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Supporting Scale: Addleshaw Goddard Opens Applications for 2025 AG Elevate Accelerator

Addleshaw Goddard has launched the latest edition of AG Elevate, its accelerator programme aimed at supporting ambitious tech scale-ups with legal expertise, strategic mentorship, and industry connections.

Now in its eighth year, the ten-month programme is designed for businesses with growth ambitions and existing funding in place, offering them legal insight, access to industry events, and monthly one-on-one guidance from AG’s senior legal professionals.

A Track Record of Impact

Since its inception in 2017, AG Elevate has worked with more than 60 companies across fintech, clean-tech, prop-tech, and beyond. Notable alumni include Tumelo, Amiqus, Finance Unlocked, and Fuuse. Several participants have gone on to raise significant funding or complete acquisitions, such as SymPhysis Medical and EpiCapture.

Scottish representation in the 2024 cohort included CataNiTek (specialist chemical manufacturing), Coastr (vehicle rental technology), and Frontier Robotics (autonomous underwater exploration) highlighting the programme’s commitment to fostering innovation across the UK’s regions.

What’s on Offer

Participants in AG Elevate receive:

  • A dedicated legal mentor with monthly strategy sessions
  • 25 hours of complimentary legal support
  • Access to AG seminars, insight sessions, and networking events
  • Legal publications and updates from AG’s sector experts
  • A 30% discount on any further legal work during the programme

David Anderson, Partner at Addleshaw Goddard, said:

“Early-stage and scale-up companies often face legal challenges that can delay growth or investment. AG Elevate is about addressing those challenges early with the right support. We’re particularly keen to hear from businesses in fintech and digital assets this year—areas where we’ve built deep capability.”

Eligibility and How to Apply

AG Elevate is open to tech businesses based in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, or Germany that have received seed or later-stage investment and have clear plans for rapid growth.

Applications are open now and will close at the end of July 2025.
Apply here

Applications Open for the JPMorganChase Fintech Forward Programme

Applications are now open for the JPMorganChase Fintech Forward Programme, a new 12 week in-person and virtual accelerator designed to help fintech leaders realise their business vision.

Backed by JPMorganChase’s extensive network, the programme offers tailored support to help scale high-potential fintech companies across the UK.

Selected fintech leaders will gain access to a suite of resources designed to drive sustainable business growth. These include:

  • Executive sponsorship for a senior JPMorganChase leader
  • Mentorship from an experienced advisory team
  • A customised programme focused on strengthening a founder’s network and impact
  • Opportunities to present to JPMorganChase stakeholders, external investors and partners
  • A sponsored trip to Slush, one of Europe’s leading startup events, held in Helsinki

To reduce barriers to participation, travel, accommodation and other reasonable costs for in-person events will be covered by JPMorganChase if required.

The programme begins with two days at JPMorganChase’s Glasgow Technology Centre on 10th and 11th September 2025 with full-day in-person sessions in London every two weeks.  Virtual sessions every other week for between 3-4 hours per week. The trip to Slush 2025 takes place between 18th November and 21st November 2025.

Who should apply?

We are seeking applications from businesses that:

  • Apply technology to create scalable solutions within financial services.
  • Have a live product demonstrating market traction, with annual revenues not exceeding £1 million.
  • Show a commitment to making a positive impact on individuals and/or businesses in the UK.
  • Are dedicated to active participation in the programme.

We are actively encouraging applications from founders or business leaders who have encountered obstacles to growing their business, including a lack of proximity to funding and networks, and/or those addressing the needs of underserved consumers, businesses or communities.

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged. The deadline for applications is 27 June 2025.

Apply here.

Mind the Gap: Bridging the UK’s pension divide with digital solutions

The UK pensions landscape is at a crossroads: with 38% of the working-age population under-saving for retirement and 52% of people accessing their pensions without adequate advice, the risk of poor financial outcomes are at an all-time high. Yet, the market is set for huge growth, with defined contribution pension assets projected to explode to £800 billion by 2030. 

This is not a new problem, and despite well-intentioned efforts like auto-enrollment from policy-makers and new digital products from providers, there is still a fundamental disconnect; customers lack engagement and understanding in later life planning and financial outcomes.

