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From a coffee shop conversation to a partnership
The relationship between the two companies began early, with a simple conversation between founders comparing notes on what they were building. That meeting laid the groundwork for what has now become a formal collaboration more than a decade in the making.
At FinTech Scotland, our aim is to create the conditions for founders, innovators and industry to meet, share ideas and collaborate. The connection between Legado’s Josif Grace and Amiqus’s Callum Murray is a clear example of what the ecosystem is designed to enable: an early introduction that has developed into a commercial partnership with the potential to benefit the wider UK financial services sector.
Amiqus has also made the most of the opportunities available through FinTech Scotland, participating in the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) innovation call on AI and compliance. Through the programme, Amiqus worked with Virgin Money to explore how AI could strengthen quality control across digital and manual onboarding. After demonstrating the scalability of its platform, Amiqus moved from pilot into live production, and secured a three-year engagement.
Solving a multi-billion-pound problem
Client onboarding and compliance remain among the most complex, time-consuming and expensive processes in regulated financial services. From identity verification and anti-money-laundering checks to the secure exchange of documents and ongoing communication, firms and their clients face friction at every stage. As Callum Murray notes, it’s a multi-billion-pound problem to solve, and one that has only grown in importance as compliance and consumer duty obligations become central to how financial institutions operate.
What the partnership delivers
The technology partnership brings together Amiqus’s reusable digital identity and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) capabilities with Legado’s regulated communications and electronic signature platform. The result is seamless, connected, compliance-driven client workflows — from verifying identity biometrics to collecting, signing and evidencing documents — in one auditable journey. As part of the collaboration, Legado’s LegadoSign product will be fully integrated into the Amiqus platform.
The partnership is designed to support a range of regulated workflows, including:
- Investor, customer, and adviser onboarding
- Account opening
- Trust and beneficiary documentation
- Pension and investment instructions
- Consent forms
- Any regulated document where firms need a clear, auditable record
Between them, the two companies share a client base that includes Virgin Money, FNZ, Quilter, Scottish Building Society, Moneyhub, and Co-op Legal Services, with a growing presence in international markets.
A decade-long peer relationship
Reflecting on the collaboration, Callum Murray, Founder and CEO of Amiqus, said: “Josif and his team had the foresight to recognise the regulatory shift in how financial institutions meet consumer duty obligations with client communications, now seen as regulated infrastructure by boards and exec teams, central to governance and operational resilience. Our reusable identity wallet is perfectly aligned with their embedded digital signature product and with FNZ as a shared client and platform, there’s a huge amount of value we can jointly deliver to their client base, supporting seamless and embedded investor onboarding experiences.”
Josif Grace, Founder and CEO of Legado, said: “Amiqus has been a peer with us amongst scaleups based in Edinburgh and connected via FinTech Scotland for more than a decade, and they’re ahead of the curve in areas like AML. We can’t wait to begin working with Callum and his team on strategic opportunities that will benefit both companies and provide significant shared value for our clients.”
Collaboration over competition
Rather than viewing overlapping ground as a source of competition, Legado and Amiqus have chosen to combine capabilities to deliver something greater than either could alone. As Callum puts it, “collaboration over competition is the way to go when it comes to solving problems and growing”. That’s a philosophy that sits at the heart of the FinTech Scotland community, and one we’re proud to see put into practice.
For the UK financial services sector, the result is a meaningful step towards simpler, faster and more secure onboarding.
Read more news from the fintechs in our community.
Find out more about our fintech ecosystem.
mnAi launches Australia’s first national gender index to transform understanding of female-led businesses in Australia
Data and analytics company mnAi, one of the growing fintechs in our community, has announced the launch of The Gender Index Australia (TGI Australia), the country’s first national dataset dedicated to providing comprehensive insights into female-led businesses across the Australian economy.
