University of South Florida
10/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2024 07:04
Tampa Bay Wave and USF announce new class of startups for FinTech|X Accelerator
Tampa Bay Wave, Inc. and the University of South Florida Muma College of Business have selected 10 high-growth fintech startups to take part in its third FinTech|X Accelerator program.
Fintech refers to the integration of technology into financial services. Online banking systems, crypto exchanges and crowdfunding platforms are all examples of fintech.
The accelerator program represents a multi-year partnership between Tampa Bay Wave and the USF Muma College of Business, with funding provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), Encore Bank, Smiley Technologies and Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP. It aims at nurturing and propelling fintech startups to new heights of success in Tampa Bay and beyond.
"We are so proud of our partnership between the Tampa Bay Wave and our Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance to empower fintech entrepreneurs to grow and launch their ventures," said David Blackwell, the Lynn Pippenger dean of USF's Muma College of Business. "I look forward to seeing the fintech innovations that will be nurtured here in St. Petersburg, and how they will transform the future of business beyond our region."
Fintech education and programming, such as the accelerator program, is growing at USF as rapidly as the field is evolving. This growth was spurred by a transformational $14 million gift from Kate Tiedemann and Ellen Cotton back in 2022, which has supported the university's vision in becoming a "hub of excellence" in fintech.
Over 90 days, with two in-person weeks taking place at the USF St. Petersburg campus, each startup will receive unparalleled access to resources, mentorship, connections and guidance from industry veterans, equipping them with the tools necessary to accelerate growth and drive lasting impact.
"This year's lineup of exceptional cohort participants for the 2024 FinTech|X Accelerator reflects a significant depth of innovation, expertise and diversity in the fintech sector," said Richard Munassi, accelerator managing director at Tampa Bay Wave. "Through this program, we are committed to providing these startups with the support and resources needed to continue to drive their transformative ideas forward and shape the future of financial technology for consumers and enterprise institutions."
This year's FinTech|X cohort continues the trend of strong founders solving real problems, adding to Tampa Bay Wave's portfolio of tech startup companies. This group has founder experience that includes time in finance with companies such as Ernst & Young, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Barclay's, Morgan Stanley, Capital One, KKR, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, ADP, and Paychex.
The founders include serial entrepreneurs with previous exits. They have backgrounds from tech giants like Microsoft, Street Shares, Uber, Hims, Amazon, and large corporations like Nordstrom, IBM, Nortel Networks, and McKinsey. Educational backgrounds include Cornell, The University of Texas, and the University of Michigan, with multiple MBAs from NYU's Stern School of Business. The cohort includes military representation from the Navy and a former professional basketball player and former NFL player (the second in Wave's portfolio).
The selected companies for the 2024 FinTech|X Accelerator are:
Finotta is a digital banking technology startup that helps banks and credit unions drive revenue by embedding personalized solutions to engage users and enhance financial wellness.
Founder(s): Parker Graham
Finvix automates invoicing and financial processes, delivering real-time visibility and key metrics to investors and stakeholders.
Founder(s): Andres Garbarini, Fernando Salas, and Jacobo Requena
Identifee is a modular engagement platform for treasury and commercial teams that boosts revenue and deposits, enhances efficiency, and reduces risk.
Founders(s): Vram Ismailyan, Kevin Miyamoto and Vigen Ismailyan
im Financial is a financial services marketplace dedicated to providing tailored solutions for underserved and underbanked US Latinos.
Founders(s): Rodrigo Acuna Cervantes, Diego Morones, and Alfredo Cantu
KuliPay, DBA Client Pay Direct, enhances efficiency and sustainability in payables compliance by automating labor-intensive processes, reducing costs and minimizing risk for clients managing high volumes of B2C and B2B payments.
Founders(s): Donny Hoye, Peter Ungureanu, Trey Lehman
Muse is a platform that helps individual taxpayers and SMBs boost take-home pay by optimizing finances, using AI to uncover missed tax deductions and provide forward-looking financial projections.
Founders(s): Busayo Ogunsanya and Colin Hors
Notice Ninja (New Smyrna Beach, FL)
Notice Ninja is a cutting-edge platform that automates tax notice compliance, using AI and machine learning to reduce inefficiencies, minimize risk, and manage notices with unmatched accuracy.
Founders(s): Amanda Reineke and Rick Pinkerman
Revio is a customer insights platform that turns bank data into actionable opportunities, empowering community banks to grow relationships through personalized engagement and smarter investment in adoption, retention, and lifetime value.
Founders(s): Brian Bauer and Sanjay Bhasker
An AI-powered compensation planning platform that helps companies save money and retain top talent through smarter, data-driven decisions.
Founders(s): Amee Parekh and John Xiao
Viva Benefits is a network of affordable housing that empowers families by providing access to health, education, and financial resources, along with over $5,000 in cash assistance to support their journey to homeownership and promote equity for all.
Founders(s): Michael Barnes, Jon Woo, and Karina Gutierrez
To learn more about the 2024 FinTech|X Accelerator Program, visit: https://www.tampabaywave.org/fintech/