FinTech North returns to Leeds with conference debut of Pitch360 competition
FinTech North’s flagship Leeds conference returns to the city on May 15th, with Innovate Finance’s prestigious Pitch360 competition set to be a key draw for attendees.
The northern iteration of Innovate Finance’s renowned FinTech pitching competition will offer selected start-ups the opportunity to showcase their trailblazing business concepts to an audience of industry leaders, investors, and potential partners.
FinTech North’s ninth Leeds conference will take place at Cloth Hall Court. It will be hosted in partnership with brand sponsors Mastercard, Towergate, Sedulo, PEXA, Cyber Alchemy, Lenvi, Leeds Building Society, Bruntwood SciTech, name badge sponsors Future Finance, and networking and exhibitor sponsors Wrapped Agencyand The Data City, respectively.
The iconic venue embodies Leeds’ ambition and is surrounded by some of the UK’s leading financial institutions, underlining the city’s established role as a dynamic centre for FinTech collaboration. The event will focus on themes including lending, banking and payments.
Speakers on the day will include Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, who will deliver a welcome address highlighting regional updates from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. This will be followed by a panel on innovation, funding, and investment in Leeds, featuring VC firm Lifted Ventures, the UK’s National Wealth Fund, Sedulo and others.
Attendees can look forward to engaging sessions on AI innovation and digital transformation in home ownership, presented by PEXA and Leeds Building Society. PEXA is a shining example of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s recent inward investment, and has recently launched its Future Property Transactions Group aimed at improving the UK home buying and selling process.
Further speakers will include representatives from the FCA, Lenvi, the Bank of England, Leeds Beckett University and CFIT.
The day will conclude with the much-anticipated Pitch360 North competition, introduced by Peter Cunnane, Director of National and International Initiatives at Innovate Finance. The winning pitch will be selected live by a panel of judges. The Pitch360 competition is just getting underway, with four more rounds to come across the UK later this year.
Leeds’ FinTech ecosystem has experienced remarkable expansion in recent years, and is now home to over 100 FinTech companies operating across sectors including InsurTech, payments and RegTech.
Recent findings from Whitecap Consulting’s regional strategy report highlight the strength of Leeds’ financial services sector, which employs over 60,000 people and contributes hundreds of millions to the UK economy.
Joe Roche, General Manager at FinTech North comments:
“Our Leeds conference this year is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting one. We’re bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, and policy-makers to showcase how Leeds is punching well above its weight in the global FinTech scene.
“We’re really pleased to have Innovate Finance’s Pitch360 competition making its debut at the conference too. There are some really impressive FinTechs taking the stage, so I can’t wait to see who takes the spoils!”
The Leeds agenda and registration page can be accessed here. Fintech North’s newly launched season ticket can also be purchased via this link, which grants holders access to every FinTech North hosted event throughout 2025.
