Jacob Piotrowski, CSM

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

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💷🇬🇧 Fintech remains the UK’s most heavily funded sector, with standout investments in companies like Monzo Bank and Moneybox. Healthtech followed closely, with London-based femtech startup Flo raising $200 million, marking Europe’s first femtech unicorn. Other key segments drawing investor attention in 2024 include generative AI and autonomous mobility. 📈 From AllFocal Optics (formerly Lark Optics) to Scalpel AI and Diffblue, the UK has seen some notable funding rounds recently. Here, we present a roundup of the latest UK startup funding activity that may pique your interest. 🤖 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eMFjG7aA Hometree - Simon Phelan autone - Adil Bouhdadi, Harry Glucksmann Cheslaw CULT MIA - Nina Briance iGent AI - Sean Ward, Martin Szummer Auquan - Chandini Jain, Shubham Jain GridBeyond - Michael Phelan, Richard O' Loughlin Mindtech Global Limited - Steve Harris Birl - Cam McGimpsey, Peter Lydon Anam.ai - Caoimhe Murphy, Ben Carr Definition Health - Sandeep Chauhan, Rosie Scott #tech #funding #news #UKtech #fintech #UKstartup #VC #womenintech #fundinground #technology #startup #investment #innovation

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Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) have turned ripples of finance into waves of change for businesses and social enterprises across the UK. They provided opportunity and built resilience for disadvantaged communities and those excluded from mainstream finance. In 2023, their lending hit a record high of £287 million: CDFIs now operate at 31 times the scale they did in 2003, when the sector lent £9.2 million. Their achievements reflect their ability to fill widening needs for the right finance at the right time. Here’s what CDFIs achieved in 2023: 🤝 Supported 4,546 start-ups and SMEs with £102m of loans. 💼 12,135 jobs were created or safeguarded.  ⭐️ 371 social enterprises were supported with £119m of loans. Read more about CDFIs’ impact, plus lots of customer stories in Responsible Finance's latest impact report, out today: 👇 https://lnkd.in/eWSFydQ2 #RipplesToWaves #ResponsibleFinance #CDFIs #SocInv #SocEnt #Charity #Funding #Investment #SocialInvestment #HeritageImpactFund

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“Bad regulation doesn’t mean regulation is bad.” June is a busy time for #Fintech folks. I’m at Fintech Week London today hearing about the importance of right size regulation as an enabler of innovation and a driver of inward investment from Lord Holmes. #Fintech #OpenBanking #Payments #Regulation

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"We want to think like a startup!" is an ambition that appeals inside traditional organisations trying to transform themselves. Mostly this is an acknowledgement of the clarity, energy and creativity so many Startups demonstrate. In part, the desire can be from a fear of digital disruptors who outperform. Well done UK Monzo Bank & Starling Bank for being CMA top-ranked banks for Satisfaction in 2024! And of course, there is a fear of the consequences of disruption (Kodak, Polaroid, Nokia ...). "If we don't change, we'll cease to exist" is a belief so many C-suite individuals privately acknowledge. Yet - for so many it can also feel like the pivot is unthinkable: "We're not a startup, we're totally different, we're a 300-year-old highly regulated part of society!" This reflects a deep misunderstanding. Whether you are a Bank , a Corporation, a Government department, or a Charity/non-profit - every organisation has the ability (responsibility?) to improve. For each of us every day in our professional (and personal) lives - we choose how much energy to place on improving the HOW we do what we do. This comes down to values and daily choices. Our values drive our choices, and consistent choices drives our culture. Those startups above are regulated and their success reflects the value they deliver in society using vastly smaller financial reserves than incumbents. There is so much written by deeply experienced practitioners on how to improve organisational culture and outcomes. Do you want to be the best at getting better? Do you want your organisation to "Think like a startup" with purpose and impact? Be part of the movement. #BVSSH