Building on the success of The Gender Index in the United Kingdom, the Australian initiative will deliver an evidence-based view of where female-led businesses are being created, how they are performing, the industries in which they are thriving, and the opportunities that exist to unlock greater economic growth. The launch represents a significant milestone in Australia’s entrepreneurial landscape, providing policymakers, financial institutions, investors and industry leaders with the robust data needed to make more informed decisions.
“Better data leads to better outcomes,” said Ricky Cowan, Global Head of Partnerships at mnAi. “Our ambition is to provide Australia with the first national benchmark for female-led businesses, helping identify where women are succeeding, where barriers remain, and where targeted support can have the greatest impact.”
A Proven Model with International Impact
The Gender Index was first established in the United Kingdom to provide a comprehensive, data-led understanding of female-led businesses. Since its inception, it has informed major national initiatives including the Rose Review, the Investing in Women Code, and the Pathways Report, helping shape policy discussions around entrepreneurship, access to finance and women’s economic participation.
Australia now becomes the first country outside the UK to adopt the programme.
A Year in Development
Over the past twelve months, mnAi and its partners have:
- Developed a national dataset covering millions of Australian businesses.
- Completed independent academic research led by Professor Naomi Birdthistle.
- Collaborated with leading Australian organisations and financial institutions.
- Developed a robust methodology for identifying and analysing female-led enterprises at scale.
- Generated early insights into the characteristics, growth patterns and financing opportunities of female-led businesses.
The resulting dataset will enable stakeholders to explore critical questions including:
- Where are female-led businesses being created?
- Which industries are experiencing the strongest growth?
- How does access to finance differ for female-led businesses?
- Where are the greatest opportunities to drive economic growth through entrepreneurship?
Collaboration Driving Change
The launch of The Gender Index Australia has been made possible through collaboration with an exceptional network of organisations, financial institutions, researchers and industry leaders who share a common belief that better evidence creates better policy, investment and commercial outcomes.
Further insights and findings from the Index will be released in the coming weeks as the programme officially launches.
Learn More
To explore The Gender Index Australia, visit www.thegenderindex.com.au
For information about the original UK programme, visit www.thegenderindex.com
Organisations, investors, policymakers and businesses interested in supporting or learning more about the initiative are encouraged to get in touch. Those wishing to attend upcoming launch events or discuss partnership opportunities are invited to register their interest.
FinTech Scotland Festival 2026: Innovation fuelling growth
FinTech Scotland has today announced that the ninth FinTech Scotland Festival will take place from 30 September to 7 October 2026, with in-person and online events across the central belt of Scotland.
The Festival will bring together international industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, innovators and academics from across the UK and beyond; to discuss how Scottish fintech innovation drives growth, job creation and global competitiveness. It will explore the future of financial services, spotlight the achievements of Scotland’s fintech cluster and spark new partnerships, with a strong emphasis on innovation fueling growth through delivering solutions to real world problems.
This year, the Festival will focus on AI adoption, quantum technology in financial services, financial regulation innovation, digital trust, women in fintech and growing fintechs. Events will connect members of the FinTech Scotland community, building further on the uniquely collaborative ecosystem.
The Festival’s opening day will include an invitation-only reception hosted by Lloyds Banking Group at their Edinburgh Headquarters and the week will conclude with DIGIT’s prestigious Scottish Financial Technology Awards, recognising and celebrating excellence across Scotland’s fintech community.
Organisations are also invited to run their own in‑person, online or hybrid fringe events during the week, that will be promoted alongside the main programme.
Building on the success of last year’s Festival, which attracted attendees from around the world, the FinTech Scotland Festival 2026 is the key event in the Scottish fintech calendar.
Aleks Tomczyk, Chief Executive at FinTech Scotland, said:
“Fintech is delivering real benefits for businesses, the public sector, our economy and society. The Festival is a celebration of the remarkable progress and innovation that is taking place in the fintech sector. The Festival is a recognition of the sector’s intent to do and grow more.”
