Scale In Wales
The FinTech Wales Foundry is a unique, not for profit collaboration designed to scale the next generation of digital ventures in Wales. We leverage the collective experience of the FinTech Wales ecosystem to act as a force for good to help founders, partners, and investors.
About Us
We know that Wales is the best place in the UK to scale your FinTech.
That’s why FinTech Wales created the Foundry. Each year we run two distinct programmes – an incubator for start-ups and an accelerator for scale-ups – entirely equity free and without cost to founders.
The FinTech Wales Foundry is an active collaboration between some of Wales biggest institutions and tech’s largest forces to drive jobs, deals, and investment.
Each year our partners select several companies from our application data to join our programmes and work on signing a deal together – be it partnership, investment, distribution, or something else.
The Foundry supports these companies by providing them with free access to perks, mentors, training and everything else they might need to successfully #ScaleInWales. At the end of each programme we share our results at the Foundry Demo Day.
Once part of the Foundry alumni, participating companies and founders can expect ongoing support from the FinTech Wales ecosystem beyond the life of the programmes.
Our Programmes
No equity, no nonsense.
The FinTech Wales Foundry operates two distinct programmes a year, each designed for founders to extract maximum value with minimum distractions. Both our incubator and accelerator programmes are equity free, corporate led, and deal focused whilst providing access to the same level of perks and mentorship.
You are a START-UP
looking to develop an MVP
You have an idea, pitch deck and maybe the beginnings of a team. Over the course of several months we will help you validate your idea, get it to market and refine your pitch, people, and processes to become investor ready.
You are a SCALE-UP
looking for a corporate partner
You are already have at least seed funding and validated market fit and now you are looking for world domination (via Wales). In 12 weeks we will pair you with one of our leading financial institutions and connect you with an international consortium of VCs and investors.
Our Timeline
When do we run?
Incubator
7 months – October to April.
-
August – September
Applications Open
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September
Due Diligence & Application Review
-
October – November
Ideate
-
November – January
Validate
-
January – March
Create
-
April
Incubator Investor Day
Accelerator
12 weeks – July to September.
-
April – May
Applications Open
-
June
Due Diligence & Application Review
-
July
Programme Start
-
August
Accelerator Investor Day
-
September
Accelerator Demo Day
Our Impact
Recent accelerator application results.
151
Applications received
27
Applications from Wales
28
Countries represented
52
Had seed or revenue
Our Alumni
Meet our first accelerator cohort.
Find Out More
Sero
Find Out More
Voltric
Find Out More
Zing
Find Out More
Viaduct
Find Out More
Yimba
Find Out More
ShipShape
Find Out More
Wagonex
Find Out More
Laytrip
Our Partners
Who's involved?
Created with founding partners Admiral Pioneer, Principality Building Society, and Cardiff Capital Region, the Foundry now works with more than 25 supporting organisations. Each has agreed to lend time, expertise, or resources to our founders for free on the understanding that, by working together, we can achieve more for Wales.
Admiral Pioneer
Founding Partner
Admiral Pioneer
Principality Building Society
Founding Partner
Principality Building Society
Cardiff Capital Region
Founding Partner
Cardiff Capital Region
Google Cloud
Google Cloud
Amazon Web Services
Amazon Web Services
IBM
IBM
Microsoft for Startups
Microsoft for Startups
Stripe
Stripe
EY
EY
Salesforce
Salesforce
Welsh Government
Welsh Government
Capital Law
Capital Law
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
SeedLegals
SeedLegals
Hubspot
Hubspot
BGF
BGF
Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
Merkely
Merkely
Deloitte
Deloitte
Twilio
Twilio
High Growth Knowledge Company
