Fintel
Fintel plc is a UK-based public fintech providing technology, data and support services to retail financial intermediaries, product providers and consumers, operating the UK's largest financial product database covering 45,000+ products across Software & Data and Services divisions.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersHuddersfield, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Fintel does
Fintel plc is a UK-headquartered public company listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker: FNTL) that provides technology, data and support services to the UK retail financial services market. Operating through two divisions — Software & Data and Services — the company serves financial intermediaries (IFAs, wealth managers, mortgage brokers), product providers (insurers and asset managers), and consumers. Its platform supports more than 10,000 intermediary firms and powers in excess of £45bn of annual investment recommendations, while Defaqto Star Ratings are recognised by 75% of UK consumers. The group employs 501–1,000 staff and is headquartered in Huddersfield, UK, led by Joint CEOs Matt Timmins and Neil Stevens with David Thompson as CFO and Ken Davy as Chairman.
The company's core technology centres on the UK's largest financial product database covering 45,000+ products and 4 million product features, updated daily. Key platforms include Defaqto (ratings, research, Matrix 360 market intelligence supporting 80%+ of UK general insurance), Fintel IQ (a connected workflow platform integrating nine best-of-breed adviser software providers via two-way APIs for large firms with 100+ advisers), Distribution as a Service (DaaS), and the Managed Distribution Service. Sub-brands include Defaqto, SimplyBiz, Threesixty, VouchedFor, Synaptic Software, AKG, RSMR, MICAP, ifaDASH, Owen James and Pearson Ham. The group holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification and operates an educational events programme that drew 18,500+ attendees in 2023.
Fintel's revenue model is predominantly subscription-based SaaS and recurring services, with £48.7m (57%) of FY25 revenue coming from SaaS & Subscription streams growing 9.6% year-on-year; the remaining £37.2m is services revenue. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales (Fintel IQ, Matrix 360), intermediary membership platforms (SimplyBiz, Threesixty serving 900 firms), and partnership-driven distribution (DaaS, Managed Distribution Service) with 20+ asset managers including BlackRock, Schroders, Fidelity, Aviva and M&G. FY25 total revenue reached £85.9m (+10% YoY), adjusted EBITDA £25.9m (margin 30.1%, +16.6% YoY), with £7m of inorganic growth from acquisitions. The balance sheet carries £72.5m of headroom within a £120m revolving credit facility to fund continued M&A alongside organic expansion.
Fintel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fintel
- Legal name
- Fintel plc
- Website
- https://wearefintel.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Fintel plc is a UK-based public fintech providing technology, data and support services to retail financial intermediaries, product providers and consumers, operating the UK's largest financial product database covering 45,000+ products across Software & Data and Services divisions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fintel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Financial Technology Software and Services
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Personal Financial Management & Budgeting (PFM) (FSAGAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Transaction Analytics & Cash-Flow Insights (risk signals, forecasting) (FSAGACAG)
Keywords
Where Fintel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Huddersfield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Fintel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS & Subscription Revenue: Recurring subscription revenue from software platforms including Fintel IQ, Defaqto Engage, Synaptic software, and membership services. Represents 57% of total revenue at £48.7m in FY25, growing 9.6% year-on-year.
- Distribution as a Service (DaaS): Subscription-based service spanning research, data, and targeted distribution for product providers. Includes Managed Distribution Service partnerships with major asset managers.
- Research & Ratings Services: Defaqto provides expert ratings, investment reviews, and risk ratings on financial products. Risk Ratings service covers 1,500+ financial products; Investment Reviews cover 400+ propositions.
- Matrix Software Licensing: Enterprise software licensing for Matrix 360 market intelligence platform to insurers and financial institutions. Supporting 80%+ of UK general insurance industry.
