Sidekick raises £7.8m to unlock private-banking investments via Lombard lending, private markets
This article covers Sidekick, a Cardiff-founded fintech startup that has raised £7.8m in a series A funding round to broaden access to investment products traditionally available only through private banks. The funding is intended to scale its investing products, grow the team and expand operations in Cardiff, supporting professionals whose financial needs have outgrown entry-level investing apps.
Sidekick has raised £7.8m in a series A funding round to broaden access to investment products traditionally available only through private banks. The Cardiff-founded company plans to use the capital to scale its investing products, grow the team and expand operations as demand rises from professionals managing larger balances and more complex finances.
Why it matters
Wealth management remains fragmented: mainstream apps serve entry-level investors, while private banks keep more sophisticated tools behind high fees and high minimums. Sidekick’s raise signals continued interest from fintech investors in products that digitise private-banking services and make them more transparent and accessible.
The company says it now supports about £145m in assets under management, a metric that suggests there is a growing market of professionals seeking alternatives to traditional private banking. The funding also ties into regional development: Sidekick will expand operations in Cardiff, creating roles across customer service, compliance and operations.
Inside the product
Sidekick combines several capabilities that are usually separated across different providers. On the public markets side it offers low-cost investing and managed portfolios, including an All Weather strategy aimed at managing risk across market conditions. For eligible clients it provides access to private market opportunities and Lombard lending—borrowings secured against an investment portfolio that allow customers to access liquidity without selling assets.
The platform also includes cash management features such as Multi Shield Savings, which spreads deposits across partner banks to maximise Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection within a single account. Sidekick positions these tools as a package for people whose financial needs have outgrown basic investing apps but who do not want the complexity or cost of traditional private banking.
Who are the investors?
The round is led by Eos Ventures and the Development Bank of Wales, with participation from Koro Capital and existing backers Seedcamp, MS&AD Ventures, TheVentureCity, PactVC, Blackwood, 1818 Venture Capital and Semantic Ventures.
Seedcamp is an established European early-stage investor, MS&AD Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Japan-based insurer MS&AD, and TheVentureCity is a global VC and growth operator. Their participation signals a mix of early-stage credibility, industry-specific strategic support and follow-on capital.
In the announcement, James Tootell, Partner at Eos Ventures, said:
Over the last decade technology has transformed financial services – from trading and everyday banking to credit and insurance – yet private banking has largely been left behind. Sidekick is applying the same modern, digital approach to wealth, delivering greater access, transparency and control to a segment that has traditionally been underserved.
In the announcement, Jack Christopher, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said:
Our investment in Sidekick reflects our long‑term commitment to backing ambitious tech businesses in Wales. The company is building high‑value products, creating skilled jobs and contributing real economic impact. By providing the growth capital that underpins innovative firms like Sidekick, we’re helping to strengthen Wales’ tech ecosystem and support the next generation of companies shaping the future of financial services.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of fintech venture capital firms in the UK
- Browse our directory of fintech angel investors in the UK
Founder perspective
In the announcement, Matt Ford, founder and CEO at Sidekick, said:
A lot of hardworking professionals look like they’re doing well on paper, but still feel unsure whether they’re actually making the most of their money. They’ve outgrown entry-level investing tools, yet traditional wealth management often feels overcomplicated and expensive for what it delivers. Sidekick is designed to remove unnecessary complexity and give people access to investment tools that have traditionally sat inside private banking. This funding allows us to scale that approach, expand our investment offering and reach more people who want transparency rather than complexity.
Ford frames the product as a response to a gap between basic retail investing and private banking, and the company plans to channel the new capital into hiring, product development and customer growth.
The bigger picture
The raise comes as UK fintechs continue to push into adjacent parts of financial services previously dominated by incumbents. Digitising private-banking services—credit solutions like Lombard lending, bespoke portfolios and private market access—requires both regulatory navigation and product discipline, so investor support from strategic backers can be important for execution.
Regionally, the Development Bank of Wales’ involvement underscores a push to build fintech capability outside London. If Sidekick scales its product suite while maintaining risk and compliance controls, it could be a bellwether for other startups seeking to democratise higher‑end financial services across the UK and Europe.
Sidekick’s move therefore sits at the intersection of product innovation in wealth, investor appetite for fintech companies expanding into higher‑value services, and efforts to grow tech ecosystems beyond the capital.
They've invested in Sidekick
Get to know these fintech investors
| Investor | Sector | Stage | Activity | Team | Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Eos Ventures | 3 investments investments | more info | |||
 Development Bank of Wales | 8 investments investments | 1 contact contact | |||
 Koro Capital | 4 investments investments | more info | |||
 Seedcamp | 31 investments investments | 7 contacts contacts | |||
 PactVC | 1 investment investment | more info | |||
 Blackwood | 2 investments investments | 5 contacts contacts | |||
 1818 Venture Capital | 10 investments investments | 2 contacts contacts | |||
 Semantic Ventures | 2 investments investments | more info |
Click here for a full list of 7,526+ startup investors in the UK