Solving this challenge presents a significant growth opportunity for providers, but to do so needs a design-led approach focused on deeply understanding your customers through three core elements: Empathy, Engagement and Empowerment. Technology – and particularly AI – of course plays a crucial role, but doesn’t replace the need for empowered advisers. The future will be hybrid: a combination of traditional digital interfaces, agentic AI, and human touchpoints to create hyper-personalised experiences based on an individual’s aspirations, circumstances and preferences. 

This whitepaper, drawing on digital partner CreateFuture‘s decades-long experience in the Wealth & Pensions sector, provides a compelling vision for the future of pensions engagement, outlining how a hybrid approach leveraging digital innovation, AI, and empowered advisors can create truly customer-centric experiences and unlock a more secure future for savers.

Scotland’s 2025-26 Programme for Government: A Springboard for Fintech Growth and Innovation

The Scottish Government’s 2025-26 Programme for Government outlines an ambitious agenda to drive economic resilience, reduce inequality, and lead in green and digital innovation.

For Scotland’s thriving fintech community, the programme delivers encouraging signals, particularly in the areas of global competitiveness, startup support, inward investment, and the wider innovation ecosystem.

Global Reach, Local Impact

Scotland’s new Six Point Export Plan will be of particular interest to fintech firms looking to scale internationally. It promises targeted support for export-ready companies, an expanded Scottish Development International footprint in Europe and the US, and a US Export Plan to identify optimal markets for Scottish strengths. It also includes efforts to bring global buyers to Scotland and increase trade missions in order to provide fintech scale-ups the kind of exposure essential for global growth.

Fintech-Specific Opportunities

The programme reinforces the Government’s commitment to strengthening Scotland’s position as the UK’s top investment destination outside London. Specifically, it outlines plans to:

  • Enhance SDI support in key global markets, including Silicon Valley and other tech hubs, to attract high-growth companies to Scotland.
  • Leverage partnerships with financial centres, including the City of London Corporation, to grow the fintech and financial services ecosystem.
  • Improve private sector co-investment, notably from pension funds and institutional investors, to unlock funding for scaling ventures.
  • Launch InvestScotland, a single-entry digital platform for showcasing national investment opportunities.

The main focus is to attract the international capital and expertise so important for fintech companies ready to scale from Scotland to the world.

Backing Startups and Inclusive Innovation

The programme puts clear emphasis on developing a more inclusive and dynamic startup environment. Highlights include:

  • The First Minister’s Start-up Challenge, offering tailored support for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
  • Up to £6 million to implement the Pathways report, supporting more women to start and scale businesses.
  • Creation of a University Proof of Concept Fund and a Technology Council to commercialise academic research and shape future innovation policy.
  • Continued investment in Scottish Edge, the Ecosystem Fund, and initiatives like AI Scotland, providing meaningful resources to young tech firms.

This support looks to increase the pipeline of innovation-led companies, many of which operate within fintech or adjacent sectors.

Skills and Talent Pipeline

Access to talent remains a key concern for fintech firms. The programme commits to:

  • Maintaining free university tuition and expanding STEM education.
  • Investing in apprenticeship and upskilling programmes, including in AI, data, and digital finance.
  • Enhancing international education links to attract global students and research talent to Scotland.

These steps will help ensure fintech companies have access to the right skills at the right time, particularly as they grow and evolve.

You can read the full programme here.

Showcasing Scotland’s Fintech Leadership across the UK.

As UK FinTech Week 2025 approaches, we are delighted to share that we’ll be playing an active role throughout the week, engaging in critical conversations, championing innovation, and showcasing the strength and ambition of Scotland’s fintech community on a global stage.

Here’s a look at where you can find us and what we’ll be up to. We’d love for you to join us.

Monday 28 April

We kick off the week in London, where our CEO Nicola Anderson will speak at the Global FinTech Forum. This event, led by the Department for Business & Trade, HM Treasury, and the Office for Investment, brings together a very global audience with over 30 nations represented. Nicola will contribute to a panel exploring vital growth drivers for UK fintech.
You can still register here.

