Archives: team-member

Jessica Chen Riolfi is the Co-Founder and CEO at Uprise, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. With a background in product, growth, and international expansion, Jessica brings extensive expertise in fintech, payments, eCommerce, marketplaces, and consumer technology to her role. She is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences and improve lives through tech-enabled products. Jessica holds a connection with Harvard Business School and has amassed a considerable following and connections on her profile. With 4,023 followers and 500+ connections, Jessica’s influence and network reach are evident. Her diverse skill set and keen interest in driving innovation and growth make her a prominent figure in the tech industry. If you’re seeking a visionary leader with a track record of success in driving business growth and innovation in various sectors, Jessica Chen Riolfi stands out as an accomplished professional with a focus on creating meaningful impact through her work at Uprise. Linkedin Profile

Renata Caine is a Payments Technology Executive with a strong background in Corporate Strategy, Strategic Planning, and Global Expansion. Currently associated with Green Dot Corporation in the San Francisco Bay Area, Renata is known for her expertise in areas such as M&A, Corporate Development, Team Building, and Advisory roles. With a robust network of 500+ connections and over 4,449 followers, she excels in connecting people, building teams, and driving corporate growth strategies. Renata‘s specialties include corporate strategy, operational planning, partnership development, sales and marketing, international expansion, and contract negotiation. She is recognized for her keen insights into payments technology, relationship management, and business development, making her a valuable asset in driving success and facilitating global business growth initiatives. Passionate about innovation and connecting the dots in the ever-evolving payments landscape, Renata Caine stands out as a visionary leader and a strategic thinker in the industry.

Anas Jawed – Entrepreneur, Technology Expert, and FiNext Awards & Conference Advisor Anas Jawed is a dynamic entrepreneur and technology expert based in Noida, India. Currently, he serves as the head of the Indian office of Perfect Timing Technologies, a prominent technology company based in Germany. With a passion for innovation and a deep understanding of the fintech landscape, Anas has made significant contributions to the industry. Even before completing his MBA at Aligarh Muslim University in India, Anas was actively involved in creating and launching startups in the country. Drawing upon his expertise in international business, technology, and entrepreneurship, he has played a pivotal role in the success of these ventures. As an engineer, Anas co-founded InternetShine Technologies in late 2014, where he served as a Technical Project Manager overseeing the company’s acquired projects. With a focus on website and mobile app development, he has demonstrated his technical prowess and remained at the forefront of the ever-evolving fintech industry. In 2018, driven by his keen interest in fintech and recognizing the industry’s need for a dedicated networking platform for finance technology entrepreneurs and investors, Anas and his team inaugurated the FiNext Awards & Conference. This groundbreaking event has since become a prominent gathering for industry professionals, providing a forum for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and recognition of outstanding achievements in the fintech field. As an advisor for the FiNext Awards & Conference, Anas brings his extensive experience, strategic insights, and entrepreneurial spirit to the table. His dedication to fostering innovation and connecting industry players has been instrumental in shaping the success of the event. Anas Jawed is a visionary leader, driving positive change in the fintech industry and empowering entrepreneurs to reach new heights. His contributions continue to make a significant impact on the industry, and his expertise is highly sought after by organizations and professionals alike. Connect with Anas to tap into his vast knowledge and expertise in technology, entrepreneurship, and the ever-evolving world of fintech.

Adam “Sully” Perella is a Technical Director who leads the PIN and P2PE service lines for Schellman Compliance LLC. His focus also includes the Software Security Framework, 3-Domain Secure services (3DS), and external vulnerability scans as an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). Sully’s experience in information technology began in 2004 as a networking, switching, computer systems, and cryptological operations technician in the Air Force. He then moved into a quality assurance role for the communications squadrons that broadened his exposure to different technologies and enterprise-level concepts. While in the service, he obtained his associate degree in Information Systems and his bachelor’s degree in Business Management. After leaving the Air Force, Sully worked in data analysis and then began his career as an assessor in 2012, with 403 Labs, where he found his passion for information security. After beginning in the payments space, Sully ramped up to validate payment applications, point-to-point encryption, perform penetration testing, and forensic services. Sully maintains multiple certifications within information security and payments. Active within the payments community, he helps draft new payments standards and speaks globally on payment security.