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Securing funding is a crucial step for every startup, and the UK has a variety of options to help entrepreneurs get started. Government grants and programs like Innovate UK, Start Up Loans, and regional development funds are great for those looking for non-equity funding. Angel investors, often accessible through platforms like Seedrs and AngelList, can provide both funding and valuable mentorship to help startups grow. For high-growth businesses with a clear market opportunity, venture capital firms such as Balderton Capital and Atomico offer substantial financial backing. Crowdfunding through platforms like Crowdcube and Kickstarter is also a popular option, allowing startups to raise funds from a large audience while validating their business ideas. Additionally, accelerators and incubators like Tech Nation, Seedcamp, and Entrepreneur First offer funding, resources, and mentorship that can fast-track growth. Exploring these funding sources can be the key to elevating your startup to new heights #FundingForStartups #UKStartups #EntrepreneurTips #StartupFunding #UKEA

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🚀 Empowering communities, unlocking potential Our Community ENABLE Funding programme will drive change for underserved businesses across the UK, unlocking up to £150m of additional funding in the next two years. The programme is aimed at social impact lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) 💡 Why CDFIs matter: These non-for-profit lenders play a crucial role in the social impact sector, providing finance to businesses that mainstream lenders overlook. In 2023, they lent £102m to 4,546 businesses, with 98% of lending going to businesses outside London and 60% supporting disadvantaged areas. The Community ENABLE Funding Programme will enable CDFIs to reach more small businesses, especially those led by underrepresented groups, fuelling local growth, creating jobs, and strengthening communities. Read more about the programme here: https://lnkd.in/dAymWRZ7

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My Comment on the FT website: The good news is that fintech innovation is going to assist the process: House builders build to traditional market conditions. Let's innovate to provide less complicated ways to a) Provide the capital to accelerate house building from non traditional sources. b) Introduce new pathways to home ownership that are less complicated that shared ownership or staircasing models or horrible schemes such as that provided by intervention such as Help to Buy or even worse: expensive deposit support solutions. c) Provide renters with a way to keep pace with the house prices as they try to save for a deposit. d) Reform planning (which is actually the number 1 priority to ensure the cost of building is actually viable; as fact lost on those who constantly moan about developers making profits and e) STOP the constant answer (by the least knowledgable in sector) of "we need to build more social housing" for as important as that is for the least fortunate in society, it also condemns residents to a life of rent, no effective asset wealth creation and therefore sets the fuse going on the future and ever growing burden of care in later life. The good news is this: There are people out there right now working on this as Air BnB and the Booking dot coms of the world did to transform the travel and tourism sector. Simplicity is key. ROE also. But what is happening, as Black Rock's Larry Fink is well quoted as noting, is the coming of W3 and the tokenisation of real world assets. This will revolutionise the residential real estate sector; introducing efficiency, liquidity and new forms of mobility into the complex housing sector that is currently a beautiful example of the opposite and one there to be significantly disrupted. https://on.ft.com/3wde9Dj

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Building on the recent 'Scaling UK Regional FinTech' report, our Practice Lead Andrew Dunn looks at how each region within the UK is acting as a FinTech accelerator in its own right. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/dwdz9jvb #FinTech #Scaleup #IFGS2024 #RegionalFinTech #Research

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At FinTech Scotland, we share the belief that fintech is a force for good, creating meaningful, positive change across the financial landscape. Today, we are proud to support our collaborative partners at Innovate Finance as they host the FinTech as a Force for Good Forum, an event showcasing how innovation can drive solutions to global challenges like financial inclusion, climate impact, and economic empowerment. As a hub for fintech innovation in Scotland, we are deeply committed to harnessing the power of collaboration to transform consumer outcomes. Our mission is to foster an ecosystem where fintechs can innovate, #scale, and make a lasting impact on society. This is why we’re calling on fintechs to join us in shaping the future of financial services through the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab's Consumer Duty Innovation Call. 💡 The Consumer Duty represents a pivotal regulatory shift, and we believe it’s a tremendous opportunity for #fintechs to create products and services that truly improve the financial #wellbeing of consumers. By focusing on transparency, accountability, and delivering better outcomes, fintechs can be a key driver in this new era of customer-centric innovation. Applications are still open to join the Consumer Duty program – https://lnkd.in/eAYeMwT6

