FinTech Wales has announced that applications are now being accepted for its 2022 FinTech focused accelerator programme, the FinTech Wales Foundry.
The 12-week, no equity programme, titled The Foundry: Validate Raise & Scale, is the only one of its kind in Wales, and the themes for 2022 will include helping founders overcome the challenges of fundraising and scaling a new venture successfully.
FinTech Wales is encouraging applications from startups in Banking, Insurance, Wealth Management, Financial Services, and FinTech, before the closing date of applications on December 24th, 2021.
Experienced entrepreneur Neil Cocker has been announced as the year’s programme director. Neil has founded and scaled three tech businesses to six-figure revenues, and as a startup mentor and ecosystem developer, has worked with international organisations and governments including Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.
Neil has brought together a team of industry leaders to develop a 12-week calendar of intensive mentoring and high-level introductions, geared to successful fundraising and post-investment growth.
Neil Cocker Comments – “I’m thrilled to help lead the 2022 Foundry programme and support the early stage startups who will be taking part, and the partners who are backing this programme. This is the second year the Foundry will go ahead and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in.”
Admiral Financial Services (AFSL), the lending arm of Admiral Group, will also be joining existing sponsors Principality Building Society and Cardiff Capital Region this year.
Tom Lewis, Head of Unsecured Loans at Admiral, commented “The chance to work closely with start-ups, and at the same time ensure we continue to innovate in an increasingly disrupted market, was an opportunity we just couldn’t miss.”
The selected startups will be announced in early January before the programme commences on the 10th of January. The cohort will then begin a programme of online, and weekly in-person mentoring sessions at the Foundry hub in Cardiff, Wales, culminating in an event showcasing their progress at the accelerators end in mid-April.
The 2021 Foundry programme saw eight startups collectively raise over £8 million in investment
Sarah Williams-Gardener, FinTech Wales CEO, commented – “The FinTech Wales Foundry is an integral part of our mission to establish Wales as a globally recognised FinTech Hub of excellence. We’re proud of our community and ecosystem which form a critical element in the already thriving Welsh FinTech Cluster.
“Our first cohort raised £9m in investment, created 20 plus jobs and signed corporate deals with our program partners. Our Foundry 2022 program will be aiming to surpass these milestones by helping a cohort of startups validate their propositions, secure investment and prepare for growth. With the support of our partners in both the private and public sector, and combined with access to academia, we know we have a winning formula. I’d encourage all eligible FinTechs to apply.”
