JONATHAN RUANE

AI Research Scientist, MIT Digital Economy (IDE) & Lecturer, MIT Sloan

Jonathan Ruane is a Lecturer in the Global Economics and Management group at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Research Scientist at MIT’s Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE). His interests are at the intersection of digital technology, entrepreneurship, advanced computing and international markets.

He is also an Adjunct Professor at Trinity College Dublin and a Fulbright recipient. Ruane teaches across Sloan (MBA, EMA, Exec Education) and EECS. He cofounded a number of pioneering graduate courses at MIT in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and Quantum Computing.

Prior to coming to MIT, Ruane was ceo of a VC backed SAAS company that he cofounded and subsequently sold. The business was listed in the Techcrunch Euro Top 100, and Ruane himself was named in the Top 40 Irish Entrepreneurs Under 40. He started his career with Procter & Gamble.

MOHIT KANSAL

SVP, Global Payments and Payer Services, Flywire

As SVP of Global Payments and Payer Services, Mohit is responsible for Flywire's world-class global payments network, pricing, growth, and FX risk management functions. Mohit has more than 15 years of global experience in financial services, tech startups, and payments technology, both as an operator and entrepreneur.

Since joining Flywire in 2016, Mohit has built a global team of payments leaders, who are responsible for driving revenue growth and market expansion through a mix of product innovation, partnerships, monetization strategy and risk management. In addition to his core team, Mohit also leads Flywire’s strategy and global cross-functional team responsible for payer growth initiatives.

Prior to Flywire, Mohit had a variety of experiences including working in financial services at Merrill Lynch in London and UBS AG in Hong Kong, starting up companies in hardware technology and financial technology sectors in Boston, and a stint with the Government of India on the unique ID initiative targeting 1.2 billion+ people. Mohit has an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a B. Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

GRACY CHEN

Managing Director, Bitget

Gracy Chen is the Managing Director of the top crypto derivatives and copy trading platform Bitget, where she oversees global marketing and project listing. Gracy orchestrated partnerships with iconic footballer Leonel Messi and ran campaigns contributing to Bitget's brand visibility. She, together with over 1500 talented professionals at Bitget, has quadrupled the platform's user base since 2022 and has positioned Bitget among the top five crypto exchanges by trading volume.

Before joining Bitget, she held executive positions at the fintech unicorn company Accumulus and Foxconn-backed VR startup XRSPACE. Gracy was also an early investor in BitKeep, Asia's leading decentralized wallet.

In 2015, Gracy was honored as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. In 2023, she was invited as one of the judges of the crypto TV show Killer Whales, where she evaluates Web3 and blockchain projects.

JOSE LOBEZ

Vice President, Global Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation, VISA

Jose leads Global AI and Data Innovation at Visa, a global function of Data Scientists, ML Scientists & Engineers, Data Engineers and Product Managers focused on creating the next generation of AI/ML/Data products and innovations to generate growth and value for consumers and clients. Prior to joining Visa, Jose held various global cross-functional leadership positions in Data Science & Analytics / AI / ML for B2B / B2C companies in Tech (Reddit, IBM), Consumer Goods / E-commerce (AB InBev) and Consulting (Mars & Co – PepsiCo, Nestle, SC Johnson). Jose holds a PhD from MIT and has 10 patents and 11 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and has conducted research in Japan, Germany and Canada (University of Tokyo / RIKEN, University Bayreuth, Queen’s University). Jose is a citizen of the world, having lived and worked in 12 countries.

NICK ROBNETT

Senior Director - Stablecoin Partnerships, Paxos

Nick is the Senior Director of Stablecoin Partnerships at Paxos. Nick is an expert in blockchain technology and works with some of the global leaders in financial services including PayPal, Interactive Brokers, Mercado Libre and more to launch their blockchain & digital asset solutions.