- Intermediary Membership Services: Comprehensive membership model providing technology, compliance, and regulatory support to thousands of intermediary businesses including IFAs, wealth managers and mortgage brokers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | SaaS & Subscription Tiers |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Distribution as a Service |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Fintel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fintel provides technology, data and support services that connect product providers, financial intermediaries and consumers across the UK retail financial services market. Through its Software & Data division it sells the UK's largest financial product database (covering 45,000+ products and 4 million features), the Defaqto Star Ratings engine, the Matrix 360 market intelligence platform, the Fintel IQ connected workflow platform, fund and ESG research (RSMR, AKG, MICAP) and adviser software (Synaptic, Defaqto Engage, Competent Adviser, ifaDASH, Plannr). Through its Services division it operates intermediary membership, compliance and back-office support (SimplyBiz, Threesixty), mortgage distribution (SimplyBiz Mortgages), the Managed Distribution Service for asset managers, and the Distribution as a Service (DaaS) subscription offering for product providers.
Product overview
Fintel is a UK fintech and support services business organized into two divisions: Software & Data and Services. The Software & Data division includes Defaqto (financial product database, Star Ratings, and Matrix 360 market intelligence platform), Fintel IQ (connected technology and workflow platform), VouchedFor (adviser reviews), Competent Adviser (knowledge management), Synaptic (adviser planning software), AKG (financial strength ratings), MICAP (tax-advantaged investments), RSMR (fund research), and Pearson Ham (insurance pricing data). The Services division encompasses SimplyBiz (intermediary support services), SimplyBiz Mortgages (mortgage distribution), Threesixty (compliance and business services for 900 intermediaries), APS Legal, ifaDASH (practice digitization), Owen James Events, and Mortgage Brain partnership. Key offerings include the Managed Distribution Service, Distribution as a Service (DaaS), ESG tools (ESG Filters, ESG Reviews, ESG Profiler), and Defaqto Engage financial planning software covering over 1,000 risk-rated funds. The company serves thousands of intermediary firms, hundreds of financial institutions, and empowers millions of consumers through product ratings and comparison tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RSMR (Rayner Spencer Mills Research): Fund ratings and research agency with rigorous 'R' ratings methodology focusing on ability to deliver long-term performance through thorough qualitative assessments. Established in 2004.
- Matrix 360
- Fintel IQ
- Distribution as a Service (DaaS)
- SimplyBiz Mortgages
- Managed Distribution Service
- Risk Controlled Investment Solutions
Products and services
- Fintel Parent platform of the group's two divisions (Software & Data; Services), delivering technology, data, compliance and distribution services to thousands of UK intermediary firms, hundreds of financial institutions and millions of consumers.
- Fintel IQ Connected technology and workflow platform for large UK intermediary businesses (100+ advisers), integrating Intelligent Office, Plannr, Defaqto, VouchedFor, Competent Adviser, Synaptic, ifaDASH, APS and Owen James via two-way API.
- Defaqto Matrix 360 Enterprise market intelligence software for UK insurers (general insurance, banking, wealth and protection) that supports product portfolio optimisation, market positioning and Consumer Duty compliance, with 23 institutional customers onboarded in its first 12 months.
- Defaqto UK financial product database and ratings business covering 45,000+ products and 4 million features across general insurance, life and protection, retail banking and wealth, with Star Ratings recognised by 75% of consumers.
- Defaqto Engage End-to-end financial planning software offering risk-rated fund analysis, ESG reviews, video conferencing, income drawdown tools and integration with fund research for UK advisers.
- Synaptic Software Financial adviser planning and research software serving 1,600+ UK advisers, integrated into the Fintel IQ platform as part of the connected workflow offering.
- SimplyBiz UK's largest intermediary membership platform, providing technology, compliance and regulatory support to thousands of IFA, wealth manager and mortgage broker firms.
- SimplyBiz Mortgages Mortgage distribution service providing sourcing technology and broker support to UK mortgage intermediaries, including the Mortgage Brain sourcing and submission partnership.
