Slaughter and May announces successful Fintech Fast Forward applicants

Five businesses selected to join fintech entrepreneurs programme

Slaughter and May, the leading international law firm, today announces the names of five tech businesses it has selected to join its Fintech Fast Forward programme.

The successful businesses, which operate in fintech, regtech, insurtech and cyber security, are the first cohort to formally join the legal incubation programme which was first announced in October 2016.

Over 25 businesses applied to join the Fintech Fast Forward programme, in which Slaughter and May offers successful applicants up to £30,000 of value add services.

A consultative panel of leading legal and industry professionals supports Slaughter and May’s programme. The panel includes Mike Lynch, CEO of Invoke Capital; Trevor Callaghan, General Counsel of DeepMind Technologies; Ophelia Brown, General Partner at LocalGlobe, Sigga Sigurdardottir, Chief Customer and Innovation Officer UK at Santander and Peter Cullum, CBE, founder of the Peter Cullum Centre for Entrepreneurship at Cass Business School.

The five businesses who have been selected to join the programme are:

  • Enforcd (https://www.enforcd.com/) - Enforcd uses technology to aid regulatory compliance. Its flagship product is EDB – The Enforcement Database, which uses global regulatory enforcement data, related news and insights to help firms identify, manage and mitigate the conduct risks they face.
  • Tide (https://www.tide.co/) – Tide is a banking service designed for small businesses. The mobile app scans an ID, such as a passport, establishes identity and then allows the user to set up a business current account in approximately 3 minutes.
  • Garrison (https://www.garrison.com/) - Garrison is a cyber security company based in London, which is developing a highly effective anti-malware solution for enterprise cyber defences.
  • By Miles (formerly Just Miles) (https://www.bymiles.co.uk/) – By Miles is a car insurance provider aimed at people who live in cities and use their car infrequently. After paying a small monthly subscription to cover the car when it is parked, By Miles uses telematics to charge customers on a pay as you drive basis.
  • WorldRemit (https://www.worldremit.com/) - WorldRemit is an online service that helps its customers send money to friends and family living abroad, using a computer, smartphone or tablet, offering a convenient, low-cost alternative to traditional money transfer options.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Enforcd, Tide, Garrison, By Miles and WorldRemit to Fintech Fast Forward,” said Rob Sumroy, partner at Slaughter and May. “The quality of applications we received highlights the creativity, diversity and underlying strength of the UK’s thriving SME technology sector. We would like to thank everyone who applied to join the programme.”

Ben Kingsley, partner at Slaughter and May, added: “A surge of interest in areas such as fintech, blockchain, machine learning and data analytics has spawned opportunities for the firm both to acquire exciting new clients and to help existing clients capitalise on the benefits of technology advances. The Fintech Fast Forward programme recognises the depth of talent which exists in the UK’s entrepreneur population and the great response to this initiative, from such a diverse range of tech businesses, has reaffirmed my belief that the UK tech sector is robust and in good shape for the future”.