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Scotland Showcases Fintech Leadership at Money2020

Scotland’s thriving fintech cluster is set to showcase its growth at Europe’s largest fintech conference. Ten scaling fintech SMEs will showcase their businesses as they look to expand into new markets. With this force of fintech innovation, Scotland is showcasing the country’s thriving fintech cluster on a global stage.

This initiative, led by Scottish Enterprise and FinTech Scotland is a testament of Scotland’s fintech cluster’s exceptional growth which is seeing over 30% of its scaling-up companies exporting or ready to grow internationally.

Such a presence at one of the largest global fintech conference continues to signal Scotland’s growing reputation as a world-class fintech cluster, in line with the Scottish Government’s National Innovation Strategy which highlights fintech as a key sector for the country.

The Scottish pavilion will showcase the following companies:

  • Aveni – AI-driven technology transforming financial advice compliance
  • BigSpark – Next-generation data analytics and orchestration
  • CreditNature – Focused on nature-positive credit risk and biodiversity
  • docStribute – Secure digital document distribution
  • Recast – universal media wallet to access media on a pay-per-view basis.
  • Encompass – Global leader in KYC automation and digital onboarding
  • Inicio –AI for ethical and accessible consumer finance journeys
  • Korelabs – Product intelligence for financial services
  • Transwap – Business accounts for the unbanked. Payment infrastructure for banks and fintechs
  • OneBanx – Banking access for underserved communities

Delegates are invited to meet the companies and Scotland’s cluster leadership team at Pavilion 1F10.

Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland, said:

“We’re delighted to showcase the FinTech Scotland Cluster at Money 2020 and looking forward to expanding fintech growth with European partnerships.  The strength of fintech innovation and growth in Scotland is demonstrated in the growth of the fintech SMEs and the businesses attending Money 2020.  It’s a testament to the strength of Scotland’s cluster and the continued collaborative environment that drives innovation and commercial outcomes.”

Lorraine Anderson, who leads Scottish Enterprise’s Global Trade team for Fintech, said,

“Scotland’s fintech sector continues to go from strength to strength, with Money 20/20 providing an ideal platform for ambitious Scottish businesses to showcase their offerings.

“Fintech is a key area of focus at Scottish Enterprise and plays a vital role in transforming our economy through companies scaling-up, creating high value jobs and competing internationally.”  

Level E Opens Crowdcube Campaign to Retail Investors

Level E, the Edinburgh-based fintech company specialising in the use of AI in asset and wealth management technology, has launched a public crowdfunding campaign via Crowdcube, inviting retail investors to back its next phase of growth.

The company has previously focused on institutional partnerships and large-scale deployments of its AI solutions. With new infrastructure now in place, Level E is opening the door to individual investors eager to support the evolution of finance through artificial intelligence.

Agentic AI: Intelligent Systems for Asset Management

Level E’s technology is grounded in research from the University of Edinburgh, widely recognised for its role in advancing deep learning and AI innovation. Its proprietary Agentic AI platform is designed to support asset managers with tools that reduce cost, improve decision-making, and deliver real-time value in a fast-changing industry.

The company has already gained traction with major UK asset managers which shows the relevance and maturity of its technology.

AICA: AI-Powered Compliance at Scale

Level E recently launched AICA (AI Compliance Agent), developed in partnership with asset management giant aberdeen. AICA applies Agentic AI to the challenge of regulatory compliance, an area historically characterised by complexity and cost.

AICA helps compliance teams flag issues earlier and act faster to deliver timely insights that reduce operational risk and enhance oversight.

A Broader Vision for AI in Finance

Level E’s ambitions extend beyond compliance. The firm is building an ecosystem of intelligent agents designed to optimise every aspect of asset and wealth management from portfolio construction to operational efficiency.

Crowdfunding Now Live

With the Crowdcube campaign now live, Level E is offering the public a chance to invest alongside institutional players and become part of a company at the forefront of AI in finance.

To learn more or get involved, visit Level E’s Crowdcube page.

Sword Group Expands Cybersecurity and AI Capabilities with Acquisition of Edinburgh-based iDelta

Sword Group, a FinTech Scotland’s strategic partners, has announced its acquisition of Edinburgh-based fintech iDelta Ltd, a specialist firm focused on customised data solutions, cybersecurity monitoring, AI automation, and fraud analytics.

Founded in Scotland’s thriving tech ecosystem, iDelta has developed a strong reputation for its bespoke solutions in infrastructure and application monitoring, particularly within financial services. Its specialist consultants have created innovative tools for managing Open Banking data APIs and have developed extensions available on the popular Splunk marketplace. These solutions streamline the integration process with third-party technologies, enabling customers to effectively harness their data assets.