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The Social and Economic Benefits of a CBDC with Simon Youel, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Positive Money. Watch the latest episode of the Poundcast 👉 https://buff.ly/3wjLuwj ... #CBDC #DigitalMoney #Fintech #Social #Economics #Poundcast

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Former Monzo web engineer Peter Huang and ex-Accenture consultant Raj Kohli in 2021 have just raised £2.7 million to automate painful healthcare processes within the NHS. Healthtech 1, a London-based startup, is set up to streamline administrative tasks in primary care, addressing inefficiencies and error-prone manual processes. The round was led by London-based VC Moonfire (which backed GOALS and Mindstone), and Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator alongside a number of angels. Why do we love Healthtech 1? 💫 They saved more than 85,000 hours of NHS staff time during the COVID-19 pandemic 💫 Big (but achievable) growth plans to be in 90% of GP practices by 2025 (currently used by 10%) 💫 Top-tier investors who will help fuel growth and expansion Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGv49B_q

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Want to become your own boss? Download The StartUp Kit to access all the tools and tips you need to succeed: 📚 Learn the base ingredients required for a start-up 📝 Support your idea with a plan 💸 Start making sales ➡️ https://ow.ly/aS8Q50SaJ5J Monzo Bank #StartUpUK

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Navigating the capital landscape can be a make-or-break challenge for startups. Our latest blog post dives deep into the world of startup funding in the UK, exploring: > The diverse funding ecosystem, from bootstrapping to VC > Government schemes that could boost your startup > Key challenges in accessing capital > Strategies to improve your chances of securing funding > Emerging trends shaping the future of UK startup finance Click the link to read the full article! 👇 https://wix.to/EI7D55M #UKStartups #StartupFunding #EntrepreneurialJourney #VentureCapital #InnovationFinance #BeYourOwnBoss #Pulse #PulseIsHere

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👏 Firstly, well done to doqit this news is nothing more than deserved. Anyone not familiar with doqit, it is an app which helps people deal with their life admin, streamlining and storing all your important information in one place. It is definitely worth checking out. It was a pleasure to help in a small way by looking at the synthetic data from Smart Data Foundry and FinTech Scotland and to gain insight into the power of open banking and other financial data. As this award for doqit shows, this data can be used not just for direct financial decision-making and support, but also so many other aspects of life including life admin and supporting an ageing population. Combining this data with the power of Ai and the existing tools within doqit is hugely powerful. Catherine Ann Reid needs to shout about this award from the rooftops! It is not just a competition win, but a validation of what Catherine-Anne is creating. 🎉 Great to have positive news for a Monday post! #doqit #data #ai #bigdata #openbanking ________ I am Matt, at Veribli we offer smart RFID technology and a platform that allows you to control and automate your production, track your assets, create smart products and build, direct long-lasting relationships with your customers and enabling a circular ecosystem. At Axsi Systems Ltd we track health & safety tasks & inspections for cleanliness, HACCP, fire doors, construction sites and much more. 📧 [email protected] 📲 01482 455855

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Lemon Raises £500K in Pre Seed Funding Round to Enable SMBs to Save Thousands on SaaS Spending Co-Founder and CEO of Lemon Matt Bird commented: “It’s clear that we’re going through a really interesting period for SMBs at the moment,. Taking into consideration the challenging economic landscape with funding drying up everywhere you turn, SMBs now need the tools and services to help them build better businesses as cost-efficiently as possible. With software being the third largest spend for an SMB, we really think Lemon can become a core part of how an SMB uses SaaS. https://lnkd.in/eHzkqN5v Koen Christiaens Edward Stevenson #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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