Derek Shanks, Technology Platform Lead at Lloyds Banking Group, added:
“The FinTech Scotland Festival is a key event in the financial services calendar in Scotland, so we are delighted to be hosting the launch reception, which sets the stage for a week of innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing.”
Kristen Bennie, Group Head of Innovation and Partnerships at Barclays, said, “Scotland is a vital technology and innovation hub for Barclays and we’re proud to support the FinTech Scotland Festival. By bringing together innovators, industry leaders and emerging talent, we’re helping foster the ideas and skills that will shape the future of financial services.”
Ann Devine, Partner at KPMG, said:
“KPMG are delighted to be launching our Women in Fintech group in Scotland at this year’s Festival. It is essential that we support the many great women who are driving progress and innovation in the sector here. I’m looking forward to the engagement and growth that these conversations will spark – now and into the future.”
David Tuck, CEO at Waracle, added:
“The FinTech Scotland Festival programme strikes a great balance between specialist sessions and broader discussions, making it an ideal platform for knowledge sharing, learning, and networking. As one of Scotland’s fastest-growing consultancies supporting financial services clients and scaling fintechs, we are delighted to contribute and be an active part of the community.”
Pardeep Cassells, Chief Client Officer at AccessFintech, concluded:
“Scotland is a great place to be a growing fintech with many compelling reasons to start, locate and grow a business here. We are really looking forward to the Festival events and networking with the people that comprise the depth of talent and make the community what it is.”
Find out more about the FinTech Scotland Festival 2026, propose a fringe event and sign up here.
Scottish Financial Technology Awards 2026 Open for Entries
Organisations and individuals across Scotland’s financial technology sector can now enter 12 categories recognising innovation, leadership and impact.
The Scottish Financial Technology Awards have opened for 2026 entries, inviting organisations and individuals from across Scotland’s financial services and fintech sectors to showcase their achievements.
Entries are free, with applicants able to submit nominations across multiple categories before the deadline on 20 August 2026. Table bookings have also opened for the awards ceremony, which will take place at the EICC in Edinburgh on Wednesday 7 October.
Established in 2018, the Scottish Financial Technology Awards recognise the companies, partnerships and individuals using technology to reshape financial services.
The awards form an integral part of Scotland’s Fintech Festival, a week-long celebration of innovation and collaboration across the finance and technology sectors.
Twelve Categories Open for Entries
The 2026 award categories are:
- Fintech of the Year
- Best Startup or New Entrant
- Best Use of Data or AI
- Best Fintech Collaboration
- Climate and Environmental Impact
- Digital Transformation
- Financial Services Innovation
- Financial Technology Partner
- Outstanding Leader
- RegTech Innovation
- Social Impact
- Evangelist
A Special Recognition award will also be selected by the judging panel to acknowledge an individual or organisation that has made an exceptional contribution to Scotland’s financial technology ecosystem.
The categories span areas including business growth, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, regulation, sustainability, collaboration and social impact.
How to Enter
The Scottish Financial Technology Awards are free to enter and open to financial services and fintech organisations headquartered or based in Scotland.
There is no limit on the number of submissions an organisation can make. Applicants may enter multiple categories or submit more than one nomination within the same category.
Entries can be submitted through the Scottish Financial Technology Categories page until 20 August 2026.
The awards use an independently accredited judging process and are supported by stakeholders from across Scotland’s financial technology sector, with 2025’s judges coming by way Kristen Bennie (Barclays), Anna Devine (KPMG), Anna Knight (Lloyds Banking Group), Graeme Rennison (Scottish Enterprise), Yvonne Dunn (Pinsent Masons), Adam Betteridge (TSB), Vicky Gorman (Fintech Scotland), Jude McCorry (Cyber & Fraud Centre Scotland) and Darren Auld (ClearSky Logic).
Awards Ceremony Returns to Edinburgh
The ceremony will take place at the EICC in Edinburgh from 6.45pm until midnight on 7 October 2026.