DAVE UHRYNIAK

Ecosystem Development Leader, TRON DAO

Dave Uhryniak is the Ecosystem Development Leader at Tron DAO. Tron DAO is among the largest layer one blockchains in the world and is the fastest growing. Dave joined Tron in January 2022 and has become a highly visible part of the team that drives global expansion as they identify key opportunities within the blockchain ecosystem. 

Involved in blockchain since 2016, Dave has provided strategic guidance for global payment companies and insurance companies, among others. He has led the successful development of multiple use cases in financial services, healthcare, and supply chain. He is helping Tron to achieve its goal of being the global settlement network and the preferred blockchain in emerging markets. He continually finds unique and creative ways to apply emerging technologies to enable consumers and corporations to achieve their strategic goals. 

Dave has spoken at crypto events throughout the world and has often been quoted in leading media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, and other publications. Dave is a Certified Blockchain Solution Architect, holds a certificate from Wharton in Economics of Blockchain and Digital Assets, holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School, and a BA from Westminster College (PA).

ABDUL ABDIRAHMAN

Principal, F-Prime Capital

Abdul is a NY-based Principal at F-Prime Capital, where he focuses on early-stage investments in FinTech and Vertical SaaS. At F-Prime, he also leads efforts on the Fintech Index and co-authors the annual State of Fintech Report. Prior to joining F-Prime, Abdul invested in emerging markets-based technology startups and worked with a venture-backed digital banking/payments startup in East Africa. He began his career in financial services where he carried out assurance and valuations services for venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds based in New York & London. Abdul holds an MBA degree from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and an MPA in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School.

JULIAN ROEOES

Partner, Picus Capital

As Partner and Head of Americas, Julian spearheaded the launch of Picus Capital in the region, breaking boundaries and opening doors for cross-continental collaboration. He oversaw 50+ investments and more than 75+ follow-on rounds across the portfolio while doing so. Since joining the firm, he has meaningfully shaped the firm's investment strategy in the FinTech space and invested in a broad range of business models in B2B banking infrastructure, payments, trading, and wealth infrastructure, as well as in embedded finance solutions. His insights into local nuances, market specifics, and investor expectations on both sides of the Atlantic are incredibly valuable for our founding teams worldwide. 

Before that, he worked for Credit Suisse in the Investment Banking and Capital Markets division in New York and London. At Credit Suisse Julian advised Financial Services and FinTech clients on M&A and private and public financing transactions. Julian graduated from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management with a bachelor's degree in Finance and General Management.

KRISTEN CRAFT

VP, Business Partnerships, Fidelity

Kristen Craft brings deep startup roots to her role as VP of Business Partnerships at Fidelity. In this role, she's building out Fidelity's startup engagement platform, supporting founders and investors with equity management tools, fundraising strategy, and go-to-market best practices. Prior to Fidelity, Kristen was a founder herself, and then a longtime startup operator. She enjoyed working on strategic partnerships and digital marketing, predominantly in B2B SaaS companies. A Boston-area native, Kristen holds a B.A. from Brown University, an M.Ed. from Harvard University, and an MBA from MIT Sloan. She's particularly passionate about building community, creating connections, and supporting diverse founders.

MIGUEL ARMAZA

Co-Founder/General Partner, Gilgamesh Ventures

Miguel is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Gilgamesh Ventures, a fintech VC that has invested in almost 40 companies across the US, Brazil, and Latin America. He's also the host of the Fintech Leaders Podcast, one of the most popular shows in fintech and VC with millions of reads and listens across 175 countries. In a prior life, he spent almost a decade as a banker for Citi and MUFG. He holds an MBA from Wharton and an MA from the Lauder Institute and has lived in several countries, including Bolivia, China, Russia, Ireland, Uruguay, Italy, and USA. He is fluent in Russian, Spanish, and English.