- Threesixty Regulatory and business support services for 900+ UK IFA and wealth management firms, operating as an independent business within Fintel's Services division.
- VouchedFor UK review site for professional financial advisers, increasing consumer confidence in and demand for professional financial advice.
- AKG UK financial strength ratings and assessments provider, complementing Defaqto's product ratings and deepening Fintel's presence with financial advisers.
- Rayner Spencer Mills Research (RSMR) UK fund ratings and research agency founded in 2004, with a rigorous 'R' ratings methodology focused on long-term performance, enhancing Defaqto's fund research and ratings capabilities.
- MICAP Tax-advantaged investment products specialist acquired by Defaqto, providing adjacency in products and customers to existing Defaqto offerings.
- Competent Adviser UK digital knowledge and competence management system for financial advisers, extending Fintel's adviser software platform with learning and competency tracking.
- ifaDASH Practice digitisation solution for UK financial advisers, enhancing efficiency, reducing regulatory risk and supporting adviser growth as part of Fintel IQ.
- Pearson Ham Market Pricing Business Insurance market pricing data business providing proprietary pricing data to the UK insurance industry, acquired through Defaqto to enhance Fintel's pricing intelligence.
- Distribution as a Service (DaaS) Multi-year subscription service for product providers that bundles research, data and targeted distribution, including a digital partner portal for on-demand insight and campaign data.
- Managed Distribution Service Multi-year subscription-based distribution solution enabling asset managers and other product providers to reach UK intermediaries via Fintel's distribution and insight platform; partners include M&G, Schroders, BlackRock, Aviva, Fidelity, Invesco, Royal London, Hawksmoor, Tatton and others.
- Risk Controlled Investment Solutions Multi-manufacturer investment solutions enabling advisers to select funds that are managed in line with defined investment and risk parameters suitable for clients, featuring Schroders, BlackRock and other manufacturer partners.
- Owen James Events Events services for the UK retail financial services intermediary market, integrated into Fintel's engagement and education programmes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue increased 10% to £85.9m in FY25
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Fintel
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fintel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature7 records
Fintel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Intellect Design Arena Limitedcore50:50 joint venture to develop and commercialize AI-led financial advisory platform for UK retail financial services market. Platform will combine Fintel's market data, distribution network and customer relationships with Intellect Design Arena's eMACH.ai open finance platform and Purple Fabric AI architecture. Subject to finalization of legal documentation and regulatory approvals.
- Mortgage BraincoreNew investment and distribution agreement. Fintel's members gain access to Mortgage Brain's leading mortgage sourcing and submission software as part of integrated platform. Investment provides cash injection for Mortgage Brain's product transformation bringing solutions to industry cutting edge.
- BlackRockcoreExpanded distribution agreement with BlackRock MyMap funds joining Fintel's Risk Controlled investment solutions. Extension of Managed Distribution agreement first established November 2020. Ensures multi-asset funds become central to adviser investment processes.
- Plannr TechnologiescoreFintel increased stake in Plannr Technologies, a specialist financial CRM business, to 49%, transitioning to an associate. Plannr's powerful CRM capability unlocks efficiencies and streamlines advice journey improving suitability for consumers.
- M&G plccoreMulti-year agreement for Managed Distribution Service (MDS) covering M&G's retail and savings business primarily Pru UK and M&G Investments. Part of first-of-its-kind solution spanning research, data, design and targeted distribution.
- Aviva and Aviva InvestorscoreMajor multi-year distribution partnership spanning Aviva and Aviva Investors for Distribution as a Service solution.
- Tatton Asset ManagementcoreLong-term Fintech, Asset Management and Distribution Partnership bringing together market leading solutions for benefit of adviser firms.
- SchroderscoreRisk Controlled investment solutions partnership. Schroders joined Managed Distribution Service and later expanded to Risk Controlled range.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fintel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Morningstar: Global investment research, data, and ratings provider. Overlaps with Fintel's Defaqto and RSMR fund ratings, ESG research, and adviser research capabilities, though at much larger scale and broader international reach.