Kevin Moreton, CEO of Sword UK, described the move as a strategic step towards enhancing Sword’s capabilities in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, particularly within the financial services sector.

“We’re pleased to welcome iDelta into Sword Group. This acquisition is well-aligned with our strategic vision for 2028 and significantly strengthens our cybersecurity strategy. Combining our expertise will enable us to deliver even greater value to our customers,” Moreton said.

Stuart Robertson from iDelta also welcomed the acquisition, noting the shared commitment between both companies towards innovation and technical excellence.

“Joining Sword opens exciting new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Our strong partnerships with Splunk and Cisco, combined with Sword’s extensive resources, mean we’re perfectly positioned to expand our offerings and accelerate our capabilities,” Robertson said.

Sword Group, known for providing business technology solutions across energy, public, commercial, and financial sectors, currently employs over 600 staff across its UK locations, including Aberdeen, Glasgow, Teesside, and London.

The acquisition underlines Sword Group’s strategic approach to bolstering its technical expertise in critical domains like cybersecurity and AI, reflecting broader industry trends towards greater digital resilience and smarter data utilisation.

FNZ Secures $500 Million to Support Long-Term Growth

Scottish fintech FNZ, a global provider of wealth management platforms, just secured $500 million in new capital from its existing shareholders. This funding will support the company’s long-term sustainable growth.  

Strengthening Financial Foundations

The injection of capital will enhance FNZ’s financial stability, providing a solid foundation to support its business strategies and customer relationships. With this strengthened financial position, FNZ is better equipped to navigate the evolving financial services landscape. 

A History of Strategic Growth

Since its inception in 2003 by founder Adrian Durham, FNZ has experienced significant growth. The company now partners with over 650 financial institutions and 12,000 wealth managers, administering assets exceeding $1.7 trillion for more than 24 million investors worldwide.  

FNZ’s growth strategy has included several key acquisitions:

• 2018: Acquired German investment platform ebase, expanding its European presence. 

• 2019: Purchased London-based JHC Systems Ltd, enhancing its wealth management software capabilities. 

• 2022: Acquired Appway, a Zurich-based client onboarding firm, to improve client integration processes. 

Leadership and Future Outlook

In August 2024, FNZ underwent a leadership transition, appointing Blythe Masters as Group CEO and Roman Regelman as Group President. This change was accompanied by an additional $1 billion investment from existing institutional investors, reflecting confidence in the company’s direction.  

Snugg Introduces ‘Carbon Cashback’ for Energy-Savvy Homeowners

Businesses across the UK now have an exciting new opportunity to support their customers in becoming more energy efficient, thanks to Edinburgh-based fintech Snugg. The Carbon Cashback platform, launching initially in beta, enables businesses to offer homeowners annual cash rewards for achieving verified carbon reductions through home energy improvements.

This approach uses smart meter data to track home carbon savings such as those from installing insulation, heat pumps, or solar panels. Snugg then transform those savings into carbon credits for sale in the Voluntary Carbon Market. It’s a powerful incentive for homeowners, tackling one of the most significant barriers they face: the upfront cost of sustainability upgrades.

For businesses, the benefits are equally compelling. Partnering with Snugg offers companies a distinctive proposition to attract and retain customers, reinforcing brand commitment to sustainability. Additionally, participating companies gain valuable insights into customer energy consumption and carbon footprint reductions, crucial data for businesses aiming to lower their Scope 3 emissions and meet net-zero goals.

George Wilson, Carbon Markets Lead at Snugg, explains:

“The Carbon Cashback platform directly addresses the financial barriers homeowners encounter. For businesses, it’s a unique way to differentiate their offerings while actively engaging customers in sustainability initiatives. It also provides access to valuable emissions data, empowering companies to advance their net-zero strategies more effectively.”

The platform’s development was supported by the UK Government’s DESNZ ‘Green Home Finance Accelerator’ programme and has already demonstrated significant interest, with over 90% of testing participants keen to engage. Snugg is actively seeking early adopter businesses to join the beta phase, ahead of the wider market launch planned for later in 2025.

Businesses can play a very important role in accelerating the UK’s residential decarbonisation efforts (a market estimated at £250 billion). Importantly, this isn’t a greenwashing exercise. Rather, it positions businesses as genuine leaders in sustainability, supporting real, measurable carbon reductions.

If you are Interested in becoming a partner or learning more about Carbon Cashback, visit snugg.com/carbon-cashback.

BLK’s £50 Million Funding, a Turning Point for Digital Commodities Trading

The commodities trading industry, historically reliant on traditional methods, has recently seen a surge of digital innovation. At the forefront of this digital revolution is Scottish fintech BLK, a pioneering UK-based online commodities marketplace, which has just secured an impressive £50 million equity investment from Panama-based Nimbus Capital. This substantial funding signals a shift toward technology-driven solutions within an industry ripe for transformation.

