Steve is a fintech executive and thought leader with more than 20 years of experience driving innovation in digital transformation, payments, and financial technology. Throughout his career, he has built and scaled market-leading solutions for companies including Geezeo, BillGO, and Moov Financial, helping organizations modernize payment experiences and deliver meaningful value to customers. His expertise spans product strategy, fintech partnerships, and the development of technology solutions that connect financial institutions with the businesses they serve.

Known for his ability to cultivate strategic partnerships and translate complex financial technology into practical business outcomes, Steve has played a key role in advancing digital commerce and payment innovation. He is passionate about helping organizations navigate industry change, strengthen customer relationships, and leverage emerging technologies to create sustainable growth and competitive advantage

Functional Skills:
Sales & Revenue, Go-To-Market

Industry Experience:
FinTech, Payments, Financial Services, Technology

Startup Stage Focus:
Pre-seed, Seed, Seed A, Seed B – All Stages

Ernie Buday is a fintech product marketing and go-to-market executive with more than 20 years of experience helping financial technology companies transform product innovation into scalable, revenue-generating businesses. He currently leads product marketing and GTM strategy for Global Payments’ Integrated & Platforms business, where he drives the commercialization of embedded payments solutions that accelerate growth for both the company and its partners. Throughout his career, Ernie has built a reputation for aligning product strategy, market positioning, and execution to bring complex solutions to market successfully.

Prior to Global Payments, Ernie held leadership roles at MX, FIS, and Intuit, where he secured more than $100 million in platform investments, led fintech accelerator programs, and developed go-to-market models that significantly reduced time-to-revenue. His work has contributed to the launch of dozens of new solutions, sustained revenue growth, and successful product commercialization initiatives. As an advisor, Ernie helps founders and operators refine go-to-market strategy, product positioning, embedded payments offerings, and growth plans that support long-term scalability and market success.

As a Chief Operating Officer in the financial technology and alternative investments space, he thrives in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments where innovative problem-solving and strategic execution are essential. With more than 13 years of experience in the financial industry, he has built his career by combining data-driven insights with hands-on leadership to develop solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and long-term value.

At his core, he is a problem solver with a passion for turning ideas into reality. He brings a strong foundation in data analytics and operations, complemented by experience in sales and marketing. His expertise is supported by advanced Excel proficiency, a Data Science & Analytics certificate from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and FINRA Series 7, Series 66, and Series 3 licenses. Together, these qualifications enable him to navigate the evolving financial technology landscape and deliver impactful business outcomes.

Functional Skills:
Marketing, Business Strategy, Fundraising, Product Development

Industry Experience:
Financial Software, Personal Finance Mgmt

Startup Stage Focus:
Pre Seed

Tony is the owner of Skyrocket Financial Solutions, a blockchain consulting company. He serves as the state of Georgia representative for the U.S. Blockchain Coalition, an ambassador for the Global Blockchain Business Council, and consults for the FintechAccord, an international organization focused on the future of money and payments, as part of the US-UKTransatlantic Task Force. Tony holds a master’s degree in finance (MSF) with a concentration in Fintech from Georgia State University. Additionally, he is a Certified Blockchain Architect and holds the CBDA, (Certified in Blockchain and Digital Assets). He is a co-author of a book on sustainability and FinTech and a frequent speaker on blockchain and AI.

Functional Skills:
Business Strategy, Product Development, Sales & Revenue, IT, Go-To-Market

Industry Experience:
Investment Mgmt, Payments, FInancial Software

Startup Stage Focus:
All Stages

Steve is a fintech executive and thought leader with more than 20 years of experience driving innovation in digital transformation, payments, and financial technology. Throughout his career, he has built and scaled market-leading solutions for companies including Geezeo, BillGO, and Moov Financial, helping organizations modernize payment experiences and deliver meaningful value to customers. His expertise spans product strategy, fintech partnerships, and the development of technology solutions that connect financial institutions with the businesses they serve.

