Venture Center promotes Daniel Schutte to VP for Strategic Partnerships

The Venture Center has hired Daniel Schutte as vice president of strategic partnerships.

Schutte oversaw The Venture Center’s fintech programs from 2018 to 2020 and served as managing director of fintech accelerator programs from 2020 to June 2022. In the newly formed role, Schutte will be responsible for building additional accelerator, corporate innovation and economic development programs in order to help maximize the impact of The Venture Center.

The Venture Center’s fintech programming includes the globally-recognized FIS Accelerator which provides mentorship for fintech entrepreneurs from experts in the field, as well as in-depth access to the FIS network. The program began in 2016 and has graduated 70 alumni of which 90 percent are still active or have been acquired.

“Daniel’s success with our accelerator programs, acumen and motivation to build network connections in the fintech and corporate innovation space make him a great fit for this newly-formed position at The Venture Center,” said Mimi San Pedro, interim executive director and chief strategy officer for the organization. “He brings with him experience in program management, business planning, and financial services and we’re excited to hit the ground running as we prepare for the many opportunities ahead.”

Before joining The Venture Center in 2018, Schutte was the founder and CEO of multiple tech companies in the fintech and entertainment space, and prior to that, the VP of a family-owned commercial printing business.

“I’m thrilled to return to The Venture Center and continue our work both within the fintech space and in other verticals,” said Schutte. “We’ve barely scratched the surface of the ultimate impact we will have on the broader business community, and I’m very proud to be part of this effort with the amazing team at The Venture Center.”