11:FS named one of LinkedIn’s Top 25 Startups in the UK. Again!

 David M. Brear photo
David M. Brear Group CEO
5min read

Last year, LinkedIn honoured us as a Top 25 Startup in the UK. And they’ve gone and done it again for 2019.

Boom 💥

11:FS with the back to back win!

Last year we were blown away to be named as one of LinkedIn’s Top Startups List in the UK. 11:FS alongside the likes of banking innovators such as Monzo, Revolut, Starling and disruptors including Babylon Health and Bulb.

So imagine how good we’re feeling to be on the list again for 2019.

These awards aren’t a random judging panel of ‘experts’, most of who you’ve never heard of. No, this is different. And it matters.

It’s not a simple “congrats, your firm grew by X” or “wow, look at all the VC funding”. LinkedIn Top Startups is put together by the Editorial team at LinkedIn through a combination of proprietary platform data and editorial expertise to spotlight new and fast-growing companies that are attracting attention and recruiting top talent.

Rather than relying on questionnaires, it measures the behavior of over half a billion members on LinkedIn focused on four core areas: employment growth, engagement with the company and its current employees, job interest and attraction of top talent.

Two of these really stand out:

  • Engagement: Fintech Insider hit 300 episodes this year and more than 6 million downloads. While it undoubtedly builds our profile it has created a vibrant community of curious thinkers, disruptors and those who want to know more. The podcast isn’t about us, it is about the people in the industry, it’s about the community, it’s about giving Fintech a platform, a voice.

    And for people in the banking industry the show helps by cutting through the noise and demystifying what is a confusing period. There is more noise in the industry than ever. Blockchain, AI, Fintech, Crypto, Cyber security, Open Banking, API’s; Banking executives rightly feel confused. The podcast is a platform to share insights, and exchange knowledge and ideas.
  • Attracting top talent: Thinking about the last four months alone shows you the trajectory when it comes to getting the industry’s best to become an 11. We’ve recruited a brilliant CMO in Eric Fulwiler who is leading the charge around building out the media and marketing function to even greater heights.

    We’re maturing the business. We’ve recruited Shaun Meadows as our chairman, a man who has held senior positions across insurance giant, Aviva. Shaun is working with the 11:FS Board to review company objectives, examine performance, and help shape future business activity and strategy.

    And we’ve hired former Apple and BCG Digital Ventures exec, Michael Curds to lead and scale our Talent team. His focus on getting the best talent, without compromising culture, bringing a wealth of experience in scaling firms will set us up for further successes in the coming years.

This doesn’t happen by accident or luck

We focus on talent and we focus on our customers, and this comes through in the LinkedIn metrics. That focus has also led to us beating the likes of Capco, Deloitte and EY to win the British Bank Awards Consultancy of the Year.

11:FS turned three this year. We’ve gone from a co-founding team working out of a Starbucks near Liverpool Street, to more than 140 people and, in just a few weeks, we’ll be moving offices for the third time to accommodate our rapid growth across every team.

Despite everything we’ve achieved, we’re really only just getting started. The next twelve months are going to be insane if we only get to realise 50% of what we’re planning.

We’ll be working harder than ever in the UK, US, the Middle East and Asia Pacific to build and launch new truly digital propositions with our clients.

I am incredibly proud of the people at 11:FS who have led to us winning this award for the second year in a row.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped us, clients who believed in us and even those who doubted us over the last three years who have made us work harder. To everyone in the team at 11:FS and all those around our team in their friends and families who support them, a huge thank you.

Invoking the man himself Mr Snoop Dogg I would like to thank… Us.

Now for the three-peat in 2020!

If you’re interested in exploring new career opportunities, or like what you’ve read about 11:FS and want to join us, check out our vacancies here.

 David M. Brear
About the author

David M. Brear

David is the CEO of 11:FS and since his dream of being a sportsperson was crushed (along with the ligaments in his knee!) and he had to get a proper job. He has worked in pretty much every angle of the financial services industry but never lost that competitive desire to win.