PAULO PASSONI

Managing Partner, Valor Capital

Paulo is a Managing Partner at Valor, responsible for the firm’s Growth Equity business. He is an investor with 16 years of experience. His areas of focus are growth equity and special situations. He has invested in private and public companies in a variety of asset classes: tech, listed companies, private equities, private credit, public credit, infrastructure and real estate.

Previously, Paulo was a Managing Investment Partner of SoftBank’s LatAm Funds ($8Bn). He helped build that effort from 7 people to a team of 60 investment and business professionals. Paulo served on the boards of Quinto Andar (prop tech), VTEX (e-commerce software; publicly traded), Creditas (fintech), Olist (commerce software), Afya (education; publicly traded), MadeiraMadeira (e-commerce), CRM & Bonus (software), InCode (onboarding software), Unico (onboarding software), Descomplica (education), Pet Love (e-commerce), Buser (transportation), and a board observer of Loggi (logistics), Glorify (social media) and Hashdex (fintech).

Prior to SoftBank, Paulo was a Managing Director responsible for Emerging Markets investments at Third Point where he built a very successful franchise of helping companies go public, identifying them early and assisting CEOs and owners in the process alongside Third Point’s investments. He invested across the capital structure in public equity and debt securities.

Before joining Third Point, Paulo helped build the Eton Park special situations effort in Latin America where he sourced, executed and monitored private minority investments in the region. He served on the board of ERSA, a renewable energy platform, SDI, a warehouse real estate joint-venture, and RCB, a consumer credit platform.

Paulo started his career at Morgan Stanley doing mostly M&A transactions in Brazil. After he did a joint-degree at Harvard Business School (Baker Scholar) and the Kennedy School. He obtained his undergrad from FGV in business and finance in São Paulo.

He is married and resides in NY. Paulo has a daughter and a son and is an avid kite surfer, who enjoys tennis, biking and volleyball. Paulo serves on the board of LALA – Latin American Leadership Academy and is an active participant of Fundacao Estudar.

ASIM TEWARY

Former Chief AI Officer, PayPal

Asim Tewary is the former Chief AI Officer at PayPal and led AI/ML strategies to drive operational and financial goals using technologies like OpenAI's GPT. His experience spans AI strategy and alignment with enterprise objectives, having held senior roles in data and analytics across firms like Morgan Stanley, AIG, Verizon, and PwC.

VIJAY D’SILVA

Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan & Senior Partner, Emeritus McKinsey

Vijay D’Silva is a McKinsey Senior Partner and accomplished firm and client leader operating at the intersection of financial services and technology.  His broad experience with global companies has included work on growth, transformation, and governance, helping CEOs of global banks, payments, and data services companies through transitions, crises, and mergers.  

At McKinsey, Vijay built and co-led McKinsey’s Global Risk Management and Global Payments Practices.  He is currently active within McKinsey Digital, focused on driving Digital and AI in companies.  He is a frequent author, launched and edits McKinsey on Payments, and hosts podcasts with global fintech leaders.

Outside McKinsey, Vijay is an LP Advisor at NYCA Partners, a leading venture capital firm focused on connecting innovative companies to the global financial system.  Outside his professional interests, he is a Trustee of Catholic Charities of New York, helped create the NYC CEO Jobs Council, establish the RED campaign to combat Global AIDS, and advise the September 11 Memorial and Museum.

Vijay sits on the Executive Board of the MIT Sloan School, where he received his Masters in Management and in 2021 was appointed the school’s first Executive in Residence.  He also has degrees in Computer Studies from NCSU, and in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay, for which he ranked first in state, and 13th nationwide.

DAVID HIRSCH

Director, Corporate Business Development - Payments, Amazon

David Hirsch is Director of Corporate Business Business Development for payments, financial services and physical retail technology at Amazon.  David is responsible for the evaluation, development and negotiation of strategic partnerships and initiatives to increase the value Amazon delivers to consumers, sellers and clients through financial services products, payment experiences and offerings, and physical retail solutions.  David’s and his team’s remit spans Amazon’s range of businesses and full geographic footprint. 

