SaaS founders guide to UK fintech companies outside London

If you’re a SaaS founder or executive in fintech, it can pay large dividends to keep an eye on (and in touch with) other UK fintech companies.

This short guide explores some of the benefits of knowing the UK fintech scene, why you should look beyond London, and where you can find fintech peers and opportunities outside of London.

Why it pays to watch other fintech companies

No software product succeeds in isolation. There are times when you must put your head down to focus on your own product, but keeping in touch with what’s happening in the UK fintech scene is how you will get the support you need to take your company to the next stage.

Here are some advantages to be gained by keeping your eyes open.

Who’s investing in fintech?

If your goal is to raise funding, then it’s never too early to start building a list of potential investors. A great way to start building this list is to keep track of who is currently investing in the fintech space.

Who’s getting funded and why?

Knowing which companies are attracting funding gives you a big clue to what investors are looking for in a fintech investment. Keeping track of when and how much companies raise (and learning how they structured the deals) will help you when it comes time to put a proposal in front of investors. 

Finding mentors

All around the UK there are fintech founders who have just raised money, just had an exit, just launched a successful product, or just hired a CEO. Whatever challenge you’re trying to solve next, it’s possible to get help from someone who has recently cleared that hurdle.

Finding staff

Finding the right people for your team may be the most valuable skill for the future of your company—one more reason it pays to monitor the UK fintech scene. Keep an eye out for smart and capable people who have proven themselves in your sector. 

Why look outside London?

Fintech companies in London are more widely publicized, get more coverage in the media, and will have more people contacting them. Their secrets are more likely to be common knowledge to the fintech community. Fintech companies outside London on the other hand will be just as instructive, may be more approachable as peers, and represent a repository of information that the majority of your competition is not accessing.

Fintech hubs outside London

Below, we’ve listed some of the largest fintech hubs outside of London, as identified by Deloitte as part of the Khalifa Review, along with some examples of prominent fintech companies from each city.

Manchester

• Goodbox - Hardware-based terminals for cashless donations & charity
• Nivo - Instant messaging protected by bank standard authentication
• Bankifi -Open banking API and accounting software platform

Leeds

• Symbiant - Modular compliance, audit, and risk management software
• Interactive Investor - Online trading and investment platform
• SmartSearch - Anti money-laundering monitor

Birmingham

• Immediate Solutions - Online platform for workers to access earned wages ahead of payday
• Obillex - B2C marketplace for supply-chain finance
• Prepaid Technologies - Prepaid cards for banks and businesses

Edinburgh

• Fexco - Payments, Foreign Exchange
• FreeAgent - Cloud accounting software for freelancers, small businesses, and accountants

There are also a number of emerging clusters such as Bristol and Bath, Cambridge, Newcastle, Reading, Belfast, and Cardiff.

What does your company need?

Whether you need a key staff member, validation of your business model, a mentor, a mastermind group, or the right investor for your company - someone in the UK fintech sector likely holds the answer. Looking beyond the headlines and the companies making the news will give you access to research and connections that your competitors are missing out on.