Tuesday 29 April

Nicola will take the stage again at IFGS, the flagship event of the week, to discuss regional fintech growth. The session will build on the recent Innovate UK report, to which FinTech Scotland contributed. With over 1,500 attendees and participants from more than 70 countries, this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Scottish fintech cluster on the world stage.

In the evening, Nicola will join industry leaders at the exclusive NVIDIA: AI in FSI Meet-Up. This gathering will explore how AI is transforming financial services, from boosting operational efficiency to enhancing customer experience and managing risk.

Wednesday 30 April

We’ll be at the FCA RegTech Forum, an event designed to foster innovation and growth in UK regulatory technology. Delivered in partnership with Innovate Finance and the City of London Corporation, this forum will explore the role of RegTech in supporting the evolving needs of financial services. If you would like to attend you can register your interest here.

On the same day we’ll also be cheering on the next generation of fintech talent at Pitch360, where ten innovative companies will go head-to-head with just three minutes to pitch their bold ideas.

The day will conclude with a celebration of fintech innovation at an event organised in partnership with our strategic partner BT. This invitation-only reception at BT Tower will focus on a critical enabler of fintech innovation. We’ll explore how technology and connectivity are essential to the future of AI, with keynote insights from BT introducing their Global Fabric.

Thursday 1 May

We return to Scotland for the Financial Services Technology Summit hosted by Digit. Nicola will join a panel of industry leaders, discussing the intersection of technology and operational resilience in financial services. This session will cover practical strategies, regulatory shifts, and real-world case studies.
She will be joined by Derek Shanks, Head of Digital Technology, Lloyds Banking Group, Yvonne Dunn, Partner at Pinsent Masons, Rob Mossop, Chief Data Officer at Sword and Stephen Johnston, Distinguished Engineer at Barclays Group.

To round off the week, we’ll be hosting a Scottish fintech gathering, an evening of networking, community, and collaboration. We’re inviting the entire Scottish fintech community to come together, connect and celebrate past and future successes.

Why Community Financial Institutions Need an AI Operating System

The financial services landscape is at an inflection point. Recent industry data shows AI adoption by UK financial institutions doubled from 32% to 63% between 2023 and 2024, with over 80% of banking executives now viewing AI as a business opportunity. Yet this transformation is uneven – while large banks invest heavily in AI, community financial institutions often lack the infrastructure to compete.

Working with over 300 credit union staff across Scotland, we’ve observed a critical reality: small teams are spending much of their time manually maintaining, distributing, and correcting data – constraining their bandwidth for value-added activities. This isn’t just an efficiency problem; it’s preventing vital community institutions from achieving the economies of scale needed to compete with larger banks.

The U.S. market provides compelling evidence for how AI can level this playing field. Nearly 30% of U.S. community banks and credit unions plan to implement generative AI tools in 2025, with early adopters already seeing significant gains in operational efficiency and member service. Through innovators like Eltropy, even the smallest credit unions are using AI to handle routine queries, process documents, and personalise communications.

At Niovant, we’re bringing this transformation to the UK market. Our thesis is simple: semi-autonomous AI agents will fundamentally elevate productivity by eliminating routine work at scale, giving organisations back time for higher-value tasks. Our platform ingests raw data from core systems, structures it for AI agents, then triggers the actions and workflows that previously consumed staff time.

The Building Societies Association noted in 2024 that mutual lenders are actively exploring how AI can boost staff productivity and customer satisfaction “at scale – but reduce cost” in line with their values. We’re making this possible by building an operating system that helps financial institutions orchestrate AI automations while adapting to shifting goals, regulations, and member needs.

The future of financial services won’t be built on static software, but on adaptive AI systems that give organisations back their most precious resource: time. We’re building that future, starting with the institutions that need it most.

Please reach out to me at lewis@niovant.com to discuss collaboration.

I went to a Digital Banking conference and an AI event broke out!

The theme for June’s American Banker’s Digital Banking Summit was “Welcome to the Bank of the Future” – and in this case the “future” is artificial intelligence.  Specifically, Generative AI (Gen AI) and how it can enhance aspects of various banking operations. One CIO keynote declared “The strategic risk of not using Gen AI is higher than the operational risks of using it”.

