Judges

Brian Tate is the President and CEO of the Innovative Payments Association. The IPA is the premiere payments trade association focused exclusively on companies involved in providing innovative payment products to consumers, businesses, and federal and state governments.

As the association’s lead advocate, spokesperson, and legal officer, Brian is a steadfast advocate for the increased use of electronic payments as an efficient and effective means of consumer banking before the CFPB, prudential banking regulators (OCC, FDIC, the Federal Reserve) state policymakers, and Congress.

Brian is also a co-chair of the IRS’s Security Summit’s Financial Services Working Group, and has represented the IPA before FinCEN’s BSAAG, and was a member of the FTC’s Stop Senior Scams Task Force. Over the last 15 years Brian has been directly involved in some of the most notable financial services related issues, including the Dodd-Frank Act, the Durbin Amendment, the Small Business Jobs Act, and Fiduciary Duty, Mobile Wallets, and Earned Wage Access.

Throughout his career Brian has made numerous appearances and has been heavily quoted in various forms of media including TV, print, and online media.  Moreover, Brian has been sought after to participate in industry panels, and has had the privilege of testifying before the United States Congress and the CFPB. Lastly, Brian has authored a wide variety of financial services op-eds regarding the state of the payments industry.

A native Marylander, Brian is a graduate of the Howard University School of Law and is licensed to practice in the state of Maryland and is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. In addition, Brian has an M.A. from George Washington University, and a B.A. from King’s College. Brian currently lives in Maryland with his wife and family.

As a judge for the US FinTech Awards, they are proud to support the recognition of the outstanding achievements shaping the future of financial technology. They look forward to celebrating the innovation, leadership, and excellence demonstrated across the industry.

Daniel Spuller serves as Executive Vice President of Industry Affairs at the Blockchain Association, the leading trade group in Washington, D.C. advocating for pro-innovation policies in the digital asset economy. He is an appointee to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Business and Payments Advisory Council, contributing research on stablecoins, consumer payment behavior, and emerging payment trends.

Spuller has twice been appointed Chairman of the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. From 2016 to 2020, he led membership growth at the Chamber of Digital Commerce, scaling it from 38 to over 200 members, and previously served at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where he helped negotiate and pass the North Carolina Money Transmitters Act of 2016, the first comprehensive blockchain-related legislation in the United States.

Senior Managing Director, MKF Advisors | Founder & President, Pennsylvania Blockchain Coalition

Dominic A. Folino is a Senior Managing Director at MKF Advisors and the founder and president of the Pennsylvania Blockchain Coalition (PBC). He is a government affairs and management consulting leader with a track record of guiding organizations through strategic planning, regulatory engagement, and technology-driven change, with particular depth in blockchain, artificial intelligence, and public policy.

At MKF Advisors, a public affairs and management consulting firm, Dominic oversees day-to-day operations and leads client engagements spanning Fortune 500 technology companies, financial services firms, Ivy League institutions, and organizations in the blockchain and AI space. He develops strategic proposals involving cryptocurrency, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, and has led initiatives that include guiding an international crisis management client’s AI ethics strategy — resulting in nearly $1 million in annual savings — advising a national client on blockchain regulatory risk, overseeing AI implementation and data analytics efforts to grow a university’s student engagement, and restructuring a client’s board governance and membership.

Recognizing blockchain’s transformative potential, Dominic founded the PBC in 2021, a nonprofit uniting blockchain allies, users, and providers across industries to promote adoption and educate legislators and regulators. He has testified before the Pennsylvania and Virginia legislatures, co-chairs the North American Blockchain Association, and serves on the advisory boards of the Virginia Blockchain Coalition and the Connecticut Blockchain Association. He was also selected to serve on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s transition team, focusing on consumer protection for the Finance and Insurance Committee, and is a frequent speaker and panel moderator at industry events nationwide.

Earlier in his career, Dominic founded and led Spectrum Strategies (2020–2022), a government relations agency advising clients on business development, fundraising, and legislative advocacy across financial services, fintech, energy, and other sectors. Before that, he spent seven years at Future Standard (formerly FS Investments, 2013–2020), rising to Executive Director of Public Affairs and Business Development.

