Aviva x Founders Factory Fintech Program

The Aviva x Founders Factory Fintech Program, launched in 2016 and recently extended into 2026, has quickly established itself as one of the UK’s standout fintech accelerators. Based in central London, this dynamic partnership combines the strategic muscle of Aviva, the UK's largest insurer, with Founders Factory's renowned startup-building expertise.

What truly sets this accelerator apart is its close integration with Aviva, providing startups not just financial backing, but direct access to Aviva’s extensive customer base of over 18 million across the UK, Ireland, and Canada. Founders in the program benefit from a level of corporate access rarely seen elsewhere, including opportunities for pilots, commercial partnerships, and direct engagement with senior executives, such as Aviva’s Chief Innovation Officer, Ben Luckett.

Notable alumni include Scan.com, a health diagnostics startup that secured £3.75 million following the program, Shepper, an insurtech leveraging the gig economy, and Acre, a mortgage platform now handling billions annually. Success stories such as Tembo, the family mortgage lending platform incubated within the accelerator itself, illustrate the dual benefit of both accelerating existing startups and co-creating entirely new ventures alongside Aviva and Founders Factory’s dedicated team.

Investment-wise, the Aviva x Founders Factory program offers £50,000 in initial seed capital, typically in exchange for single-digit equity stakes. Importantly, the program frequently invests in follow-on rounds, often co-investing alongside established VCs or even leading rounds where strategic alignment exists. The accelerator accepts fintech ventures broadly, from insurtech and wealth management to innovative applications of AI in financial services, making it highly accessible to diverse fintech entrepreneurs.

The experience for founders goes well beyond funding. Founders Factory provides intensive, hands-on operational support, including expertise in product development, growth marketing, and customer acquisition. Startups also receive mentoring from Aviva’s senior executives, giving them unique corporate insights and networking opportunities that can dramatically accelerate product-market fit and scalability.

Founders who've been through the program praise the active partnership model. Charlie Bullock, CEO of Scan.com, highlighted how the accelerator opened doors to top-tier executives at Aviva, transforming growth prospects significantly. Similarly, Carl August Ameln, co-founder of Shepper, credited Aviva’s involvement as instrumental to their rapid scaling.

For ambitious fintech founders seeking not just capital but genuine corporate partnership and operational expertise, the Aviva x Founders Factory Fintech Program is a unique pathway to scaling and commercialising innovative solutions in financial services.