A new initiative to support international growth for Scottish fintech companies has been launched, led by Scottish Enterprise and FinTech Scotland.
The 18-month programme will be targeted at international fintech firms and tailored to fintechs based in Scotland that are export ready and actively targeting the North American region.
This is the first time such a sectorial and a geographical targeted approach has been taken in Scotland for the fintech industry.
Scottish Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead MSP, announced the Scotland and North America Fintech Gateway during a speech at the FinTech Scotland Festival on Tuesday.
The new initiative has been designed to accelerate international growth for Scottish fintech companies while attracting a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Lochhead said: “This new initiative represents a significant milestone in our mission to position Scotland as a global fintech powerhouse.
“The gateway will help to cement our reputation as one of the best places in the world to create the financial technologies of the future. This follows the rapid growth of the sector which has created thousands of high-paid jobs in Scotland in recent years.
“It also builds on our Programme for Government priorities to strengthen inward investment from the United States and attract more tech companies to Scotland.”
Managing director of international operations at Scottish Enterprise, Reuben Aitken, said: “Scotland’s thriving fintech sector is worth over £14 billion to the Scottish economy. The launch of the North America Fintech Gateway will support new export opportunities, attract high-value investment, and help create jobs.
“We know the US is a key market and this initiative helps place fintech as a key driver of international innovation and growth. This partnership with Fintech Scotland helps strengthen international collaboration and expand Scotland’s global footprint.”
Chief Executive of FinTech Scotland, Nicola Anderson, said: “The North America Fintech Gateway combines FinTech Scotland’s global network of fintech hubs with SDI’s market intelligence and incentives to help Scottish innovators land in new markets faster, while showcasing Scotland as the most collaborative and innovative place to build fintech solutions.”
Scotland’s fintech community has expanded to more than 250 companies and now employs over 11,300 people of which 1,700 are employed by fintechs with international headquarters.
FinTech Scotland’s analysis shows that 30% of these firms are actively preparing to export, targeting key markets in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Meanwhile, out of the 82 Scotland based fintechs which started elsewhere, a third are North America headquartered, proof of the Scottish fintech cluster’s appeal on the other side of the Atlantic.
The announcement continues to demonstrate the importance fintech represents for Scotland’s economic future as detailed in the Scottish Government’s 2025-26 Programme for Government which highlights financial and business services as a priority sector for inward investment and trade, with a specific focus on North America.