Fintech DataWollet secures £1.3m pre-seed funding led by female angel investors

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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UK fintech start-up DataWollet has raised £1.3m in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, with a group of female angel investors playing a leading role in the deal.

The investment includes the first-ever backing from the Angel Academe/SyndicateRoom EIS Fund, described as the UK’s first enterprise investment scheme fund dedicated to supporting female founders.

The round was also led by fintech-focused investor 1818 Ventures. Twelve existing angel investors increased their commitments as part of the round, underlining continued confidence in the business.

A further £335,000 was raised through a strategic syndicate assembled by lead angel investor Sarah Williams‑Gardener.

The group included backing from the Development Bank of Wales Angel Co-investment Fund alongside several senior industry figures, including five female fintech operators who have since become investors.

DataWollet describes itself as the UK’s first full-spectrum Open Finance platform, designed to provide a single gateway enabling instant access to consumer financial data.

Across the financial services sector, organisations continue to deal with fragmented customer data, manual processes and complex compliance requirements.

While open banking has begun to address some of these challenges, the company says its open finance platform aims to extend this model across a broader range of financial data.

Sarah Williams-Gardener, lead angel investor, said: “DataWollet is addressing a huge challenge within financial services.

“The combination of neurosymbolic (systems that learn from data while reasoning transparently) AI, real-world application, and a strong execution capability makes it a highly compelling proposition.

“I am proud to have led a syndicate of prominent female fintech investors who recognise both the scale of the opportunity and the strength of Jen’s leadership.

“This is deliberate capital allocation on a decision grounded in commercial conviction.”

Funding from the round will be used to accelerate DataWollet’s commercial expansion, strengthen strategic partnerships and further develop its technology platform.

Jen Lothian, founder of DataWollet, said: “Closing an oversubscribed investment round in the current economic environment is a powerful endorsement of the breadth of applications for our first-in-world AI and our traction.

“This latest investment, and the backing of those behind it, means we can supercharge product development, especially our neuro-symbolic AI, and go to market.”