My Top 20 FinTechs in UK. Agree/disagree?
Updated: Jul 17, 2019
London is the second largest city in the world for fintech unicorns and saw $5 billion in investment into the sector in the first half of 2019. Which startups are the top ones? My top 20 list below.
1. Monzo (Really good UX, still can't decide if I prefer Monzo or Revolut :))
Focus: Banking Founded: 2015 Total Funding: $274,000,000 Website: Monzo.com
2. Revolut (I know polish team, and believe them that teams in other countries are as good as them. And..I am also a heavy user)
Focus: Banking
Founded: 2015
Total Funding: $336,400,000
Web: Revolut.com
3. N26 (Just entered the UK market but already hired brilliant Partnership Manager for a region. Not mention that they just entered US which all other challengers still planning to do)
Focus: Banking
Founded: 2013
Total Funding: $512,800,000
Web: n26.com
4. StarlingBank
Focus: Banking
Founded: 2014
Total Funding: $233,000,000
Web: Starlingbank.com
5. Tide (CEO was a COO in Kreditech where I was working while ago. Simply brilliant guy, so no discussion that Tide had to get to the list)
Focus: SMB Banking
Founded: 2015
Total Funding: $40,800,000
Web: Tide.com
6. Monese (One of PayPal's investments, can't go wrong here)
Focus: Banking
Founded: 2013
Total Funding: $80,400,000
Web: Monese.com
7. GoCardless
Focus: Payments/Cards
Founded: 2011
Total Funding: $122,300,000
Web: Gocardless.com
8. Coconut (Had a pleasure to meet couple of people from the team - solid business)
Focus: SMB Banking
Founded: 2016
Total Funding: $1,900,000 (on the beginning of the road, but IMO a black horse)
Web: GetCoconut.com
9. Iwoca (Had a pleasure to meet couple of people from the team, and the business model is really strong)
Focus: SMB Lending
Founded: 2011
Total Funding: $352,700,000
Web: Iwoca.com
10 Onfido (Luno was using them - they simply rock!)
Focus: Compliance/Security
Founded: 2012
Total Funding: $110,300,000
Web: onfido.com
11. Comply Advantage
Focus: Compliance/Security
Founded: 2014
Total Funding: $38,200,000
Web: Complyadvantage.com
12. TransferWise (No surprises here, simply based on valuation which is the highest in UK)
Focus: Remittances.
Founded: 2011
Total Funding: $772,700,000
Web: Transferwise.com
13. PaySend (Focusing on emerging markets, just launch digital money. Recently they crowdfunded on Seedrs - I didn't miss it)
Focus: Remittances
Founded: 2015
Total Funding: $25,600,000
Web: Paysend.com
14. Jaja Focus: Consumer Lending Founded: 2015 Total Funding: $20,550,453 Website: Jaja.co.uk
15. Credit Ladder (Lately partnered with Starling, and crowdfunding on Seedrs now (07.2019))
Focus: Mortage/Credit
Founded: 2016
Total Funding: $1,108,000
Web: CreditLadder.com
16. Habito
Focus: Mortgages Founded: 2015 Total Funding: $30,000,000 Website: habito.com
17. eToro (I use it for trading, so far so good :)) Had a pleasure to meet couple of people from the team as well)
Focus: Trading/Investing
Founded: 2007
Total Funding: $222,700,000
Web: Etoro.com
18. Luno (Had a pleasure to work there so I know firsthand that the company rocks and they will get to the moon!)
Focus: Cryptocurrency/Investing
Founded: 2013 (however in EU from 2018)
Total Funding: $13,800,000
Web: Luno.com
19. Thought Machine
Focus: AI
Founded: 2014
Total Funding: $18,000,000
Web: ThoughtMachine.net
20. OakNorth
Focus: Savings
Founded: 2013
Total Funding: $1,000,000,000 (yes, $1B)
Web: Oaknorth.com
It was supposed to be top20, so shouldn't add more, but if it would be top22, I would add Tandem (Banking) and TransferGo (Remittances). The last one simply because I was working there, and Head of Growth is brilliant, which makes me confident that the company will expand quite rapidly. I know there are hundreds of amazing FinTechs which operate in UK, however, wanted to make a short list. If you want to discuss and add/change something on the list contact me.
