The hybrid program includes both virtual and in-person components and is open to UK-based fintech founders whose products are already in the market and annual revenues do not exceed £1 million. Applications were opened on May 26, 2025, with a deadline of June 27, 2025, and the program will run from September to November 2025.
Participants will receive mentoring from JPMorganChase executives, attend a two-day offsite at the bank’s technology center in Glasgow, and have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to potential investors and commercial partners.
The launch of this program comes amid ongoing discussions about the adequacy of domestic funding for UK fintech firms. Officials from the City of London Corporation note that while the UK remains a leading hub for tech startups, many companies relocate abroad once they reach scale-up status due to limited local capital.
JPMorgan Payments representatives explain that Fintech Forward is particularly aimed at founders who face challenges in accessing investment or business networks, especially those developing solutions for underserved markets. According to the bank, this effort supports its goals of improving money, data, and asset flows across the payments landscape.
EY, co-running the accelerator, recently published a report stating that despite a decline in financial services investment projects across Europe, the UK still attracts a significant share of foreign direct investment in the sector. The firm’s UK leadership highlighted the importance of building on existing strengths and emphasized the need for regulatory development, innovation, and strengthening international trade ties to maintain competitiveness.