FinTech Wales and AI Wales partner to launch AI Hub

Daniel Bevan - Editor

Image credit: FinTech Wales

Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.

FinTech Wales and AI Wales have formed a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence innovation across the Welsh financial technology sector, alongside the launch of a new national AI Hub.

The collaboration is intended to strengthen Wales’ position as a destination for UK and international investment, particularly for companies operating at the intersection of AI and fintech.

Central to the partnership is the creation of a free-to-join AI Hub, designed to support businesses in moving from initial interest in AI to practical implementation.

Open to organisations across all sectors, the Hub will provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and investment discussions, while also acting as a unified voice to help shape policy at both Welsh and UK levels.

Sophia Wu, Head of Marketing at FinTech Wales, said: “I’m really excited about this partnership. AI is now embedded across all areas of technology, and this collaboration brings a clear focus to the connection between AI and fintech.

“Fintech is already a fast-moving sector, and the adoption of AI will only accelerate the pace of innovation even further.

“I’m particularly looking forward to the opportunities this creates to bring the community together, connecting stakeholders, advancing the sector, and driving investment into meaningful, scalable solutions.

“The goal of the partnership is to ensure Wales doesn’t just adopt AI, it builds and scales AI innovation from within, aligning fintech sector strengths with broader AI capability to attract inward investment and drive sustainable growth.”

The initiative builds on established fintech and AI communities in Wales. FinTech Wales’s network includes major firms such as Starling Bank, Aviva, Go.Compare, Confused.com, Mastercard and Barclays, alongside high-growth companies including Cavefish AI, Menna and Peppercorn AI.

These will now be connected with AI Wales’ community of more than 2,200 practitioners, learners and industry leaders.

Jaymie Thomas, founder of AI Wales, added: “For eight years, across our chapters in Cardiff, Swansea, and North Wales, we have built a community of 2,200 practitioners, learners, and enthusiasts.

“By partnering with FinTech Wales to launch the AI Hub, we are now providing a dedicated platform where any business in Wales can access this collective expertise via our AI Centre of Excellence.

“Through a series of workshops, talks, and training opportunities, the Hub will provide the technical and strategic clarity firms need for safe, practical AI implementation.

“This initiative is designed to help Wales scale its AI ambitions, ensuring our businesses have the knowledge and network to succeed and lead in global innovation.”

The Hub’s first programme will be a series of Pathfinder Workshops, offering in-person, sector-specific sessions focused on real-world challenges and the practical application of AI.

The inaugural workshop will explore AI use in call centre operations and will be delivered by Cardiff-based Cavefish, which develops machine intelligence tools to assess emotional risk and support decision-making.

Jonathan Prescott, CEO of Cavefish, said: “Wales has a real opportunity to become an AI powerhouse if we bring together our talent, our businesses and our ambition.

“This partnership is about turning interest in AI into real action.

“By connecting the fintech community with the growing AI ecosystem in Wales, we can help organisations experiment, learn and apply AI in practical ways that drive growth and attract investment into Wales.”