High Growth Knowledge Company
Consilium
Consilium
Red Hat
Red Hat
M-SParc
M-SParc
Tramshed Tech
Tramshed Tech
Development Bank of Wales
Development Bank of Wales
Cardiff University
Cardiff University
British Business Bank
British Business Bank
Global Welsh
Global Welsh
Real Inbound
Real Inbound
Louise O'Shea
CEO @ Confused.com
Louise O'Shea
Chris Adelsbach
Founder @ Outrun Ventures
Chris Adelsbach
Carol Hall
Regional Manager @ Angels Invest Wales
Carol Hall
Thomas Bull
UK Head of FinTech @ EY
Thomas Bull
Rachel Hillier
Partner @ Capital Law
Rachel Hillier
Pryderi ap Rhisiart
Managing Director @ M-SParc
Pryderi ap Rhisiart
Hannah Waters
Investor @ BGF
Hannah Waters
Aled Miles
CEO @ Sauce Labs
Aled Miles
Anthony Rose
Founder & CEO @ SeedLegals
Anthony Rose
Mike Hope
Insurance Enterprise CTO @ IBM
Mike Hope
David Rozier
Director @ Deloitte
David Rozier
Kim Jones
Director @ High Growth Knowledge Company
Kim Jones
David Parker
David Parker
Arman Eshraghi
Professor @ Cardiff University
Arman Eshraghi
Cai Gwinnutt
CTO @ Tramshed Tech
Cai Gwinnutt
La-Chun Lindsay
Welsh Government Envoy
La-Chun Lindsay
Ben Joakim
Head of Strategy @ Principality
Ben Joakim
Julie Barber
Founder @ Spark! Consulting
Julie Barber
Farhan Lalji
Investor @ Anthemis
Farhan Lalji
Julie Collins
Founder @ CollinsCollins
Julie Collins
Gino Brancazio
Senior Entrepreneur Engagement Manager @ Tech Nation
Gino Brancazio
Brady Last
Managing Director @ EY Breakthrough
Brady Last
Lynsey Walden
Co-Director @ Front Door Communications
Lynsey Walden
Julian Wells
Director @ Whitecap Consulting
Julian Wells
Ian Brewer
Chairman @ Skunks Works
Ian Brewer
Raz Nazir
Director @ Consilium
Raz Nazir
Janos Barberis
Founder @ SuperCharger Ventures
Janos Barberis
Matthew Hyde
Director @ Recruit 121
Matthew Hyde
Simon Hitchcock
Investment Manager @ Deloitte Ventures
Simon Hitchcock
Tony Dowling
Co-Founder @ Real Inbound
Tony Dowling
Bonnie Buchanan
Professor @ University of Surrey
Bonnie Buchanan
Russell Fisher
COO @ Admiral Pioneer
Russell Fisher
Alex Pughe
Associate Director @ City Executive Search
Alex Pughe
Alex Murphy
Head of Marketing @ Admiral
Alex Murphy
Adrian Jones
Director @ The Alacrity Foundation
Adrian Jones
Iain Mansfield
COO @ Principality
Iain Mansfield
Paul Bryant
Paul Bryant
Karl Foster
Head of Legal @ Credas
Karl Foster
Guy Reynish
Operations Director @ Consilium
Guy Reynish
Johnny Mayo
General Manager @ FinTech Wales Foundry
Johnny Mayo
Rachael Bayona
Senior Business Development Manager @ Welsh Government
Rachael Bayona
Bethan Bannister
Senior Manager for Wales @ British Business Bank
Bethan Bannister
Claudine Ang
Investor @ Ang.el Capital
Claudine Ang
Frank Y Owusu
Ecosystem Developer, EMEA & Global Emerging Markets @ Twilio Startups
Frank Y Owusu
Tech Nation
Tech Nation
Simon Baker
Developer Advocate @ IBM
Simon Baker
Sadique Maskeen
Associate Director @ EY Breakthrough Incentives
Sadique Maskeen
Ellie Marsh
Market Assessment and Insight Lead @ Admiral
Ellie Marsh
Eamon Tuhami
Eamon Tuhami
Anne-Claire Lo Bianco
Community & VC Manager @ Microsoft for Startups
Anne-Claire Lo Bianco
Siôn Tudur
Partner @ Loosemores Solicitors
Siôn Tudur
Alex McLaren
Senior FinTech Manager @ EY
Alex McLaren
James Logan
Director @ Merkely
James Logan
Sarah Williams Gardener
CEO @ Fintech Wales
Sarah Williams Gardener
Tashi Gyaltsen
Computer Sciences @ Swansea University
Tashi Gyaltsen
Tramshed Design Centre
Tramshed Design Centre
Lewis Pitman
UX/ UI Designer @ Tramshed Design Centre
Lewis Pitman
Ian Coupland
Head Of Design @ Tramshed Tech Design Centre
Ian Coupland
Edith Szendrodi
Programme Manager @ Microsoft for Startups
Edith Szendrodi
Matthew Roberts
Startup Partner @ Stripe
Matthew Roberts
Edward Jones
Economics Lecturer @ Bangor University
Edward Jones
Oliver Woodhouse
Associate (FS Regulatory | Fintech | Insurtech | Cryptoassets) @ Capital Law
Oliver Woodhouse
Andrew Mazeika
Solicitor @ Capital Law
Andrew Mazeika
Charlotte Gregory
Senior Associate @ Capital Law
Charlotte Gregory
Catrin Povey
Associate @ Capital Law
Catrin Povey
Jordan Thomas
Associate @ Capital Law
Jordan Thomas
Christopher Coughlan
Senior Associate @ Capital Law
Christopher Coughlan
Maria Coggins
