Sir Ron Kalifa, PensionBee, 11:FS and Verto were among the winners at the inaugural FinTech Awards London on Wednesday, part of Fintech Week London.
The FinTech Awards London, hosted by Recruit 121, celebrate fintech professionals and companies in London and recognise the significant contribution made by the fintech sector to both London and wider UK economies.
Sir Ron Kalifa – whose Fintech Review is the definitive strategy for the UK’s leadership in fintech on the global stage – received the Outstanding Contribution to FinTech Award from Charlotte Crosswell, OBE.
Online pension provider PensionBee, founded by Romina Savova in 2014 to simplify pension savings, secured the accolade of FinTech Company of the Year, while Verto, a global B2B payments solution that helps businesses send money to anyone, anywhere, scooped the FinTech Start-up of the Year Award.
All winners of this year’s FinTech Awards London were revealed at a ceremony presented by Julia Streets, founder and CEO of Streets Consulting, at the Underglobe, a venue beneath the iconic Globe Theatre at London’s Bankside.
The winners were revealed after a trio of surprise singing waiters got the venue rocking to Sweet Caroline.
Matt Hyde, managing director at FinTech Awards London, said: “Sir Ron Kalifa’s wide-ranging report into the UK fintech industry has ensured this sector’s growth into a world leading and fast-growing part of the UK economy and he richly deserves this Award for Outstanding Contribution to FinTech.
“The FinTech Awards London recognises and celebrates the fintech professionals and companies making a difference in London and places the spotlight fully on the emerging and established tech companies and entrepreneurs who are helping millions of customers with technology enabled financial products.”
The Awards’ judging panel included Charlotte Crosswell, chair of Open Banking, Kate Rosenshine, global technology lead, Unicorns & Scale Ups at Microsoft, Stephen Kelly, chair of Tech Nation, Neil Shah, director, tech sector specialist forLondon Stock Exchange, Chris Woolard, CBE EY partner and Anita Kimber, EY EMEIA business transformation leader.
Charlotte Crosswell commented: “Proud to have been chair of the judging panel at FinTech Awards London and see the event come to life tonight.”
FinTech Awards London Winners
FinTech Start-up of the Year
Winner: Verto
Highly Commended: Ecospend
FinTech Company of the Year Sponsored by Peel Hunt
PensionBee
FinTech Scale-up of the Year Sponsored by Welsh Government
Quantexa
FinTech Leader of the Year Sponsored by Eversheds Sutherland
Steven Mendel – Many Group Ltd
FinTech New Product of the Year
Funding Options
Best Advisory Firm of the Year Sponsored by The Fintech Times
11:FS
WealthTech Company of the Year
WealthKernel
PayTech Company of the Year
Winner: Token.io
Highly Commended: OpenPayd
Rising FinTech Star
Katja Palovaara – Tech Nation
RegTech Company of the Year
Napier
FinTech for Good
Yapily & Salad Money
Insurtech for Good
Many Pets
Outstanding Contribution to FinTech Sponsored by Recruit 121 Presented by Charlotte Crosswell, OBE
Sir Ron Kalifa OBE