Wayflyer, an Ireland-based fintech company specializing in financing for consumer brands, has announced that it will establish its new U.S. headquarters in Mecklenburg County. The decision to select Charlotte followed a detailed market review, according to Aidan Corbett, Wayflyer’s chief executive officer and co-founder.
“Charlotte’s thriving finance ecosystem, rich talent pool and strong university connections made it the ideal location for our U.S. hub,” Corbett said. “Having a dedicated team on the ground allows us to better serve our U.S. customers and support their growth journeys in real time.”
Mark Jerrell, Chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, commented on the development: “Wayflyer’s announcement demonstrates that Mecklenburg County remains a strong anchor for fintech and international business. We welcome Wayflyer, along with the many opportunities this expansion will create for our workforce and local economy.”
Wayflyer has already invested more than $60 million into businesses headquartered in North Carolina and plans to create about 20 new jobs in Charlotte this year across several functions including sales and underwriting.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles welcomed the company’s move: “Charlotte is proud to welcome Wayflyer as they expand their U.S. presence,” she said. “Wayflyer’s commitment to empowering consumer brands aligns perfectly with Charlotte’s entrepreneurial spirit. Their investment and job creation will have a meaningful impact on our thriving startup ecosystem, and we’re excited to see their continued growth here.”
The project is a collaboration between Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, and the Irish American Business Alliance North Carolina (IABA NC). R. John Young, chair of IABA NC and honorary consul for North Carolina stated: “Wayflyer’s decision to establish its North American headquarters in Charlotte is a strong vote of confidence in North Carolina’s thriving market for financial technology. This move not only reflects Charlotte’s growing reputation as a hub for global innovation but also strengthens the bridge between Ireland and North Carolina. We look forward to leveraging this momentum to bring even more high-impact Irish companies to the state.”
Additional organizations involved include Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), Charlotte Center City Partners, South Park Partners, UNC Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
Since launching in 2020, Wayflyer reports deploying over $5 billion in working capital across 5,000 consumer brands spanning 11 countries. Its services are aimed at helping these brands manage cash flow and pursue growth initiatives.
With offices already operating in New York City, this latest expansion further solidifies Wayflyer’s reach within one of its fastest-growing markets.
The announcement follows recent recognition for Wayflyer: CNBC named it among its Top Fintech Companies for 2025 while Deloitte listed it as one of its fastest-growing startups in 2024.
Foreign direct investment continues to be an expanding sector within Charlotte; over the past 18 months nine companies have announced new or expanded operations locally—including Siemens and Daimler Truck Financial Services—adding to more than 1,000 foreign-owned businesses present in the region.
Mecklenburg County schools enrolled a total of 153,537 students during the 2022-23 school year—a slight decrease from previous years—according to data from state education authorities (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