While Gen AI itself does not directly create new banking business opportunities, it does have potential to accelerate improvements to customer experience, product development and operating practices that support keeping and attracting depositors. In short, Gen AI is potentially a much quicker means of adapting to disruptive challenges and to improving operational productivity. 

Speakers highlighted use-cases of Gen AI deployed or in development within banking. For example:

  • Customer Care/Support
    • Help customer care reps resolve customer issues more accurately and quickly. Using real-time speech-to text combined with Gen AI models, relevant guidelines and documentation can be automatically retrieved and displayed on customer care rep screens.
  • Fraud Claim Routing
    • Poor execution in handling fraud claims motivates depositors to switch banks. Time is critical to contain costs and allay customer fear. Gen AI models can assess fraud types based on customer answers about the problem, then accurately route the case to departments with relevant fraud detection and resolution expertise.
  • Near Real Time Product Matching
    • Gen AI enabled near-real-time customer insights can promote bank product offers more likely to relate to stated customer needs. value and customer share of wallet.
  • Faster, higher quality Underwriting
    • Using Gen AI to overlay specific customer needs and preferences within the decisions process could improve responsiveness without taking on more risk, thus winning more worthy loans from competitors.

Blockers to Gen AI adoption in banking:

  • Gen AI Skill gaps. Huge money center banks have sizable technology teams. Smaller banks don’t.
  • Data quality and accuracy for LLM development. The axiom Garbage In, Garbage Out holds true, and banks are particularly sensitive to erroneous results from AI models.
  • In the fraud use case, concerns are that false flags could erode customer loyalty. While customers value alerts pertaining to potential fraud, they do not want overly sensitive AI models freezing them out of their bank accounts.
  • Avoiding bias within the LLMs that could result in a negative customer experience for some customers and expose banks to other liabilities.

Aside from AI, the conference underscored common pain points facing traditional bankers in the highly competitive, dynamic US market:

  • Customer attraction, retention and deposit growth – With over 10,000 banks and credit unions, customers have so many to choose from; how can banks differentiate and drive loyalty?
  • Fraud – Cost of fraud is increasing 25% per year, with half of all banks reporting zero to moderate confidence that they can keep pace with current and emerging threats – all which impact customer satisfaction.
  • Managing transformation to enhance value, retention, and attracting younger depositors – The balancing act of building new user experience and functionality to retain/attract customers while maintaining decades old backend systems.

SDI works with Scottish fintechs and technology companies to support their international growth ambitions.  If you are considering growth in the US market we would love to have a conversation.

Bob Fogarty, VP Business & Trade Development, SDI

Please contact:

Accelerating Action: celebrating International Women Day

This blog was written by Lauren Cassells, Research & Innovation Programme Manager at FinTech Scotland and Charlotte Moir, Account Manager at BT Business.

Welcome to the first edition in our series of spotlights celebrating colleagues who are inspiring change and Accelerating Action across the technology sector.

Accelerating action is the theme of International Women’s Day 2025 and one which we here at FinTech Scotland and BT feel extremely passionate about.

International Women’s Day, taking place 8 March, strives to deliver collective action and shared ownership for driving gender parity. With this campaign we are making it a year-long endeavour, spotlighting and shouting loud about the fantastic colleagues we are privileged to work alongside on a daily basis.

As individuals, we can all take steps in our daily lives to positively impact everyone’s advancement. We can celebrate success, question bias, support and champion diversity, and so much more. As we launch this campaign, we will be focused on highlighting and applauding those who are striving and growing, creating the future we hope for of through action.

The campaign will comprise a series of monthly blogs, as well podcast and discussion-based activities, shining a light on relevant insights and initiatives taking place across Scotland. As we look forward to the monthly themes, we are excited to be engaging with those who inspire us both personally and professionally in accelerating action.

As we kick off the campaign, we encourage you to nominate those that inspire you on a daily basis and that you would like to see celebrated in this campaign.

To nominate a colleague, please contact us.

