Cardiff-based fintech Final Rentals has become the first business in Wales to secure a NatWest IP-backed loan, securing a six-figure sum to support its continued investment in AI and technology.
The funding comes during a strong period of growth for the company, which has increased bookings by 200% this year, expanded into three new territories and seen founder and CEO Ammar Akhtar recently named Fintech Leader of the Year at the 2026 Wales Fintech Awards.
Founded in Cardiff in 2019, Final Rentals has grown from a Welsh start-up into a global car rental franchise and technology platform operating across more than 65 countries.
The company helps independent car rental operators compete with larger international businesses through its technology platform, booking infrastructure and access to global customers.
As the business has grown, Final Rentals has increasingly looked beyond traditional equity funding to support its expansion. Ammar joined the NatWest Accelerator in Cardiff in 2022 and was later introduced to the bank's IP-backed lending proposition.
The proposition enables eligible high-growth businesses to borrow against the value of their intellectual property, with specialist IP valuation company Inngot supporting the assessment and valuation of qualifying assets.
Ammar said the proposition was a “no-brainer” for Final Rentals:
“As the business was growing, we reached a point where, going into our fourth funding round, debt funding was a better and wiser choice to fuel our growth.
“The good thing is you don't actually give away equity, so you can unlock value from something you've already built without giving up part of the business. It gives us the capital to keep investing in our technology, which in turn creates more IP and more value. I think it's a very clever way of fundraising.”
The six-figure loan will support further investment in AI, GPUs, technology and intellectual property as Final Rentals continues to expand into new international markets.
The deal marks another milestone for Final Rentals as it continues to scale internationally from its base in Cardiff, while highlighting the growing role of intellectual property in helping Welsh technology businesses fund their next stage of growth.