Andy Salemi is a seasoned financial services leader with over 20+ years of experience driving innovation in payments and treasury management. Currently serving as Senior Vice President at Newline by Fifth Third Bank, Andy helps leading fintechs and corporates with their BIN Acquiring and Issuing sponsorship while also streamlining payment operations through embedded API solutions. Previously, Andrew held executive roles at Veritex Bank and Old National Bank, where he led specialty finance initiatives, developed go-to-market strategies, and managed high-performing sales teams.

Andy is a lifelong Chicagoan and a dedicated dad to three amazing kids. Outside of work, he enjoys hitting the golf course, exploring new destinations, and giving back to his community by coaching youth sports

Functional Skills:

Credit Risk Management, Finance, Business Strategy, Product Development, Sales & Revenue, Go-To-Market, Risk & Compliance

Industry Experience:
Banking, Lending, Payments, Risk & Compliance, Insurance

Startup Stage Focus:
Seed, Seed C, Later Stage

Karen is a transformational financial services industry leader focused on growth through innovation, digital strategies, ESG/Sustainable solutions, and agile principles that drive exceptional client experiences. She provides a unique perspective with over 20 years of implementing strategies to leverage technology, optimize processes, design, and deliver superior client outcomes supported by data, science and analytics. As a passionate champion of environmental, social and governance sustainability principles, she has conceptualized and handled development of ESG data platforms and financial products. She was immersed in the fintech start-up realm as a strategic partnership lead for sales and delivery of digital investment advice products at top 10 banks and created strategies for driving product growth.

Functional Skills:
Business Strategy, Go-To-Market, Product Development, Sales & Revenue

Industry Experience:

Banking, Investment Management, Personal Financial Management, Payments

Startup Stage Focus:
All Stages

Curtis Hanson is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with a strong background in security. He has held key roles in PwC’s GlobalThreat Intelligence team and later at Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, where he worked on high-impact threat research and response efforts. Before joining these global teams, Curtis ran his own consultancy focused on open-source intelligence and attribution.

His work supported the cryptocurrency industry in uncovering fraud, tracking threat actors, and enabling successful takedowns of cybercriminal operations. Now as Managing Partner at Invictus Incident Response,Curtis helps organizations take an intelligence-led approach to cyber security, bridging technical depth with business priorities to build resilience against evolving cyber threats focused on the cloud

Functional Skills:
IT, Risk & Compliance, Fraud & Identity Management

Industry Experience:
Banking, Investment Management, Fraud & Security, Risk & Compliance

Startup Stage Focus:
Pre-seed, Seed

Joe Radest is a fintech entrepreneur, investor, and payments industry veteran with more than 28 years of experience across the payments ecosystem. He began his career with First Data and went on to hold leadership roles with several of the industry’s most recognized organizations, including TSYS, Global Payments, and Chase Paymentech. Throughout his career, Joe has developed deep expertise in payment processing, fintech innovation, business growth, and strategic partnerships.

More than 15 years ago, Joe founded 1 Step Technologies, launching a successful entrepreneurial journey that led to the co-founding of Payix Holdings, FP Omni Technologies, and Core Innovation Ventures. Payix was successfully acquired by Repay Holdings in 2021. Today, Joe serves as Managing Partner of Radest Ventures, a private equity and venture capital firm focused on fintech and AI-driven financial technology investments. He also serves as an Executive Member of the FinTech Atlanta Board, sits on multiple fintech-related boards, and regularly speaks at universities and industry events on payments, fintech innovation, and entrepreneurship

Functional Skills:
N/A

Industry Experience:
N/A

Startup Stage Focus:
N/A

Gordon has worked in financial technology and payments, including ISO / Bank Sponsorships.He has experience in pricing strategy (back-end of the commercialization process throughOTC), pricing tool development, contract negotiations, revenue optimization and financial management through structuring of commercial strategy and sales incentives.