January Spotlights:

NatWest Launches Fintech Growth Programme to Drive Innovation in Payments

NatWest Group is launching its inaugural Fintech Growth Programme, offering UK- based fintech startups a great opportunity to collaborate with one of the UK’s most established high-street banks. This initiative aims to empower fintechs to scale sustainably, leveraging NatWest’s resources, expertise, and expansive networks. The Fintech Growth Programme is aligned with NatWest’s ambition to lead the future of banking by addressing pressing challenges in the payments space. Through this initiative NatWest is focusing on collaboration to develop solutions that could shape the future of financial services. The programme will select five pre-Series A fintech startups based in the UK, specifically those addressing critical issues in payments. Over a 10-week period, the chosen fintechs will participate in workshops, receive personalised mentoring and coaching, and work directly with NatWest’s Innovation team to co-create innovative solutions.

David Grunwald, Director of NatWest Innovation, highlighted the program’s impact on customers and the innovation economy:

“This programme lays a pathway to create better outcomes for our customers.  Working this closely with fintechs and UK entrepreneurs strengthens our ability to be future focused, while supporting the growth of the innovation economy. “ Mark Brant, Chief Payments Officer at NatWest, emphasized the importance of collaboration: “Innovation and collaboration are fundamental to growth, especially in a challenging commercial environment. This programme champions NatWest’sinnovation by working with fintechs to co-create solutions to lead the future of banking.”

The programme provides fintechs with access to:
• A Curated Scale-Up Curriculum: Designed by Aspire, a consultancy specialising in startup growth, the curriculum will deliver tailored workshops and guidance to help fintechs refine and scale their solutions.
• Senior NatWest Decision Makers: Participants will engage with key figures within NatWest, gaining invaluable insights and feedback.
• A Collaborative Network: The programme drives connections among peers, industry experts, and NatWest’s dedicated Innovation function.

NatWest is calling on innovative fintechs to seize this opportunity. If you’re a pre- Series A UK-based fintech startup looking to take your business to the next stage, this is your chance to collaborate with one of the UK’s leading financial institutions.

To learn more and apply, visit the NatWest website.

Finalists unveiled for the 2024 Scottish Financial Technology Awards

Scotland’s leading technology media & events company, Digit, has announced its finalists for the 2024 Scottish Financial Technology Awards, part of the Fintech Scotland Festival. This year, Digit  received over 90 entries from across Scotland for its 12 award categories. 

Below are the finalists for the 12 categories that celebrate the innovation and talent within Scotland’s Fintech clusters:

Best Fintech Collaboration 2024

Lloyds Banking Group/GoCodeGreen

Scottish Widows/Appointedd

Miconex/GiftRound

Best Use of Data/AI

Atto

Inicio AI

Level E Research

Predictiva

Best Startup/New Entrant 2024

loveelectric

Redeem Technologies

Renti Rewards

Gigged.AI

First Carbon

Climate & Environmental Impact 2024

GoCodeGreen

Snugg

loveelectric

Zumo

First Carbon

Digital Transformation 2024

Ionburst
Appointedd
Soar
Citizens Advice Scotland

Evangelist 2024

David McLeay – Lloyds Banking Group

Pardeep Cassells – Access Fintech

Colin Frame – Stellar Omada

Amirreza Sarencheh

Financial Service Innovation 2024

JP Jenkins

NatWest

Simple Financial Planning

TSB 

Financial Technology Partner 2024

Stellar Omada

Scott Logic

InfinitX

Approov Limited

Forrit Technology Limited

Fintech of the Year

BR-DGE

LendingCrowd

Aveni.ai

AutoRek

Predictiva

Encompass Corporation

Outstanding Leader

Colin Frame – Stellar Omada

(Prof) Christine Bamford – Womenscoin

Maysara Hammouda – Predictiva

RegTech Innovation 2024

RegHub

ALMIS International

TrueDeploy

AutoRek

HAELO

Social Impact

MoneyMatiX

Inicio AI

Lightning Reach

Grand Bequest

Citizens Advice Scotland

Congratulations to the finalists. We’re looking forward to The Scottish Financial Technology Awards ceremony on the 25th of September to celebrate Scotland’s fintech cluster. Don’t forget to book your table to join us on the day. 

The Fintech Summit and the Awards mark the start of the FinTech Scotland Festival. Check the full programme.