- Verisk Analytics: Verisk is a large data analytics and risk assessment provider to the global insurance industry. Comparable to Defaqto Matrix 360 in providing insurance market intelligence, benchmarking, and product/pricing analytics, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
- S&P Global Market Intelligence: Large global financial data, ratings, and analytics provider. Comparable to Fintel's Defaqto, AKG, and Matrix 360 in financial product ratings, market intelligence, and benchmarking, though at a vastly larger scale and international breadth.
Direct peers
- FE fundinfo: FE fundinfo is a major UK and European provider of fund data, ratings, and adviser research tools. It directly competes with Defaqto's ratings, research, and product database offerings serving UK intermediaries and product providers.
- Mortgage Brain: UK's leading mortgage sourcing and submission software provider, now partly owned and commercially integrated with Fintel. Comparable product offering for mortgage intermediaries and direct competitor to SimplyBiz Mortgages technology stack.
- Intelliflo: Intelliflo provides back-office and practice management software for UK financial advisers. It is a direct competitor to Fintel IQ, Synaptic, and other IFA workflow platforms and is also referenced as a Fintel integration partner.
- iPipeline: iPipeline provides insurance and financial product distribution, illustration, and e-application technology to carriers, advisors, and distributors. It competes directly with Fintel's Matrix 360 and Synaptic insurance workflows in the UK and global markets.
Emerging players
- Hubwise (Time4Advice): UK IFA back-office and platform technology provider, with personnel overlap into Fintel management backgrounds. Comparable platform technology for advisers and competes in similar segment of mid-market IFA software.
- Plannr Technologies: UK financial CRM specialist in which Fintel holds a 49% stake. Operates as an Fintel associate and provides CRM workflow technology overlapping with Fintel IQ components, making it both a peer and a partner.
- Aveni: Aveni is an emerging UK fintech applying AI/NLP to financial advice compliance and client interactions. Relevant emerging competitor and potential partner in the AI-led advisory space where Fintel is building its JV with Intellect Design Arena.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fintel social profiles
Digital presenceFintel compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Fintel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fintel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Fintel subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries28 records
Fintel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fintel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A8 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fintel
What does Fintel do?
Fintel provides technology, data and support services that connect product providers, financial intermediaries and consumers across the UK retail financial services market. Through its Software & Data division it sells the UK's largest financial product database (covering 45,000+ products and 4 million features), the Defaqto Star Ratings engine, the Matrix 360 market intelligence platform, the Fintel IQ connected workflow platform, fund and ESG research (RSMR, AKG, MICAP) and adviser software (Synaptic, Defaqto Engage, Competent Adviser, ifaDASH, Plannr). Through its Services division it operates intermediary membership, compliance and back-office support (SimplyBiz, Threesixty), mortgage distribution (SimplyBiz Mortgages), the Managed Distribution Service for asset managers, and the Distribution as a Service (DaaS) subscription offering for product providers.
Is Fintel a public or private company?
Fintel is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Fintel founded?
Fintel was founded in 2007. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Fintel based?
Fintel is headquartered in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fintel make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. SaaS & Subscription Revenue is the primary driver. The others are distribution as a Service (DaaS), research & Ratings Services, matrix Software Licensing and intermediary Membership Services.
Who are Fintel's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Morningstar, Verisk Analytics and S&P Global Market Intelligence. Direct peers are FE fundinfo, Mortgage Brain, Intelliflo and iPipeline. Emerging players are Hubwise (Time4Advice), Plannr Technologies and Aveni.
Does Fintel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fintel.
What industry is Fintel in?
Fintel's product category is Financial Technology Software and Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAAAH, Personal Financial Management & Budgeting (PFM), with a secondary code of FSAGACAG, Transaction Analytics & Cash-Flow Insights (risk signals, forecasting). Its NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 6199.