Newfound has announced the first virtual fintech trade mission between the UK and the APAC region since the coronavirus shutdown. The mission aims to open export markets, create new jobs, and scale up opportunities for the fintech sector and the broader digital economy across both regions.

The virtual trade mission has won wide support across both public and private sectors with launch partners including British Australia Society, CCgroup, CO:CUBED, Edelman, FinTech Australia, FinTechNZ, Global Victoria, Level 39, London & Partners, New South Wales Government, Stone and Chalk and Tech Nation.

Newfound launches the Market Missions programme with a free event on July 15, opened by Lord Mayor of London William Russell, and sessions featuring leading figures who will talk about the challenges and opportunities for fintechs scaling to the UK in the COVID era.

Speakers at the UK event on 15 July include:

• William Russell - Lord Mayor, City of London
• Martyn Holman, Augmentum Fintech
• Anton Ruddenklau, KPMG
• Caroline Plumb OBE, Fluidly
• Karen Sandhu, London & Partners
• Mike Jackson, Tech Nation
• Amy French, Level39
• Andrew Wilde, Edelman
• James Butland, Airwallex.

Our UK event MC is fintech journalist Isabel Woodford from Sifted.

July’s UK event will be followed by a two-week virtual digital trade mission to Australia on September 7 and then a UK equivalent commencing on September 14. The programme, featuring 100+ in-market experts, will attract high growth fintech firms from the UK, EMEA and APAC looking to expand to these markets.

The UK’s fintech sector currently generates £4.8 billion in investment^[1] and employs over 76,000 people^[2].

The UK's fintech sector is critical to the economic recovery of all nations involved in this world-first event, as they look to recuperate from the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus.

“It is time to help kickstart the world’s economies and Newfound’s Market Missions is a significant step in that direction, as we bring these innovative fintech businesses together, who are ready to grow and expand their operations into new markets,” said Newfound CEO, Peter Gillingwater.

“The programme comes on the heels of positive negotiations that are now underway to create a Free Trade Agreement between the UK, Australia and New Zealand. We believe that trade missions are key to global economic recovery and must continue, even with closed physical borders.”

“This virtual fintech trade mission is a wonderful opportunity for thriving fintech companies in both the UK and APAC regions to connect and explore expansion opportunities. London is a natural home for fintech due to its position as a global financial centre alongside its deep technology talent pool and supportive regulation. Now more than ever, we want to help London companies to compete globally and virtual trade missions are a great way to help scaling companies reach their international growth ambitions.” said Janet Coyle, Managing Director for Business at London & Partners.

Mike Jackson, Entrepreneur Success Director at Tech Nation commented "UK fintech companies raised record amounts last year, making it the UK's largest tech investment sector, and home to some of the most established fintech unicorns in Europe. Today, Tech Nation is delighted to showcase the high growth fintech clusters all across the UK, and including those clusters outside of London, as alternatives for ambitious fintechs looking to establish a presence in the UK."

Newfound is the only tech-focused specialist in the UK and Australia providing expert market validation, market entry and expansion, as well as talent services. They work with tech scaleups and trade and investment organisations from all over the world, supporting businesses in the UK, North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific to grow through expanding their presence to new markets.

To register your interest in Newfound’s Market Missions programme and attend the event on July 15 please visit our sign-up page at bit.ly/UKmmLP

[1] 2019, Dealroom

[2] 2019, UK FinTech State of the Nation Report, DIT.