Dominic holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from La Salle University and an MBA from Villanova University, and completed the Accelerated Management Program at Yale University. Beyond his professional work, he serves on the Steering Committee for the Mayor of Philadelphia’s Tech and Business Hub and on the boards of Simon’s Heart and the Philadelphia Flyers Warriors.

Jennifer Lassiter is Managing Director and Head of Digital Assets, Americas, UK and Europe at Standard Chartered. She works across the Bank to expand digital asset capabilities, deepen partnerships across the ecosystem, and advance the development of secure infrastructure to support future growth in the digital asset space. 

Jennifer brings 20 years of industry experience, previously working as Executive Director of the Digital Dollar Project, a non-profit financial research center in Washington, DC, as well as holding innovation roles at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB). 

Jennifer is on the Board of Directors of the Digital Dollar Project, an active member of the Fintech and Crypto community, and passionate about bridging traditional finance and the Web3 ecosystem. 

Jennifer Tescher founded the Financial Health Network in 2004, pioneering the movement to improve financial health for all. As CEO, Jennifer focuses on the long-term vision of the organization and financial health ecosystem, exploring new frontiers in financial health, influencing discussions among business and policy leaders, and expanding the movement’s shared impact. She plays a leading role in rallying business leaders to build a world where all people can thrive financially – especially the most vulnerable among us.

An entrepreneur, innovator, and powerful voice for change, Jennifer has worked relentlessly over the last two decades to turn financial health from a niche concept to a national priority. Her efforts have galvanized a movement of financial services providers, employers, policymakers, and innovators fiercely committed to the financial well-being of those they serve. Under her leadership, the Financial Health Network has illuminated financial struggles and disparities, built a movement of nearly 500 organizations, and catalyzed a wave of new solutions – ultimately
improving the lives of more than 200 million Americans.

Jennifer drives the national discussion on financial health through frequent media and speaking engagements, including as the primary host of the EMERGE Everywhere podcast and as a columnist for Forbes. She is regularly quoted in the national and financial press, such as The New York Times, CNBC, NPR’s Marketplace, Fast Company, and American Banker. Prior to founding the Financial Health Network, she gained valuable experience collaborating across sectors, engaging with evidence, and shifting perspectives as a journalist for the Charlotte Observer and in the financial sector at ShoreBank.

A longtime Chicago resident, Jennifer earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago. She also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She currently serves as Vice Chair of Elevate and as a board member of FORWARD and Attune. She also serves as an advisory board member for several organizations, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and the Chicago chapter of Facing History & Ourselves.

As a judge for the US FinTech Awards, they are proud to support the recognition of the outstanding achievements shaping the future of financial technology. They look forward to celebrating the innovation, leadership, and excellence demonstrated across the industry.

Jonathan Rufrano is Policy Director at The Digital Chamber, the world’s leading blockchain trade association. He leads policy work across digital assets, decentralized infrastructure, digital identity, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging financial technology, working with policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to advance practical, innovation-forward policy frameworks. 

Jonathan brings more than a decade of experience across public policy, emerging technology, and innovation-focused organizations. His background includes work in the Texas Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives, with industry startups, in technology research at Stanford, and on technical standards through UN and ISO standards processes. This cross-sector experience gives him a practical understanding of how emerging technologies move from research and development to implementation, regulation, and market adoption. 

Jonathan is an active voice in the fintech and digital asset policy community, regularly speaking and moderating at industry events including the DC Blockchain Summit, ETHDenver, ACAMS, NASAA, FINRA, and other public- and private-sector forums. He is passionate about helping policymakers understand emerging technologies and building policy environments that support responsible innovation. 

Kristen Castell, managing director, Center for Accelerating Financial Equity (CAFE), is a fintech and startup accelerator leader and former financial services executive with 20 years of industry experience building investment products, platforms, programs and companies. She currently leads CAFE, a nonprofit organization that supports mission-driven fintech startup companies and connects them with VCs, banks, and other industry experts to accelerate their growth of innovative technology products to improve financial wellness for low- to moderate-income (LMI) people.

