The partnership is subject to regulatory approvals and final legal documentation. If approved, the joint venture will launch an AI-led financial advisory platform specifically designed for the UK retail financial services market, giving advisers access to higher-quality, lower-cost technology, workflow and decisioning solutions.
It will combine Fintel’s data, distribution and customer relationships with Intellect Design Arena’s technology and financial services expertise.
Intellect Design Arena has an open finance platform, eMACH.ai, and an AI-driven business solutions platform, Purple Fabric, which are both used by 500 financial businesses in 57 countries.
The joint venture will bring together five board members, comprising two nominees each from Fintel and Intellect Design Arena, and one independent director.
Both parties will seek up to £5m in funding.
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The firms said the UK retail financial advisory market was “undergoing significant structural change”, driven by Consumer Duty requirements, rising demand for accessible advice and advances in AI technology. They said the joint venture was “well-positioned” to address this opportunity.
Matt Timmins, chief executive of Fintel, said: “2025 was a transformational year for Fintel and we enter 2026 with a clear strategic ambition: to be the defining technology and data platform for UK retail financial services. This joint venture with Intellect Design Arena is a significant step towards that goal. Intellect brings world-class AI-first financial technology that has been proven at scale across global markets.
“Combined with our unrivalled UK distribution, customer relationships and proprietary data assets, we believe the joint venture has the potential to materially enhance the quality and accessibility of financial advice in the UK – and to create meaningful long-term shareholder value for Fintel. We look forward to providing further details at our Capital Markets Event on 23 April 2026.”
Higher profits at Fintel
Fintel also published its full-year results for 2025, showing a profit before tax of £9.8m, up from £7.7m the year before.
Its services division, including intermediary support and product distribution, saw a 10% rise in revenue to £48.8m.
This included £4.4m in mortgage distribution, up from £4m in 2024, while revenue from protection and mortgages rose from £4.1m to £4.5m.
Meanwhile, revenue generated from membership to its subsidiary, SimplyBiz, fell from £9.6m to £8.7m.
Timmins said: “2025 has been a defining year for Fintel, creating a simpler, more unified and scalable platform that sets the foundation for the next phase of our growth.
“Technology, data and regulation continue to reshape the UK retail financial services market, and Fintel’s unique combination of market-leading software, enriched proprietary datasets and insights, and distribution platforms, places us at the centre of this transformation.
“Looking ahead, our ambition is clear: to build the most connected, insight-rich and intelligent platform in the sector, enabling better decisions and better outcomes across the entire advice ecosystem.”
He added: “We have entered the new financial year with clear strategic momentum, high levels of recurring revenues and a stronger platform enabling opportunities for organic growth, underpinned by deep customer relationships. Fintel has made a strong start to FY26, with trading in line with the board’s expectations; the group is poised to accelerate its strategy to deliver long-term value for advisers, partners and shareholders alike.”
