Barclays has announced it will wind down its Rise programme, a FinTech accelerator launched in 2015 aimed at supporting global FinTech start-ups.
The bank revealed this decision in a statement to FinTech Futures, confirming that the Rise initiative, including its academies, will be phased out by mid-2025.
Rise has played a significant role in nurturing the growth of over 120 graduates, including notable companies such as ApTap, WealthOS, and iWarranty.
The accelerator provided resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities across its London and New York locations, as well as a virtual community in India.
The shut-down process will see Rise’s London members offered the chance to transfer their memberships to Barclays Eagle Labs and Barclays Business Banking, which will assume control of the London site.
A Barclays spokesperson explained that when Rise was established, the FinTech sector was largely composed of niche start-ups challenging the traditional financial services industry.
However, as the FinTech secgtor has grown to become a central part of the global financial ecosystem, the need for a separate accelerator programme has diminished.
The statement to FinTech Futures said, “When Barclays established Rise a decade ago, fintechs were predominantly niche start-ups disrupting the financial services industry. Fast-forward to today, the fintech community is a core part of the financial ecosystem and there is a wealth of opportunity to partner and collaborate.”
“We remain committed to the global fintech ecosystem and will continue to play an important role scouting, partnering and investing, in FinTech companies.”
Keep up with all the latest FinTech news here.
Copyright © 2025 FinTech Global
