The non-profit Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC), today announced its first cohort members of Project FinTech, a statewide industry network and accelerator program. 40 applicants from across the country applied and9 companies were selected for their potential impact in Tennessee.
“Thanks to the leadership and support of experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders who stepped up to bring this program to life, our team is prepared to kickstart best-in-class programming,” said the NEC’s CEO, Sam Davidson. “It’s an exciting time to start and grow a FinTech company and the Nashville EC will serve a valuable role in helping this cohort grow and scale.”
Project Fintech, based in Nashville, is a nine-month program that provides early-stage startups access to subject-matter experts, curriculum, mentorship and contacts within the community. The program will focus on fintech start-ups with a preference for Tennessee-based companies and an emphasis on the “banktech” sector defined as technology seeking to improve, automate, or scale the delivery or use of payments, deposits, loans, or relationships between retail or commercial banks and their customers.
“We are so excited for the potential for building a community among the cohort itself, a group that includes mission-driven founders looking to grow financial prosperity in underrepresented communities,” said Maryn Cannon, program manager at NEC. “Many of these founders are second- and third-time entrepreneurs who have validated a need in their previous ventures and are bringing a new idea to market with a wealth of pre-existing connections.”
2023 Project Fintech Cohort
- Ampersand | Founder: Kelly Brown, WI
- Grounded | Founders: Danae Vachata and Pete Chiccino, NY
- Lendovative | Founders: Patrick True and Paul McCulloch, TN
- Lumio Insight | Founder: Jeff Fink, VA
- Nuestro Financial | Founder: Diego Eguiarte, TN
- Parlay Protocol | Founders: Alex McLeod and Jay Long, VA
- Plata | Founder: Miguel Alecio, NY
- READYLIFE | Founder: Ashley Bell, CA
- SpendCare | Founders: Perry Halman-Peguillan and David Young, TN
Through the Economic Development Administration’s Build to Scale program that expands industry networks throughout the state, Launch Tennessee and corporate partners work together to help Tennessee be the best place in America to start, grow and scale a FinTech company.
ABA joins First Horizon Bank, headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., as a founding partner.
