Arkansas ICBA accelerator participant earns ‘Best of Show’ award at Finovate conference

by Roby Brock ([email protected]) 355 views 

Invest Sou Sou, an inaugural participant in the 2019 ICBA accelerator cohort at the Venture Center in Little Rock, won a “Best in Show” award at the highly competitive Finovate Spring conference in San Francisco.

Finovate is a demo-focused conference series focused exclusively on showcasing the best and most innovative new financial and banking technologies, attracting large, high-impact audiences of senior financial and banking executives, fintech leaders and investors. Finovate conferences take place around the world and feature thousands of startup fintech companies.

PayPal, SoFi and are all previous winners from Finovate conferences.

Washington, D.C.-based Invest Sou Sou utilizes lending circles to help banks modernize the way that people save and build stronger credit. By providing a social banking platform, Invest Sou Sou technology helps banks find, recruit, cultivate, and retain low cost deposits and credit-ready borrowers in a secure and cost-efficient way.

The company participated in the Venture Center’s debut fintech program for smaller banks earlier this year. The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) partnered on the 12-week program.

“The recognition we have received this year from Finovate, The Venture Center and ICBA, as well as our own growth, confirms the increasing demand among community banks for an innovative partner in social banking fintech solutions,” said Invest Sou Sou CEO and Founder Fonta Gilliam.

“We are incredibly proud of Invest Sou Sou and commend their efforts to create a community bank-focused solution that will benefit America’s consumers and the community banks that serve them,” said ICBA Services Network Chief Operating Officer Kevin Tweddle. “It has been an honor to work with Invest Sou Sou and be part of their growth throughout the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator experience. We are thrilled that they received such a prestigious award and recognition on the highly competitive Finovate stage.”

“The Venture Center is thrilled for Invest Sou Sou,” said Venture Center’s Executive Director Wayne Miller. “We’re delighted to see alumni recognized for creating remarkable solutions that have been created specifically for community banks. It’s a win-win for America’s communities.”