We are excited to introduce Project FinTech’s 2025 Spring Cohort—a program designed to accelerate the next generation of financial technology startups. These founders are tackling challenges in payments, lending, compliance, and beyond, redefining the future of financial services.
Meet the 2025 Project FinTech Cohort
Aries Fraud Solutions | Website
- Founder: Lon Varns
- HQ Location: Boerne, TX
- Solution: Aries Fraud Solutions specializes in fraud prevention and identity theft protection, offering patented solutions like the Obscurity Card, which prevents card-not-present (CNP) fraud.
Brandwood Global | Website
- Founder: Stephanie Weier
- HQ Location: Nashville, TN
- Solution: A B2B API enabling streaming apps to sell through patented “silent sound” technology without interrupting content, using blockchain for payouts.
ForOurLastNames | Website
- Founder: Ray’Chel Wilson
- HQ Location: Tulsa, OK
- Solution: A financial education platform for first-generation wealth builders, offering gamified money metrics, AI-powered insights, and financial professional matchmaking.
Gabriel Money Inc. | Website
- Founder: Rodrigo Dantas e Silva
- HQ Location: Atlanta, GA
- Solution: A fintech for young Americans of Latino origin with no or low credit scores, using AI to help them build credit and access non-predatory financial products.
MasRefund | Website
- Founder: Simon Karmarkar
- HQ Location: Nashville, TN
- Solution: A bilingual Spanish-English DIY tax filing app designed to serve the Hispanic population with affordable, easy-to-use tax filing solutions.
Mirian | Website
- Founder: Daniel Birkhead
- HQ Location: Nashville, TN
- Solution: A payment platform that ensures secure, guaranteed transactions for freelancers and small businesses, tied to deliverables.
Sandbox Wealth | Website
- Founder: Ray Denis
- HQ Location: New York, NY
- Solution: A turnkey banking solution for non-bank financial institutions, enabling advisors to provide cash management, credit solutions, and enterprise-grade analytics.
SettlementDoneEasy | Website
- Founder: Shannon Elsea (LinkedIn: N/A)
- HQ Location: Memphis, TN
- Solution: A B2B SaaS platform replacing paper checks with ACH payments for personal injury claims, making settlements faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
What’s Next?
These startups will undergo months of expert mentorship, pitch coaching, and investor networking to refine their business models and scale their innovations. Stay tuned for updates on their journey!
Interested in the future of financial technology? Learn more about Project FinTech and how you can apply for the next cohort.
This program is supported by our program partners: First Horizon, Pinnacle and LaunchTN.
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