Fintech As A Force For Good conference highlights UK's fintech growth and challenges

Loved joining the powerful agenda of the Fintech As A Force For Good conference from Innovate Finance, held at the University of Chicago Booth yesterday 💪 A compelling opening speech from Janine Hirt provided a clear call to action for all of us in the room to continue our efforts to maintaining and protecting the UK’s progress & strong standing in fintech innovation — a hugely successful story of growth, inclusion & democracy — yet with clear areas for development. 🚀 Key insights that stood out 💡 🔹 60% of SME lending now comes from fintechs 🔹 19 of the UK’s 23 unicorns are in fintech 🔹 The industry is a major driver of job creation — 27,000 employed across the top 11 fintechs 🔹 Transaction data and AI when made available can be used powerfully to uncover child trafficking Panelists shared concerns in the UK over: 🔹A volatile and prohibitive tax environment 🔹The need to reestablish free trade agreements 🔹Startup founders sacrificing salaries 🔹Only 2% of funding going to women 🔹Top talent being blocked from working in the UK 🔹Lack of a clear strategy for stablecoin regulation 🔹£38BN spent on regtech, yet only 1% of police resources tackling fraud We were called to think about how we can all #payitforward — supporting each other, lifting each other up & collaborating deeply as the path to advancement, if we want to see the continued evolution of a thriving ecosystem. 🤝 Grateful to have been part of such an important conversation driving fintech’s role as a genuine force for good. 🌍💫 #Fintech #Innovation #Leadership #ForceForGood #Collaboration #Partnerships Thank you Rob France 🙏