Commodities trading, involving everything from metals and energy to agricultural goods, has long suffered from inefficiencies and lack of transparency. Traders frequently navigate complex logistics, opaque pricing structures, and cumbersome administrative processes. BLK’s mission has been clear from the start, to disrupt these traditional trading barriers using advanced technology like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). With Nimbus Capital’s backing, BLK is now in an even stronger position to realise this vision.

Blockchain technology, well-known for its application in cryptocurrencies, holds immense potential for commodities trading. It enables unprecedented transparency by securely recording each transaction on an immutable ledger. This reduces the risk of fraud and error and fosters greater trust between buyers and sellers. With AI, BLK is further streamlining trade by optimising logistics, forecasting market trends more accurately, and significantly reducing operational costs. These technological advancements will reshape how commodities markets function, offering substantial competitive advantages to early adopters.

The £50 million investment will also directly support BLK’s operational expansion. Key plans include the strategic acquisition of new shipping vessels, which is crucial for expanding BLK’s logistics capabilities. Enhancing logistics will ensure BLK can efficiently meet rising demand, reduce shipping times, and improve the overall reliability of commodity supply chains.

The investment is a clear indication of BLK’s long-term strategy and market ambition. BLK has announced plans to list publicly via an IPO in 2025, a major milestone that will open new avenues for growth, visibility, and investor engagement.

Discover Agentic Workflows, the fintech revolutionising productivity with AI

6 months’ worth of work, completed in under 5 minutes, for less than 1 pence.

It’s a bold claim from Glasgow-based startup Agentic Workflows, and it’s turning heads in the AI space. By taking a highly innovative approach to Generative AI, they’ve built a platform that replaces cumbersome business processes with AI-powered “Agentic Workflows,” dramatically cutting costs, streamlining operations, and enhancing agility.

Rob Spencer, Founder and CTO, has been at the forefront of cutting-edge technology for most of his adult life. He started his career maintaining and calibrating weapon systems on the front line, later moving into IT, initially teaching Computer Science and practical IT at the Royal School of Signals. Following that, he transitioned into Financial Services in the City of London, where he led complex technical rollouts and transformational change initiatives.

It is that transformational change experience which provides the bedrock for Agentic Workflows. Imagine your company completing six months of work in under five minutes, at a fraction of the cost—how would that revolutionise your organisation’s productivity, customer service, and competitive edge?

Now, as a proud new member of the Fintech Scotland community, Agentic Workflows is eager to engage with fellow innovators, scale-ups, and established enterprises alike. Fintech firms often grapple with regulatory compliance, KYC processes, fraud detection, and operational inefficiencies, areas where AI-driven workflows could deliver immense value. By automating repetitive tasks and leveraging advanced data analytics, businesses can enhance their operational resilience, reduce costs, and streamline onboarding or transactional processes.

Moreover, generative AI has the potential to transform how customer interactions are handled, delivering hyper-personalised financial solutions and insights. Agentic Workflows’ platform aims to bridge the gap between technology potential and real-world application, helping firms quickly deploy AI solutions without the typical complexities and overheads of large-scale software projects. As the fintech ecosystem continues to evolve, partnering with an agile AI platform can be a powerful way to stay ahead in a competitive market.

With the technology developed and the platform built, Agentic Workflows is now looking to understand the challenges you face. If you’re exploring ways to harness the transformative power of AI within your organisation, or if you simply want to discover the art of the possible, please get in touch via the Agentic Workflows website. We look forward to collaborating with you and helping shape the future of financial services in Scotland and beyond.

Scottish Building Society and Legado to Enhance Member Communication

The Scottish Building Society is partnering with Scottish fintech Legado to improve the digital experience for members while aligning with the Society’s broader sustainability objectives.

A Digital-First Approach to Member Engagement

Scottish Building Society has long provided savings accounts and mortgage services and continues to evolve by embracing digital transformation. This latest partnership with Legado introduces an advanced communication platform designed to provide a seamless, secure, and user-friendly experience.

Legado, headquartered in Edinburgh, supports financial services brands across the UK, including FNZ, Moneyhub, and Co-op Legal Services. The company specialises in digital solutions that enhance customer engagement by offering a more structured and intuitive way to manage financial interactions.

Supporting Sustainability Through Paperless Processes

One of the key benefits of this partnership is the move towards paperless communication. By reducing the reliance on physical documents, the Society aims to lower printing and postage costs and reinforce its commitment to net zero targets. This initiative supports both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility, reflecting the broader trends within the financial services industry towards digital-first strategies.

Paul Denton, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Society, said.

“Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and we are always looking at ways to improve their experience with us and to ease the journey for new members. Legado’s technology enables us to do exactly that, while allowing us to progress towards our net zero goals”.

