Beyond the Banks: Inside Charlotte’s Growing FinTech Scene

CHARLOTTE, September 29 (Hypepotamus) - Earlier this month, we dove into what made Atlanta a FinTech hub…and whether or not the city has the talent and support to hold onto its moniker as “Transaction Alley.” 

But just four hours up I-85 from Atlanta is a city staking its own claim as a FinTech hub.

Charlotte, a city long known for its banking industry, is turning that foundation into an advantage for startups. 

What Advantage Does Charlotte Have? 

Having the HQ of Bank of America and Truist (and major offices for many others) in their backyards gives Charlotte-based FinTechs a pool of potential customers. But those banks are just one part of the networking around the city’s FinTech scene, says Dan Roselli, co-founder and Managing Director of RevTech Labs as well as founder of RevTech Labs Capital.

“Charlotte’s fintech ecosystem is continuing to mature, and we’re seeing more connections between startups, financial institutions, investors, and the broader business community,” Roselli told Hypepotamus.“AI is also playing a major role in the evolution of the ecosystem, particularly across fintech and insurtech. Charlotte has a unique foundation in financial services, and we’re continuing to see that translate into opportunities for startups.” 

Another advantage? Its long-standing, industry-specific programs. 

Roselli’s RevTech Labs has brought in 25 cohorts of FinTech and InsurTech companies to Charlotte for its accelerator. Along the way, RevTech Labs has become a “broader connector for the fintech and insurtech ecosystem,” Roselli explained to Hypepotamus. 

“We connect founders with investors, financial institutions, mentors, and corporate partners, while also bringing national and international companies into the Charlotte ecosystem.” 

For Class 25, which was announced in early September, the RevTech Labs team said they received over 400 applications from national and international founders for 15 slots. Selected startups are coming to Charlotte from California, Delaware, Colorado, Florida, New York, Texas, as well as Kenya, Mexico, and England. 

“That geographic diversity shows that Charlotte has become a destination for fintech founders, not just a place for local startups.” 

But building that network means looking beyond Charlotte, too. RevTech Labs is bringing founders to Atlanta Fintech Week for a startup showcase, connecting them with another part of the Southeast’s financial technology ecosystem.

“Our founders need exposure beyond Charlotte — to investors, customers, corporate partners, and other ecosystems. We’ve traditionally taken our cohorts to New York Fintech Week and Atlanta, and we’re excited to now be a co-producer of New York Fintech Week and to participate in the first-ever Atlanta Fintech Week. Our Atlanta Startup Showcase gives our founders, and founders sourced by our accelerator partners, a chance to put their companies in front of a new audience while also showcasing the innovation coming out of Charlotte.” 

On top of the accelerator, Charlotte is home to FinTech-centric events like Charlotte Fintech Week, Fintech Insurtech Generations, and Venture135 (which is coming up in November).

What Are Some Startups To Watch Coming Out Of Charlotte? 

Charlotte has already helped grow some major names in FinTech, including AvidXchange (went public in 2021 and was then taken private in 2025), LendingTree, Paymentus, Payzer, and more recently, Passport. 

Now, the next crop of Fintech startups are building in the city. Some to note include Aiwyn (a Series A automation software platform that provides billing and cash flow for accounting), ARMAI (a SaaS platform for proactive risk detection at banks, credit unions and FinTechs), SupportPay, Robora Financial, and B2B payments startup N3XT. 

Featured Photo by Jonathan Ardila / Unsplash