Keen on joining us for one of the biggest nights in the Scottish fintech calendar? Tickets are available through individual bookings, half-table packages and full-table bookings – find out more here.
Category sponsorship opportunities are also available for organisations looking to support one of the leading celebrations of innovation and achievement within Scotland’s financial technology sector – to find out more, email events@digit.fyi.
Ground-breaking responsible AI solutions to shape the future of financial services
Fintech companies from around the world with innovative AI solutions can now apply to the award-winning Financial Regulation Innovation Lab’s new innovation call – on responsible AI in financial services. This is a unique opportunity for companies at any stage to fast-track their solutions to real-world problems and help shape the future of financial services.
The Financial Regulation Innovation Lab is led by FinTech Scotland in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and funded by Scottish Enterprise.
Successfully selected participants will take part in an innovation challenge, during which they will work with leading strategic partners including Atos, Baillie Gifford, Barclays, BlackRock, CMS, Equifax, EY, Fujitsu, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, M&G, NatWest, and PwC. They will gain invaluable insight into real-world industry challenges and potential routes to market. They will also get the opportunity to pitch for up to £50,000 in grant funding to further develop their solutions.
AI offers huge potential to improve efficiency, decision-making, and scalability, but it also introduces challenges around fairness, governance, transparency and accountability. To ensure AI benefits both businesses and consumers, its deployment must support operational objectives whilst aligning with Consumer Duty and other regulatory requirements and maintaining trust.
This innovation challenge builds on the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab’s successful track record of advancing UK financial regulation through research, innovation and industry collaboration. With 120 fintech SMEs supported and £50K grants awarded to 27 firms to date, FRIL has driven tangible results and is set to further accelerate innovation within the financial services sector.
The Innovation call application window is open until Friday 31 July 2026. Interested fintech companies can apply here.
Clare Reid, Strategic Innovation Director at FinTech Scotland, said:
“FRIL creates the conditions for large institutions and fintechs to come together to find, test and de-risk new solutions to regulatory challenges. It provides a shared environment where industry, academia and regulators can work collaboratively on problems that no single organisation could solve alone.”
Nishant Govil, Managing Director at BlackRock, commented:
“FRIL provides a unique lens into the advancement of responsible AI. As a global business, we recognise the importance of staying at the forefront of innovation and collaborating with fintechs and other industry leaders in this space. By working collaboratively with wider industry stakeholders, we hope to support the development of responsible AI solutions that benefit our clients and our industry.”
Gerry McArdle, Head of Data and AI Architecture at M&G, noted:
“We’re pleased to be supporting the launch of the Responsible AI innovation call. At M&G we believe AI can help improve outcomes for our customers and for the businesses and institutions we support – enhancing customer service, strengthening risk management, and making decision-making more consistent and transparent. Across the industry the key is to combine innovation with robust governance, clear accountability and a strong focus on fairness. Through the Lab, we look forward to working with regulators, innovators, industry peers and academia to turn responsible AI into
practical improvements that build trust and deliver better outcomes for our business
and the sector”
Colin Payne, Head of Innovation at the FCA, added:
“By bringing together diverse perspectives, FRIL supports the ecosystem’s understanding of how innovation is developing in practice and helps support constructive dialogue between regulators and innovators. This challenge creates a space to learn from one another, helping to support responsible innovation while maintaining confidence in the financial system”
Phil Clements, Chief Executive Officer at Finspector, previous FRIL winner, said:
“There’s a particular kind of acceleration that money alone can’t buy. The £50,000 from FRIL mattered, of course, but the more valuable currency was access. The programme’s industry network put us in front of senior compliance, risk and innovation leaders at major UK institutions, introductions that would typically have taken months of cold outreach to engineer. We entered those conversations with a solid technical foundation and we’re leaving with pilots and clients who are paying, and a path to scale that feels earned rather than theoretical.”