Partner @ Capital Law
Maria Coggins
Angharad Aspinall
Associate @ Capital Law
Angharad Aspinall
Rebecca Mahon
Employment Solicitor @ Capital Law
Rebecca Mahon
David Lewis
Partner @ Capital Law
David Lewis
Phillippa Ellis
Senior Associate, Business Crime and Investigations @ Capital Law
Phillippa Ellis
Alexander Franklin
Human Resources Business Partner @ Capital People Consultants
Alexander Franklin
Michael Bolous
Paralegal, Banking & Finance @ Capital Law
Michael Bolous
Sarah Drew
Solicitor @ Capital Law
Sarah Drew
Jennifer Hill
Head of ECRM @ Admiral Group
Jennifer Hill
Dan Pierce
Principal Product Manager @ Veygo UK
Dan Pierce
David Lloyd Roberts
Principal Product Manager @ Veygo UK
David Lloyd Roberts
Mike Long
Chief Executive Officer @ Merkely
Mike Long
Jonathan Coull
Creative Director @ Merkely
Jonathan Coull
Bruce Johnston
Head of Digital Marketing @ Merkely
Bruce Johnston
Ryan Joyce
Head of FinTech UK&I @ Salesforce
Ryan Joyce
Sarah McKenna
Account Executive, Start Up Financial Services @ Salesforce
Sarah McKenna
Simon Williams
Commercial Disputes @ Capital Law
Simon Williams
Damon Chapple
Founder @ Sonovate
Damon Chapple
Carrie Gwyther
Commercial Disputes Solicitor @ Capital Law
Carrie Gwyther
Aristos Peters
CEO & Founder @ D-Risk It
Aristos Peters
D-Risk It
D-Risk It
Vanessa Carey
Managing Director @ Venturer Consultancy
Vanessa Carey
Venturer Consultancy
Venturer Consultancy
David Barton-Grimley
Director @ Capgemini Invent
David Barton-Grimley
Paragon Brokers
Paragon Brokers
Eloise Morgan
Director of UK FI @ Paragon Brokers
Eloise Morgan
Ed Ventham
Cyber & Fintech Insurance Specialist @ Paragon Brokers
Ed Ventham
Barry Maxwell
UK Start Up Business, Financial Services & FinTech @ Salesforce
Barry Maxwell
Alex Christen
Senior Associate Employment and Immigration @ Capital Law
Alex Christen
Sarah Morgan
Trainee Solicitor @ Capital Law
Sarah Morgan
LimestoneGrey
LimestoneGrey
Matthew Jones
Managing Director @ LimestoneGrey
Matthew Jones
Lisa James
Marketing Manager @ LimestoneGrey
Lisa James
Mazuma
Mazuma
Lucy Cohen
Co-Founder @ Mazuma
Lucy Cohen
Mark Hipperson
Founder & CEO @ Ziglu
Mark Hipperson
Alacrity Foundation
Alacrity Foundation
Wil Williams
CEO @ Alacrity Foundation UK
Wil Williams
Adrian Jones
Director @ Alacrity Foundation UK
Adrian Jones
Caroline Thompson
Head of Partnerships @ Alacrity Foundation UK
Caroline Thompson
Anna Gordon
Go to Market Partnerships UKI @ Hubspot
Anna Gordon
Our Differentiators
What makes the Foundry unique?
Not for profit
We don’t take a cut of any deals we facilitate nor do we charge founders to participate.
Zero equity
The Foundry does not take any equity in the companies we accelerate or incubate.
Corporate led
Cohorts are chosen by our partners and invited to develop a proof of concept or minimum viable product.
Deal focused
We measure our success by how many deals we can generate for founders; be it investment, partnership or any other format.
Ecosystem backed
Workshops, perks, and mentors are curated by leveraging the goodwill and expertise of the Welsh FinTech ecosystem.
Value added
Successful applicants receive up to £400,000 in tangible perks plus numerous intangible benefits and mentorship.
More Information
Foundry FAQ
The Foundry was created by FinTech Wales to help leverage the experience of its ecosystem for good use. Our founding partners include Admiral Pioneer, Principality Building Society, and Cardiff Capital Region together with more than 25 supporting organisations from tech, legal, public sector, academia, and more.
Our application data is shared with partners who, after numerous rounds of due diligence, will create a shortlist of candidates for interview. After the interview process successful applicants will be offered a place in the programme.
The Foundry is a no equity programme and does not invest any capital or appear on any cap tables. We do, however, help our founders raise rounds by introducing them to our curated network of angels and VCs via our investor days and introductions.
No, you do not need to incorporate in Wales or even physically be present for the programme.
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