Finovate Unveils Speaker Roster for Inaugural IMPACT Funders & Founders

Finovate has announced the speaker lineup for IMPACT Funders & Founders, a debut event designed to connect fintech entrepreneurs with the investors funding the industry's next wave.

The gathering takes place September 11 in New York City, running alongside FinovateFall. It brings together venture capitalists, startup founders, corporate investors, accelerators, and ecosystem builders for what organisers describe as meaningful conversations and real fundraising opportunities.

Rather than surveying broad industry trends, sessions will address practical challenges founders and investors encounter daily — raising capital, scaling operations, navigating exits, and deploying AI and embedded finance in a shifting venture environment.

The event offers founders direct access to investors currently deploying capital. The speaker roster includes partners from venture capital firms, private equity funds, and strategic investors who evaluate fintech opportunities every day.

These investors will outline what they look for in founding teams, how their investment theses are evolving, and where they see the strongest opportunities in the current market.

For companies preparing for seed, Series A, or growth-stage rounds, the event provides a chance to understand investor thinking before entering the fundraising process.

Securing funding represents only one milestone in a fintech's journey. IMPACT's speaker lineup also includes founders who have navigated product launches, customer acquisition, regulatory compliance, team building, and scaling firsthand.

Attendees can expect candid discussions about the realities of building a financial technology company, including lessons from both wins and missteps along the way.

Beyond founders and investors, the programme features executives from banks, fintechs, and industry organisations who bring operational expertise in bringing new financial products to market.

Sessions will cover a range of practical topics:

• AI and emerging technologies
• Go-to-market strategy
• Customer acquisition and growth
• Bank partnerships
• Regulatory considerations
• Fundraising strategy
• Scaling operations

The full speaker roster continues to expand as Finovate confirms additional investors, founders, and industry leaders. The complete lineup is available on the event website.

Registration remains open for founders and investors looking to connect with the people funding and building the next generation of fintech in New York this September.