Prior experience includes JPMorgan, BlackRock and chief operating officer of Seeds Investor (fintech). Speaker and thought leader, Kristen was named NYC Inspiring Fintech Female 2023, RealList Connector 2024, and main stage speaker at Finovate NYC and Boston Fintech Week.

As a judge for the US FinTech Awards, they are proud to support the recognition of the outstanding achievements shaping the future of financial technology. They look forward to celebrating the innovation, leadership, and excellence demonstrated across the industry.

Matt Denham is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Prizeout, an ad-tech startup with fintech behavior that works within the finance, gaming, crypto, gig economy & payroll industries to turn consumer funds into a growth solution for e-commerce & retail businesses. After 8+ years in banking where he helped build & grow Australia’s largest Neobank, he transitioned to Director of Product at DraftKings where he launched the first online sportsbook in New Jersey in August 2018 and the DraftKings iGaming product later that year. In 2019 he co-founded Prizeout and oversees building the right products for each vertical. Matt is currently focused on building CashBack+, a rewards program for financial institutions that will give Bank customers and Credit Union members up to 20% instant cash back when they shop with digital gift cards, help financial institutions earn more noninterest income and provide up-leveled exposure and support for local community merchants,  Personally, he enjoys sports, real estate investing, and travel.

Patricia (Pat) is the vice president – payment processing for YoungWilliams, a company dedicated to providing government agencies with the tools and technologies needed to modernise their services.   

Pat’s career spans multiple disciplines and includes experience in government health and human services delivery, banking, technology, business operations, marketing, and sales. Previous positions and duties include senior vice president, where she led an initiative to create industry-specific payment solutions with a focus on the public sector. She also served as managing director at one of the nation’s largest financial institutions. There, she was responsible for public sector business development, financial services solution development across multiple industries and international cash management solutions. 

She was a long-time member of the board of directors of the Electronic Funds Transfer Association (EFTA) and served as chair from 2015 – 2020.  She is an active podcaster and conference presenter. Additionally, Pat participated in an executive education symposium: Women and Power: Leadership in a New World facilitated by the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government. The program focused on effective leadership strategies that include, but are not limited to, the skills necessary to analyse political and strategic management issues, understand women in the workplace, negotiation, coalition-building, communication capabilities, and how to build a diverse network of women leaders. This group convenes annually to continue the educational process augmented by shared experiences of the symposium participants. 

As a judge for the US FinTech Awards, they are proud to support the recognition of the outstanding achievements shaping the future of financial technology. They look forward to celebrating the innovation, leadership, and excellence demonstrated across the industry.

As a judge for the US FinTech Awards, they are proud to support the recognition of the outstanding achievements shaping the future of financial technology. They look forward to celebrating the innovation, leadership, and excellence demonstrated across the industry.

As a judge for the US FinTech Awards, they are proud to support the recognition of the outstanding achievements shaping the future of financial technology. They look forward to celebrating the innovation, leadership, and excellence demonstrated across the industry.

As a judge for the US FinTech Awards, they are proud to support the recognition of the outstanding achievements shaping the future of financial technology. They look forward to celebrating the innovation, leadership, and excellence demonstrated across the industry.

Sokhiba Mukhitdinova is investment principal at InsurTech NY, a venture capital fund in New York, US.

Since joining in 2022, Sokhiba’s mission is to invest in early-stage start-ups, backing diverse founders driving innovation in the insurance space operating in the US, UK and Europe. She was recognized as one of the “Rising Stars in the US Venture Capital” by Venture Capital Journal, one of the most elite rankings for VC professionals.

Founded in 2019, InsurTech NY supports the insurance innovation community in New York and beyond through bringing together carriers, brokers, investors, and InsurTech startups.

InsurTech NY’s mission is to help support the insurance industry, take advantage of the latest digital technology to improve efficiencies and increase revenue, and be ready for the inevitable digitally transformed insurance industry.

In addition to her VC investment career, Sokhiba is certified angel investor mainly investing in early-stage fintech and female founders, she is a member of UK Business Angel Association and several angel syndicates in UK, Spain and Portugal.

Sokhiba also has strong expertise in investment banking and risk management, having worked in leading financial institutions and the City of London for over 15 years.