Invest Atlanta is recruiting Atlanta-based financial technology companies to head to London, Europe’s financial capital, for a conference on innovation in the industry next February.
Atlanta, which is staking its claim as a center for payment processing and the so-called “fintech” sector, is seeking to provide more global exposure for some of its world-leading companies, especially smaller ones springing from its growing startup sector, according to a news release. The group will attend the Finovate 2016 Feb. 8-11, which will draw investment funds, banks, startups and established players in the sector.
“Having a strong delegation will reinforce our city’s status as a global fintech hub and showcase how our spirit of collaboration makes our fintech sector powerful,” Craig T. Richard, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, said in the release.
Just this week, Atlanta hosted GSM North America and MobilityLIVE!, two major conferences on mobile technology that included fintech tracks.
The U.K. delegation will also position Atlanta for greater investment in the sector. It’s already home to the U.S. headquarters of companies like U.K.-based Worldpay.
Chonchol Gupta, who was recently appointed as head of financial services for the Atlanta U.K. Trade and Investment office, said Atlanta is quickly becoming the preferred beachhead into the U.S. market for British firms in the industry.
Boosters say the payment-processing sector accounts for $30 billion in economic impact for Georgia and that 70 percent of electronic payments in the U.S. are processed by companies with headquarters or a strong presence in the state, which is home to industry giants like First Data, TSYS, Global Payments and more.
Applications to join the mission are due Nov. 30 and can be completed here.
For more information on the mission, companies should contact Randi Mason of Invest Atlanta at rmason@investatlanta.com or 404-614-8288 or Bettina Gardner of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs at bgardner@atlantaga.gov or 404-614-8299.
An Atlanta firm was already chosen to participate in a separate trade mission to FinTech Live in early December, which will be held at Wembley Stadium in London. Edea LLC was one of 12 U.S. fintech firms selected from Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago to attend the event, where it will showcase its My1000Points solution.
