Liverpool City Region gears up for a banner year in FinTech, fuelled by innovation, collaboration, and strategic events.
With over 40 FinTech firms already thriving in its ecosystem, the Liverpool City Region (LCR) is poised to make waves in the global financial technology revolution. Reports predict decreasing interest rates in the latter half of 2024, as per the RSM Deal Services 2023 Review, unlocking potential investment opportunities. As highlighted by RSM’s report, improving economic conditions ‘could mean investors and corporate buyers move forward with greater confidence in the second half of 2024’. This exciting prospect fuels further optimism for the sector’s growth.
The 2023 Liverpool City Region FinTech Report reveals the sector’s significant contribution to the local economy, generating £218.8 million annually. Homegrown players like CIRCA5000 (formerly tickr) demonstrate the region’s innovative spirit, while established names like Cashplus Bank and Swoop find the LCR an attractive breeding ground.
Jonny Clark, Co-founder of Tech Accelerator Baltic Ventures and Angel Investor, notes that “Despite an international downturn in early stage tech investment, Liverpool bucked the trend last year. Our ecosystem is nascent, but growing – and many companies that are in their formative stages right now might be on course to time their maturity perfectly with a rebound in venture capital activity. There are still considerable early stage investment and growth opportunities for companies to access through incubators, accelerators, angel investors, specialist VCs and some public sector sources.”
Liverpool is set to host a series of events designed to propel its FinTech ecosystem forward. Kicking off on March 13th, the free LCR FinTech Social fosters informal networking within the community, paving the way for the predominant event: The FinTech North Liverpool Conference on March 28th. This highly anticipated conference, returning after a four-year hiatus, promises a day packed with insights on national and regional FinTech trends, alongside unparalleled networking opportunities.
Richard Harris, Partner at DTM Legal and member of the LCR FinTech Growth Group, expresses enthusiasm for the upcoming events and reports, saying, “The return of the FinTech North Conference is thrilling, and we look forward to regular events throughout 2024. The FinTech report highlighted the need for collaboration, and these events represent the industry coming together to address challenges and propel growth.”
The LCR FinTech Growth Group was established following the publication of the 2023 FinTech Report and is a consortium of regional businesses aligned in supporting the growth of the FinTech sector. With news of potential lower interest rates generating excitement, the FinTech community is proactively positioning itself to attract investment. Liverpool’s strategic approach, combined with its vibrant and collaborative ecosystem, paints a bright picture for its FinTech future.
FinTech North’s General Manager, Joe Roche notes that “Momentum is starting to build behind FinTech in the Liverpool City Region. What was once considered a fledgling ecosystem is now home to over 40 FinTechs, belonging to a sector employing over 4,000 people and generating over £200m GVA for the UK economy. We can’t wait to return to Liverpool with our first conference of the year, and it’s heartening to see how many other great initiatives are happening over the course of 2024, it’s truly an exciting time for FinTech in Liverpool!”
Are you an innovator, investor, or simply curious about the future of finance? Join the FinTech revolution in Liverpool!
Mark your calendars:
- LCR FinTech Social: March 13th – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-lcr-fintech-social-tickets-818706070897
- FinTech North Liverpool Conference: March 28th – https://www.fintechnorth.uk/events/liverpool-conference-2024/
Liverpool is a leading FinTech Hub – join the community for an exceptional 2024!
