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 23 September.

The new initiative has been designed to accelerate international growth for Scottish fintech companies while attracting a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Business Minister Richard 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.”

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. Firmly aligned with Scottish Enterprise’s mission led strategy, this is the first time such a sectorial and a geographical targeted approach has been taken in Scotland for the fintech industry.

Managing director of international operations at Scottish Enterprise Reuben Aitken said: “Scotland’s thriving fintech sector is worth over £14billion 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 added: “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.”

This new and unique approach will serve as a blueprint as new regions and countries become priorities for Scottish businesses across all Scotland’s priority sectors.

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.

The Scotland and North America Fintech Gateway is structured around two workstreams:

Accelerating Trade from Scotland:

• Market intelligence and access to key market events. Support from Scottish Enterprise fintech leads across North America providing local market insights and intelligence and a co-ordinated ‘Scotland presence’ at key industry events including Fintech Meetup, supporting fintechs to build profile and unlock new commercial opportunities.
• Intensive market access support. Targeted support to accelerate market launch and growth with the opportunity to apply for a place on the Scottish Enterprise intensive US MarketBooster Programme, developed to support technology companies with ambition to scale in the US market specifically. 
• Access to Scottish Enterprise and Fintech Scotland networks across North America. Access to a network of senior leaders in financial services and technology offering strategic feedback and insights on value propositions and growth strategies. This includes individuals from the GlobalScot network, in-market contacts and Fintech Scotland’s Global Strategic Partners with North American presence (e.g. Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, Mastercard etc.

Boosting Inward Investment to Scotland:

• Support and incentives for North American fintech companies to establish a base in Scotland, with practical guidance on location, hiring, and regulatory navigation.
• Access world-class talent at a competitive cost: Scotland’s universities are producing top-tier graduates in AI, quantum, Web3, and financial technologies – comparable in quality to leading US institutions, but with a significantly more cost-effective talent base than London or the US. 
• Including access to international networks and events to showcase Scotland’s dynamic fintech cluster globally

One of the first activities of The Scotland and North America Fintech Gateway will see FinTech Scotland sign a memorandum of understanding with Atlantic Fintech in Canada to develop cross borders opportunities.