 

A Commitment to Innovation and Service Excellence

The collaboration between the Society and Legado is a reflection of changing member expectations. Consumers increasingly seek more streamlined, personalised interactions with financial institutions. Scottish Building Society will be able to offer an improved digital journey for its members, strengthening communication channels and enhancing overall service delivery.

Josif Grace, CEO and Founder of Legado, highlighted the value of the partnership:

“Scottish Building Society will now be able to deliver a more streamlined, secure, and effective communication experience for its valued members. While we work with financial services brands across the UK, it’s great to be working with their team here in Edinburgh where we’re also headquartered.”

Regulatory Horizon Scanning Reinvented by HAELO

According to Thomson Reuters, a new regulatory update is issued every seven minutes. Compliance is critical and relies on manual monitoring methods which is simply no longer viable. That’s why HAELO has launched REGENESIS, a cutting-edge regulatory horizon scanning solution designed to revolutionise how financial institutions navigate compliance challenges.

The Journey to Innovation

HAELO’s journey towards REGENESIS began with a bold step into the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab’s (FRIL) first innovation call in 2024. This led to a transformative twelve-week collaboration with industry mentor Joanne Seagrave, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Tesco Bank, and her team. The partnership allowed HAELO to refine its vision, tailor a real-world use case, and build a proof of concept that directly addresses the increasing regulatory burden faced by financial institutions worldwide.

 

REGENESIS

Regulatory change is more than a compliance issue, it’s a business risk and operational challenge. Financial services firms must not only track, interpret, and implement new regulations but do so at scale and speed. REGENESIS cuts through the noise by combining expert curation, automation, and advanced data analytics, transforming regulatory monitoring from a labour-intensive process into a strategic advantage.

Key Benefits of REGENESIS:

  • Comprehensive Global Intelligence – Aggregates insights from hundreds of regulators and millions of documents in one accessible platform.
  • Rapid, Actionable Insight – Provides instant clarity on regulatory changes, enabling firms to make informed decisions faster.
  • Future-Proof Compliance – Keeps financial institutions ahead of the curve, ensuring resilience in an unpredictable regulatory landscape.

To showcase its potential, HAELO is offering an exclusive, complimentary three-month trial of REGENESIS for financial services firms. This is an opportunity to explore how automation, expert-driven intelligence, and advanced analytics can enhance regulatory threat intelligence, improve accuracy, and reduce compliance costs.

Secure your trial today by contacting HAELO at Let’s Chat | HAELO.io

Scotcoin makes its debut on the MEXC cryptocurrency exchange

Scottish fintech Scotcoin made its debut on the MEXC cryptocurrency exchange. With a combined token valuation of $250 million (£200 million) and a trading paired with Tether (USDT), the world’s most liquid stablecoin, this listing represents a major development for the ethically driven digital currency.

Scotcoin isn’t just another token on the blockchain. It’s a mission-driven movement, with a firm commitment to social good, sustainability, and financial inclusivity. Scotcoin is setting itself apart by proving that digital assets can be a force for positive change.

What This Means for Scotcoin and Its Community

Being listed on MEXC, a top 20 global exchange with an average daily trading volume of $3 billion, will provide greater accessibility, liquidity, and credibility for Scotcoin. This move paves the way for mass adoption, allowing thousands more individuals, businesses, and charities to integrate Scotcoin into everyday transactions.

The listing is also a catalyst for expansion. Funds raised will be channelled into recruiting a dedicated full-time management team for The Scotcoin Project Community Interest Company (CIC). This will supercharge efforts to expand the Scotcoin ecosystem, developing partnerships with organisations that accept Scotcoin as a form of payment for goods and services.

A Crypto With a Cause

Unlike many cryptocurrencies that focus purely on speculation, Scotcoin’s vision is linked to community impact. Since its inception, it has backed initiatives providing food, clothing, and shelter to those in need. This next chapter will see Scotcoin directly distributed, via approved agencies, to third sector groups and vulnerable communities, ensuring that blockchain technology serves real-world humanitarian needs.

With over 6,000 holders globally and a growing number of charitable partnerships, Scotcoin is proving that crypto can be about more than just profits, it can be about people.

Commenting on this milestone, Temple Melville, CEO of The Scotcoin Project, said:

“This listing is a huge step forward in our journey. It not only increases accessibility for individuals, businesses, and charities, but also allows us to build a stronger, purpose-driven ecosystem. With a dedicated team, we can now focus on expanding partnerships and—most importantly—providing greater support to those in need.”

What Existing Scotcoin Holders Need to Know

To ensure a smooth transition, existing Scotcoin holders must exchange their old tokens for new ones before trading. Full details on how to do this securely are available on the official Scotcoin website: scotcoinproject.com