FinTech Wales is taking further steps to create the most collaborative FinTech ecosystem in the world
FinTech Wales, the independent membership association and champion of the technology and finance industry in Wales, has recruited Ollie Vincent as Office and Community Manager. The not-for-profit organization has also moved to its first office in Cardiff city centre, with a range of high-quality work and event spaces available to members and advocates of the Welsh FinTech ecosystem.
Ollie Vincent comes from DESG, where he spent over two years as operations manager and developed DESG from a construction site to an award-winning collaboration and event space. In his new role, Ollie will lead community engagement by working closely with our members to understand their needs, and welcoming visitors from around the world keen to see what Welsh FinTechs have to offer.
Sarah Williams-Gardener, CEO of FinTech Wales, said of the new appointment: “Ollie joins our team and the opening of our first office further demonstrates our commitment to fostering an ecosystem where FinTech startups and established financial institutions can work together. The experience and skills that Ollie brings to his role will be of great value to our members and to the FinTech Wales team as we build more industry opportunities that drive industry innovation and support partnerships.”
“Olie’s expertise in event management and customer service and his history of working with a wide range of businesses will allow us to massively expand our mission to establish and strengthen Wales as a globally recognized hub of FinTech excellence. With Ollie’s appointment and our new office, we can now host various events in our own space to bring the community together where our members can share industry insights and collaborate with each other.
“We have already hosted a number of successful events in our new home, including roundtable discussions for our members with The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Welsh and UK Governments, and the Lord Mayor of the City of London, as well as welcoming investors, embassies and FinTechs from across world welcome. We also host a number of monthly events, which are extremely valued by our members, including networking breakfasts, fireside and panel events, and lunch and learning sessions on a range of relevant topics.
“Moving into our first physical office in the city center is a huge step forward for us to deliver even more for our members, inviting people from all over the world to see and experience the thriving FinTech ecosystem Wales has to offer. “
FinTech Wales was launched in April 2019 to provide an independent voice to the FinTech industry, both within and outside Wales, to champion and maximize the potential of all businesses in this sector.
Their mission is to create a fully inclusive and supportive FinTech ecosystem that enables FinTechs to flourish and succeed thanks to the availability of the best talent, skills and investment, enabling the Welsh FinTech ecosystem to have a tangible impact on the global and local scene.
Through its highly regarded skills strategy to create a constant pipeline of talent required by FinTechs to thrive, FinTech Wales has recorded an 81% success rate in the first year of its coding and computing academy, and its award-winning accelerator programme, The Foundry, has took 23 FinTech startups through a ten-week program which has collectively secured over £20m of investment and created 150 jobs in Wales. Their new downtown office is now key to their strategy to create the most collaborative ecosystem in the world.
