Fintech Hub Attracts Overseas Firms Amid Policy Push

British venture capital firm SFC Capital has opened its first overseas headquarters in Shanghai, citing the city's latest business environment reforms and the concentration of financial and technology firms along the historic Bund.

The firm, which focuses on early-stage technology investments, launched its China operations on Thursday in downtown Huangpu District following the rollout of Shanghai's 9.0 version of business environment reforms.

The policy package aims to attract global firms by fostering integrated industrial ecosystems rather than relying solely on administrative incentives.

SFC Capital, which describes itself as the United Kingdom's most active seed investor, said the decision followed a site visit by its global chairman.

After reviewing locations in Beijing and Shenzhen, the firm selected Shanghai's Bund Fin-Tech Community (FTC), a cluster of financial and technology companies housed in a renovated 1930s building near the Huangpu River.

The community at 69 Jiujiang Road sits in an area that is home to more than 600 financial institutions, according to local authorities.

"We want to strengthen the flow of technology and capital between China and Europe," Enji Cai, chief operating officer and partner at SFC China, told Shanghai Daily. "The ecosystem here is comparable to what we see around our incubation centers in London."

The Bund FTC has hosted hundreds of industry events since its trial launch and has attracted dozens of companies working in fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cross-border payments.

SFC China said it will focus on seed and pre-Series A investments, typically ranging from several hundred thousand pounds to a few million pounds.

Shanghai's 9.0 business environment reforms emphasize the development of "active ecosystems," encouraging collaboration between finance, technology and emerging industries.

Under measures supporting the digital content sector, the FTC has also become a venue for livestreaming and media production alongside traditional financial services.

One recent event, the "Bund Fin-Talk Club," brought together financial researchers and online content creators to discuss the intersection of financial technology and digital media.

The building's public spaces were temporarily converted into livestream studios, reflecting the city's push to merge finance with the creator economy.

SFC China has begun using the facilities to host its own livestream programs, featuring discussions between British financial experts and Chinese technology founders on topics such as overseas fundraising and tax compliance, Cai pointed out.

The firm said the format is intended to make complex financial information more accessible to international investors.

The company said its long-term goal is to help European startups enter the Chinese market while supporting Chinese companies seeking expansion in Europe, positioning Shanghai as a bridge between the two.