Gordon has demonstrated success driving revenue growth, enhancing key performance metrics and is skilled in uncovering actionable business insights through deep analysis and driving change based on data-driven decision-making.Gordon is currently in a Pricing and Financial Performance leadership role in a large regional bank and supporting their merger integration office. He has had pricing, contractnegotiationand financial performance leadership roles in large corporations based inside and outside of theUS with a span of control covering all major regions of the world including North America, SouthAmerica, Europe and Asia

Functional Skills:
Sales & Revenue, Go-To-Market, Finance

Industry Experience:
Banking, Payments

Startup Stage Focus:
N/A

Pramod Rao is a technology and payments executive with extensive experience building, scaling, and governing global payment platforms across fintech, banking, and enterprise environments. As Senior Vice President of Technology & Payment Platforms at Transcard, he leads the development of an API-first, cloud-native payment orchestration platform that enables banks, fintechs, and businesses to execute secure domestic and international payment operations. His expertise spans payment modernization, banking integrations, embedded finance, real-time payments, and large-scale technology transformation.

Under Pramod’s leadership, Transcard has integrated AI-driven capabilities into its payments ecosystem, leveraging advanced technologies to deliver intelligent automation, predictive insights, and enhanced decision-making across treasury, vendor onboarding, and cash-flow management. Prior to Transcard, he held senior technology leadership positions at First Data (Fiserv) and TransCard Systems, where he led enterprise-scale platform development and built high-performing global engineering teams. With deep experience in regulated financial services, API ecosystems, ERP integrations, and fintech innovation, Pramod advises organizations on leveraging emerging technologies to drive growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

Dondi is a global fintech and payments executive with more than 30 years of experience building, scaling, and modernizing product organizations at the intersection of payments, risk, identity, data, and digital engagement.

Her career has been defined by helping complex, regulated businesses translate innovation into commercial outcomes-defined by products clients buy, trust, and retain. Dondi has led large teams of product managers, analysts, and commercialization leaders worldwide, overseeing enterprise product strategy and modernization, transformation programs, Al-enabled risk, fraud, embedded payments and value-added services. As EVP and Chief Product Officer forTSYS, Dondi also led the strategic partnership and product commercialization programs. Prior to joining TSYS, Dondi was a Senior Strategist for FIS with a focus on optimizing capital investment, product development priorities and positions for the Payments, Core Banking andWealth and Retirement business sectors.

Functional Skills:
Business Strategy, Product Development, Go-To-Market, Marketing, Risk & Compliance, Credit Risk Management, Fraud & Identity Management, Talent/HR

Industry Experience:
Banking, Lending, Payments, Fraud & Security, Risk & Compliance

Startup Stage Focus:
All Stages

This executive is a seasoned leader with extensive experience across financial services, payments, banking, and technology. Throughout his career, he has driven innovation, scaled global operations, and led business transformations that accelerated growth and profitability across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. He has successfully guided both large enterprises and emerging companies through periods of significant change, operational optimization, and strategic expansion.

A former Chief Information Officer and Chief Product Officer, he brings deep expertise in payments, fintech, merchant acquiring, card issuing, treasury management, and banking technology platforms. Known for combining strategic vision with hands-on leadership, he has built and scaled global teams, modernized product and technology organizations, and aligned business strategy with operational execution. As an active advisor and investor, he works closely with companies navigating the evolving intersection of payments, software, artificial intelligence, and financial technology innovation.

Functional Skills:
Business Strategy, Product Development, Sales & Revenue, IT, Go-To-Market, Marketing, Risk & Compliance, Fraud & Identity Management, Talent/HR, Finance

Industry Experience:
Banking, Payments, Fraud & Security, Risk & Compliance, Financial Software

Startup Stage Focus:
Pre Seed, Seed, Series A, Later Stage

Nikhil Kassetty is an AI and fintech technology leader with more than 14 years of experience building and scaling platforms across financial services, payments, billing, cloud infrastructure, and intelligent automation. Over the course of his career, he has developed high-impact technology solutions that support high-volume transaction processing, real-time analytics, and mission-critical financial operations. His expertise spans platform architecture, payments modernization, cloud technologies, and the integration of AI-driven capabilities into enterprise systems.

