Case studies: eight dynamic enterprises give a rich flavour of fintech activity happ Ening in Scotland right now

There are many innovative Scottish fintechs. Here is a snapshot to provide a flavour of what is happening in this vibrant sector. The firms profiled span areas including sustainability, compliance, logistics, payments, and money management, including “fintech for good”.

BLK Global

More than nine billion tonnes of raw materials are shipped globally every year – however, before small and medium-sized enterprises can purchase them, their prices are inflated. BLK Global is addressing this issue by providing its Online Spot Market platform. The Glasgow fintech’s platform is free to use, and sellers and shippers pay as little as

1.19 per cent commission. www.blkcommodities.com

Br-dge

Fast-growing payment specialist Br-dge, located in Edinburgh, aims to simplify payment infrastructure and has a mission to “shift power and control back to merchants”. A key benefit for clients includes accessing more than 300 payment providers and alternative methods, which reduces the risk of customers abandoning their shopping basket before completing payment. www.br-dge.to

Ciendos

This Glasgow-based fintech was established last year with the aim of unlocking organisations’ carbon emissions and providing sustainable rewards for businesses in the UK race to reach net-zero by 2050. Using its emap platform, businesses can measure, assess and plan their net-zero journey, and then share their assessment with business suppliers to receive discounts. www.ciendos.com

Float

Float is a cashflow forecasting and scenario planning tool which provides a real-time visual of a business’s finances. The Edinburgh-based fintech allows businesses to see their past, current and future cashflows so they can make informed decisions. Float automatically syncs to a company’s accounting software and can then provide an up-todate forecast. www.floatapp.com

Inbest

Edinburgh’s Inbest is a data analytics company that partners with government, money management apps, and financial firms to improve the finances of vulnerable households. Firms and groups can use its API to simplify the many benefits and grants available. Inbest supports welfare advisors and financial service firms; partners include Advice Direct Scotland, Natwest Group and Paylink Solutions. www.inbest.ai

Loveelectric

This Edinburgh-based B-corp fintech venture was launched last year with the aim of reducing the costs of driving an electric vehicle (EV). Employers and employees of profitable businesses that have been running for at least two years can apply to its car scheme and sacrifice a small portion of their salary in return for an EV, much in the same way as the Cycle-to-work scheme. www.loveelectric.cars

Nude Finance

This Glasgow-based fintech aims to support young people looking to put a foot on the property ladder by saving up for their first home. Through the company’s app, users can see how much a deposit would cost for their chosen domicile and, by inputting how much money they can save each month, they can see exactly how long it will take for them to save for a deposit. www.getnude.com

Snugg

Snugg, based at the University of Edinburgh, was developed by digital experts to help homeowners to reduce energy costs and become more environmentally-friendly via a free personalised plan. The online platform was founded earlier this year by Robin Peters and allows customers to enter their postcode and select their home to then receive an energy efficiency plan. www.snuggenergy.com