My topic was computer science, I don’t remember adding anything more specific than that.
Application Summary – Request for Community Feedback (Exceptional Talent)
Applied on: Jan 12
Referred on: Jan 29
Feedback: March 11
Hi everyone,
I recently received a non-endorsement decision under the Exceptional Talent route and would really appreciate feedback from the community before deciding whether to request an **endorsement review or reapply.
Below is a structured summary of the evidence I submitted under the **Mandatory Criterion and Optional Criteria (OC1 and OC3)
Mandatory Criterion (MC) – Leadership in Digital Technology
My application aimed to demonstrate **senior product leadership in fintech platforms and digital products.
Roles and contributions:
Director of Product Partnership – Beem (US fintech platform)
Responsible for partner-enabled embedded products across lending, healthcare and engagement
Led product architecture changes for the lending product by transitioning from redirect-based partner flow to embedded SDK integration
AVP Fintech Product – Xoxoday (global rewards platform)
Built a fintech product vertical enabling enterprises to issue prepaid cards and digital payouts
Designed product architecture across issuers, processors and settlement flows
Founder – Jet Leads (SaaS platform)
Built a self-serve SaaS platform for automated outbound lead generation
Evidence submitted
Employment contract and compensation evidence along with stock options
Founder documentation and company records for Jet Leads
Evidence of leadership responsibilities across fintech product platforms
Optional Criterion 1 (OC1) – Innovation in Digital Technology**
This section focused on product innovation and platform development.
Jet Leads – SaaS product innovation**
Designed a rules-based automation platform for outbound sales workflows
Combined lead discovery, email sequencing and engagement tracking into one system
Built as a self-serve SaaS product used by startups and SMBs
Served 50+ paying customers
Xoxoday – A global fintech platform productisation**
Consolidated fragmented financial capabilities into a unified fintech platform
Enabled enterprises to issue prepaid cards and payouts across multiple partners
Designed product architecture covering:
- card issuance workflows
- authorisation and transaction handling
- settlement and reconciliation
Supporting evidence submitted**
- Product screenshots and workflow documentation
- Revenue dashboards and Stripe data for Jet Leads
- Independent validation through a **technology strategist recommendation (PhD IIT Delhi)
Optional Criterion 3 (OC3) – Significant Contribution to a Product-Led Digital Technology Company**
This section focused on execution ownership of embedded partner products at Beem.
Embedded Lending Product
Proposed transition from **redirect flow to SDK-based partner integration
Defined integration architecture including:
- partner data payloads
- application state callbacks
- monetisation triggers tied to funded loans
Net income generated (its not top of the funnel number its pure income): £970,686
Beem Health (subscription product)
- Operationalised a subscription-based product
- Managed product lifecycle including:
- partner provisioning
- subscription billing
- eligibility and compliance
Net income generated (its not top of the funnel number its pure income): £317,864
Beem Arcade (engagement product)**
- Designed reward pacing and withdrawal thresholds
- Partner-funded rewards model
Net income generated (its not top of the funnel number its pure income): £197,500
Supporting Evidence Submitted (Third-Party and Internal Validation)**
To support the claims above, I submitted multiple forms of corroborating evidence including:
Partner validation
Documentation and confirmation relating to the lending partner integration
Internal product documentation
Product architecture documents
Jira implementation tickets demonstrating execution ownership
Revenue and performance data**
Product revenue dashboards
Funnel and engagement metrics
Independent references
Recommendation letters from senior technology leaders familiar with my work across fintech product development
LOR1: from Founder of Xoxoday
Founder of a global SaaS rewards and fintech infrastructure platform used by enterprise clients across multiple countries
Technology entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in building digital platforms
Built and scaled Xoxoday into a global product-led technology company
Worked directly with me when I led the fintech product vertical at Xoxoday
LOR 2: Senior Product & Engineering Leader
- Technology leader with experience building large-scale digital platforms and product systems
- Background in product development, engineering leadership, and platform architecture
- Familiar with my work across fintech product platforms and digital product development
- Provided an independent perspective on my technical product leadership and system thinking
LOR 3: Senior business leader with extensive experience in sales, marketing and digital growth strategies for technology-enabled businesses
Vice President – Sales and Marketing at ESS (Enterprise Software Solutions)
Experienced in scaling technology-driven sales and digital marketing initiatives across enterprise clients
Worked with me as a client of Jet Leads, the SaaS outbound automation platform I founded
Additional Independent Validation
Dr. Abhishek Kumbhat** – Technology strategist and startup advisor (PhD IIT Delhi)
Technology advisor and startup strategist with academic and industry experience
Provided independent validation of my **product innovation work for Jet Leads (SaaS platform)
Familiar with my product thinking and innovation through **advisory engagements
Outcome:
The application was ‘not endorsed’ proforma attached.
Key feedback included:
The panel considered some examples to reflect integration and optimisation work rather than innovation
Commercial metrics were considered modest compared with Exceptional Talent applications
Recommendation letters described competence within the role rather than exceptional industry recognition
Questions for the community
I would really appreciate guidance on the following:
- Could making the decision around the SDK architecture work for embedded lending reasonably qualify as OC3?
- Does the Jet Leads SaaS platform sufficiently demonstrate innovation under OC1?
- Would you recommend: requesting an endorsement review?
Any insights from the community would be extremely helpful.
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
2 Likes
Decision came in and it’s a rejection.
2 Likes
Sorry about this, I know it heart breaking, but you can appeal the decision, and if not granted, you will know what you will need to include when applying again.
Sorry about this. Success on your appeal
1 Like
Goodness me! Sorry about this. Wishing you success on your appeal
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I’m sorry to hear that. I wish you success on your appeal or any other steps you wish to take.
1 Like
chin up guys, goodluck on future endevours
3 Likes
Congratulations. Your resilience speaks volumes
@nandita_mathews Did you hear as well from the home office?
So sorry to hear. I was looking forward to hearing from you. Your optimism was inspiring. It’s not a measure of your worth or brilliance. Sending you hugs.
Hi, sharing my timeline:
Inside the UK, Exceptional Talent application
Jan 9th Applied
Jan 31st Forwarded to Tech Nation (HM asked for some documents)
Mar 14th Endorsed
Best of luck to everyone!
12 Likes
congratulations!
happy for you! also good for morale.
if you can share a brief of your docs, that will be super helpful
Congrats 
and thanks for sharing!
1 Like
This gives me hope. Congratulations 
Applied 19 jan
Forwarded 1st Feb
Decision : 16 March (Not Endorsed)
3 Likes
same
Applied 19 jan
Forwarded 1st Feb
Decision : 16 March (Not Endorsed)
3 Likes
So sorry to hear. @Dudu and @Posh_Pol
If there are any chances, you can appeal.
Worst case scenario, you get insight on what to improve on.
Heads up guys.
3 Likes
Sorry about this. Wishing you success on your appeal!
1 Like
Sorry about this feedback. Wishing you success on your appeal!
1 Like