Chris Dean is the CEO and Co-founder of Treasury Prime, a cutting-edge banking platform dedicated to shaping the future of financial services. With a background in startup ventures and the financial services industry, Chris has witnessed the fragmentation within the banking sector and recognized the potential to streamline and unify it for the benefit of all stakeholders. Through Treasury Prime’s top-tier API, Chris and his team empower fintech companies and banks with economic efficiencies and innovative product offerings previously thought unattainable. Driven by a mission to simplify and enhance the management, accessibility, and growth of money for individuals, Chris is leading the charge to revolutionize the financial services landscape. His passion lies in creating a unified ecosystem that transforms how people interact with their finances, making it more intuitive and empowering. To learn more about Chris Dean’s visionary work and the team of talented individuals at Treasury Prime, visit treasuryprime.com. For discussions on startups, financial services, banking, or even to catch a glimpse of his beloved dog, Yoshi, feel free to connect with Chris.

Michael Azevedo is the Director of Partner Solutions for Savvy Money. He is a native Californian and received his undergraduate business degree from Sonoma State and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Michael spent, what he calls chapter one of his career, in the financial services industry in a variety of capacities centered around lending products and processes. In chapter two of this career, he focuses on helping financial institutions engage consumers with a meaningful and data-driven approach. His professional experience centers on a grounded, holistic, and consumer-centric approach that emphasizes consumer lending, financial wellness, and digital engagement. Michael considers himself a student of consumer lending behaviors and is devoted to helping financial institutions take the needed steps to provide the most effective and seamless digital experience possible to their consumers.

Amit Sharma is Founder and CEO of FinClusive and has engaged in a myriad of roles that intersect financial markets, risk management , regulatory compliance , and international development. He is the Founder and CEO of FinClusive, a hybrid financial-technology and regulatory technology (fintech/regtech) company that provides a compliant gateway between traditional financial services and digital assetes cosystems including blockchain-enabled networks and decentralized financial services (Defi)—with an embedded full-stack global-standard financial crimes compliance (FCC) platform. Prior to FinClusive, Amit worked in both the public and private sectors, including with: Mitsubishi UFJ as the global lead of new products and the Chief of Staff to the Head of Global Markets and Intl. Business Units; Command Global Services as Chief of Operations, and at the US Treasury Department, first at the inception of the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI), and later as COS to the Deputy Secretary and Advisor to Treasury’s senior team under Secretary   Henry  Paulson.

Santiago Vinoth Jeyaseelan is a seasoned product leader based in Oakland, California, United States. He serves as the VP of Product at Gainbridge®, a company under Group 1001, specializing in insurtech and fintech. With a deep knowledge of product development, Santiago excels in strategizing and implementing plans effectively. He leads the product and design teams at Gainbridge®, focusing on creating top-notch products for a wide range of clients, including consumers, businesses, and innovators. Santiago’s expertise lies in mapping out strategic paths and translating them into successful tactical executions. As a member of the Forbes Technology Council, he is well-versed in the latest trends and innovations in the tech industry. Santiago Vinoth Jeyaseelan’s dedication to building best-in-class products showcases his commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of product leadership.

Max Galka is CEO/founder of Elementus (data-driven blockchain intelligence platform), a data scientist bytraining and passion, has served as an adjunct lecturer in data science at the University of Pennsylvania,and is a founder of FOIA Mapper, a search engine for offline public records. In his previous career, he was a derivatives trader at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse. Max’ data analyses and data visualizationshave also been featured in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and othernational and international publications. Max holds degrees in Finance from the Wharton School ofBusiness and Computer Science Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.