As an advisor, Nikhil works closely with founders and leadership teams to navigate complex technical and product challenges. He provides guidance on scalable system design, AI adoption strategies, platform development, and technology roadmaps that align with business objectives and go-to-market goals. His experience helping both early-stage and growth-stage companies build secure, resilient, and future-ready products makes him a valuable resource for organizations seeking to scale efficiently while maintaining strong technical foundations.

Functional Skills:
Product Development, IT, Fraud & Identity Mgmt, Risk & Compliance, Credit Risk Mgmt

Industry Experience:
Banking, Payments, Fraud & Security, Financial Software, Lending, Risk & Compliance

Startup Stage Focus:
Pre Seed, See, Series A, Series B, Series C, Later Stage

Keith Hartford is the President of WNA, a leading business transformation and IT advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta. Under his leadership, WNA has built a reputation for helping organizations accelerate transformation initiatives and successfully deliver complex programs on time, on budget, and with measurable business results. Keith oversees all aspects of the firm’s operations and has guided the company’s growth by building a high-performing leadership team and consulting organization focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and sustainable business value.

With extensive experience in business strategy, process optimization, finance, marketing, IT operations, and systems integration, Keith has led consulting engagements across the United States, Europe, and Asia. His expertise spans industries including fintech, financial services, telecommunications, mobility, energy, transportation, manufacturing, technology, and consumer products. Most recently, he provided leadership for a global mobility company’s major product launch and helped a leading fintech and payments organization accelerate adoption of a new B2B financial network solution, driving a fivefold improvement in time-to-market penetration while addressing critical marketing, sales, and operational challenges.

Functional Skills:
Business Strategy, Product Development, Sales & Revenue, IT

Industry Experience:
Banking, Payments

Startup Stage Focus:
N/A

Richard Rotondo is a digital banking strategist, fintech advisor, and thought leader specializing in digital transformation, customer experience, and innovation within financial institutions. Featured in American Banker and ICBA’s Independent Banker magazine, Richard has spent his career helping banks and credit unions align technology, strategy, and customer experience to drive growth and modernize operations. As Chief Digital Strategist and Principal Consultant at Digital Vision Banking, he advises financial institutions on navigating digital transformation through practical, results-driven strategies grounded in real-world experience.

Richard previously served as VP and Digital Banking Manager at Monesty, where he led the creation, launch, and operation of a digital banking division from concept to execution, helping generate $20 million in deposits during its first year. His background includes leadership roles at Equifax and ChoicePoint, as well as founding multiple risk and security consulting ventures. With expertise spanning digital banking, fintech partnerships, product development, business growth, and operational strategy, Richard remains actively involved in the fintech ecosystem through organizations including FinTech Atlanta, ICBA, CBA, GBA, and the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerc

Functional Skills:
Sales & Revenue, Fraud & Identity Management, Go-To-Market, Marketing, Talent / HR, Risk & Compliance

Industry Experience:
Lending, Risk & Compliance, Financial Software

Startup Stage Focus:
N/A

Eric Levy is a transformation and delivery executive with more than 20 years of experience leading strategic initiatives across banking, fintech, and payments. Throughout his career, he has specialized in enterprise transformation, operational efficiency, digital innovation, and large-scale program delivery. As a former global PMO leader, Eric has helped organizations scale, integrate acquisitions, and improve execution through disciplined governance and operational excellence.

Eric has held senior leadership positions at Ingo Money, First Data, Trust Payments, and Synovus Bank, where he led global PMOs, launched licensed financial entities, and drove complex organizational transformations. Through FinTech Atlanta’s Ask an Advisor program, he mentors founders and operators on scaling infrastructure, go-to-market execution, M&A integration, and navigating regulatory challenges. Eric is PMP and Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt certified and currently serves on the board of Quorum Federal Credit Union.

Functional Skills:
Risk & Compliance, Credit Risk Management, Fraud & Identity Management, Fundraising, Product Development, IT, Finance, Sales & Revenue Management

Industry Experience:
Payments, Risk & Compliance, Financial Software, Fraud & Security

Startup Stage Focus:
N/A