CAFE Launches FItech Leaders Circle, Bringing Bankers and Fintech Founders Together for Executive Collaboration

This leader forum creates a curated space for banking and fintech leaders to tackle industry challenges, share insights, and shape the future of inclusive finance.

August 6, 2026 – CAFE announced the launch of its inaugural CAFE FItech Leaders Circle, an executive peer forum believed to be the first program of its kind to bring together a small cohort of financial institution (FI) leaders and fintech founders for structured collaboration.

Unlike conferences, networking events, or traditional accelerator programs, the FITech Leaders Circle is intentionally designed as a trusted executive think tank. Over five weeks, an intentionally small group of banking leaders and fintech leaders will engage in candid discussions about the opportunities and challenges shaping financial services, with an emphasis on collaboration over competition. 

The inaugural cohort will explore “Financial Education & Credit Building: LMI Client Wealth Building and Sustainability,” examining how banks and fintech innovators can work together on banking innovations that lead to better financial outcomes for consumers through technology and partnerships. This gathering is not about selling. It’s about collaboration, thought leadership, new ideas, and innovation. Participants will include:

Banking Leaders

• Dennecia Carter, Product Relationship Manager, Barclays
• Greg Johnson, Director, Fintech Client Engagement, Sunrise Banks
• Loklani Hunt, SVP, Head of Principal Venture Investments, M&T Bank
• Justin Dunn, SVP, Chief Community Impact Officer, WSFS Bank

Fintech Leaders

• Aaron Colcord, Founder & CEO, Voyager AI
• D’ontra Hughes, Founder & CEO, Spare
• Jay Long, Founder & CEO, Parlay
• Lori Selsberg, Founder & CEO, DocuGuardian
• Valsan Ponnachath, Founder & CEO, iTuring.ai

“The best ideas in financial services happen in small rooms with honest conversations,” said Kristen Castell, Managing Director of CAFE. “We created the FITech Leaders Circle to create a place where bank executives and fintech founders could come together as peers to openly discuss what’s working, what’s not, and how we can collectively build a better financial system. This isn’t about sales or presentations. It’s about trust, collaboration, and solving real industry challenges together.”

The FITech Leaders Circle reflects CAFE’s belief that the future of financial services will be built through stronger partnerships between established financial institutions and innovative fintech companies. Participants will exchange perspectives, discuss emerging technologies before they become mainstream, and identify opportunities for collaboration that extend beyond the program itself.

Throughout the five-week program, participants will discuss:

• Emerging trends in banks supporting consumer financial health
• Innovation in financial education and credit building
• The evolving bank-fintech partnership model
• AI, embedded finance, and the future of financial services
• Opportunities to better serve low- to moderate-income communities

By intentionally limiting the cohort to just ten leaders, CAFE aims to foster meaningful relationships, encourage candid peer-to-peer dialogue, and spark collaborations that continue long after the program concludes.

About CAFE

The Center for Accelerating Financial Equity (CAFE) is a national nonprofit innovation ecosystem dedicated to advancing financial wellness through fintech innovation. CAFE connects mission-driven fintech startups with banks, credit unions, investors, regulators, academia, and industry leaders to accelerate partnerships that improve financial outcomes for low- to moderate-income people. www.ftcafe.org