Richard Theo, fintech envoy for Wales and co-founder and CEO of digital investment service Wealthify, will reveal his predictions for the fintech sector and the opportunities it presents for Welsh companies at a prestigious tech event in Cardiff.

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Theo will deliver a keynote at Digital Tuesday, a tech networking event organised by the digital growth company Innovation Point, on Tuesday 5 March at Barclays Eagle Lab in Cardiff. His keynote will focus on the fintech sector and the opportunities it presents for Wales, as well as his predictions for how companies in the sector could experience significant growth in 2019.

Richard Theo, who aims to encourage tech companies to do business in Wales through his role as Wales’ fintech envoy, said: “Fintech has been evolving over the past decade, and we’ve seen some really exciting start-ups emerge in the field. However, the tide is turning, and more recently we’ve seen venture capitalist investment focus on companies in scale-up and later stage phases.

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“This year, we could see the true impact of those investments. Challenger banks, for example, will start to monetise their products and produce real financial returns as they continue to disrupt the sector, but we may start to see the first consolidation. This is already a key area for Wales – Monzo moved to Cardiff last year, creating hundreds of jobs for the region, and we have other home grown challenger banks like Chetwood doing great things.”

“The fintech sector’s growth in international markets will present new opportunities for companies in Wales, and the access to talent, support and growth accelerators here continues to reinforce the region as a great place to do business.”

Tech growth accelerators, such as Innovation Point’s Digital Dozen, which Wealthify was part of in 2016, have been regarded as key contributors to Wales’ digital economy – the fastest growing in the UK outside of London.*

David Warrender, CEO of Innovation Point, said: “This year, we’ll be ramping up our support of fintech’s bright minds and young digital companies. Events like Digital Tuesday provide excellent opportunities to interact with business leaders at all stages – from innovative thinkers pre-inception, right through to CEOs of growth companies making their mark and leaders from established FTSE companies. Richard is a serial entrepreneur – a pioneer in the fintech field – and we’re looking forward to sharing his views with you.”

Digital Tuesday started in 2014, and since then has seen a multitude of expert-led sessions on everything from Internet of Things to smart cities and tech ethics. The event on Tuesday 5 March is the second this year, and will see tech experts and professionals from across Wales meet at Barclays Eagle Lab in Cardiff for discussion, networking, drinks and pizza.

For more information on Digital Tuesday or to book tickets, visit: www.innovationpoint.uk/digitaltuesday