies, apprenticeship pathways, and dedicated female founder networks drive upskilling and diversity.
- Female founder representation in Wales is among the highest in the UK.
- Companies like Mazuma, Bikmo, Monzo, and Starling Bank run major operations from Wales based on the local talent pool.
- The Welsh Angel Network and Women Angels of Wales offer routes to investment that help underrepresented groups scale their ventures.
- Bootcamps and programmes, e.g. Code First Girls, retrain professionals for fintech and tech careers.
The Welsh work-life balance, affordable living, and collaborative work culture add to a compelling investor and talent proposition.
As Henry Engelhardt, the founder of Admiral Group, says, "Wales is a good place. It’s an enviable lifestyle... people are very nice, very friendly, very open and it’s just a really nice place to live and have your home and your family”.
Government, Infrastructure, and International Partnerships
The Welsh Government does not simply set the tone; it delivers direct support at every growth stage. Through initiatives like the Development Bank of Wales, the Investment Fund for Wales, and the £500m+ Growth Fund, companies benefit from strategic capital injections and policy certainty.
- Access to grants, loans, and equity finance at start-up and scale-up phases.
- Regional investment zones in Cardiff, Newport, and North Wales, each with sectoral strengths and dedicated innovation corridors.
- World-class connectivity, full fibre, 5G, and global transport links, plus competitive commercial property and infrastructure.
International partners from Japan, India, Canada, and the US now look to Wales for new market entry and global testbed environments. Recent inward investments include Microsoft and Vantage building major AI and data infrastructure in Newport and Bridgend.
Facing Forward: Next-Gen Opportunities
Yet the FinTech community of Wales is not content. New clusters in AI, Compound Semiconductors, and clean energy continue to build on the existing fintech foundation. Forward-thinking policy, robust academic partnerships, and a culture that values sustainability, agility, and digital inclusion place Wales at the centre of tech for good on a global stage.
Events such as Wales Tech Week showcase the country’s commitment to partnership, talent, and international collaboration, supporting the next generation of homegrown market leaders.
The Call to Investors and Innovators
Louise O’Shea Group Chief Executive Officer of CFC sums up the spirit: “Wales is a fantastic place for FinTech because we have this very, very vibrant community.”
Jones, confirms the sentiment “Get in touch - we have whole teams of people, many of whom are founders themselves, who are never going to say that’s a silly question. Just come and get involved, the doors are open”.
The message to investors?
Wales offers more than a location - an active partnership for sustainable growth, driven by innovation, purpose, and the proven ability to scale great companies. Wales welcomes the world, ready for the next wave of fintech, technology, and global investment