A seasoned global payments and digital lending executive with more than 15 years’ experience, David has led teams driving business and corporate development activities across the payments value chain. His experience spans time at established players like American Express and digital disruptors like Klarna.  Previously, he served as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, where his clients included banks, payment networks and financial sponsors.  His experience spans the Americas, Asia-Pacific, MENA and Europe.  He previously served as a board director of Tabby, a leading buy now pay later firm serving the MENA region.

David holds an AB, cum laude, in economics from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

RUPA KRISHNAN

Head of Real-time Payments, JP Morgan

Rupa has the ownership and responsibility to drive adoption, growth, and profitability, of real-time payments globally. As GM of the business, she is responsible for the product and market expansion strategy, product growth, pricing, commercialization, product roadmap, development, delivery, and the end-to-end client experience. Rupa is a General Manager and seasoned Product Executive in financial services. She brings 15+ years of experience in leading product organizations, business development & strategic partnerships functions in companies of varying sizes from early-stage fintech, established fintech, to Fortune 500 and Fortune 50 companies. 

Rupa stitches her vast experience across organizations to build best in class, customer-centric product organizations, that are lean, nimble, and operate with high degree of ownership, accountability and transparency. Rupa is a champion of “One Team” mentality that puts the interests of our customers and firm paramount. Rupa is passionate about mentoring young leaders and a DEI champion that believes in the power of connection and empathy to build strong teams. 

Rupa is a lifelong learner, and consciously seeks opportunities outside her comfort zone that scare her. She enjoys running, yoga, gardening, and cooking traditional meals for her family. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children.

BRUNO PIEROBON

CEO, StackSpot

Bruno Pierobon is the co-founder and CEO of StackSpot by Zup, a product launched in 2023 in partnership with Itaú Unibanco. StackSpot creates digital assets to efficiently, securely, and scalably build, grow, and accelerate technological applications.

Bruno learned programming on his own, and from the age of 13 he put his knowledge into practice, helping his father in his internet service provider company in the interior of São Paulo, which was later acquired by the Algar Group. After the acquisition, Bruno took on the role of the executive responsible for R&D in the entire telecommunications company.

Pierobon founded Zup, which was established in 2010, leaving a mark in the technology consulting market based on innovation and bold solutions, impacting today over 30 million people on average with high-scale applications. In 2019, Zup Innovation was acquired by Itaú Unibanco, the largest financial institution in Latin America.

ANDREW DRESNER

Partner - Payments Practice, McKinsey

Andy Dresner currently serves as a Partner in McKinsey's Payment Practice where he focuses on developing innovative payment strategies and identifying revenue-generating opportunities for leading banks across the US. Before joining McKinsey, he spent five years as the Head of Payments Strategy at JP Morgan Chase. Throughout his career, Andy has established himself as a payments expert, working with a wide range of clients including Issuers, Acquirers, Networks, Processors, and Fintechs. Andy holds a BA in Economics from Georgetown University.

JIM CUNHA

Former EVP, Federal Reserve Bank Boston

BOB BENCH

Senior Advisor - Digital Currency Initiative, MIT Media Lab

Robert Bench is a Senior Advisor at MIT Media Lab's Digital Currency Initiative, overseeing its research and engineering in cryptocurrencies and blockchain. He co-founded Project Hamilton & OpenCBDC.tx, creating a leading open-source processor for central bank digital currency, and developed the legal framework for USDC at Circle, a major regulated U.S. dollar stablecoin.

BRAD CHASE

Head of Liquidity Products, Ripple

Brad Chase is the Head of Liquidity Products at Ripple, leading teams building products and services that determine and deliver optimal liquidity for Ripple’s global customer-base in a cost-effective, robust and scalable manner. Earlier in his tenure at Ripple, Brad was a core contributor to the XRP Ledger, developing a simulation framework to test the XRP Ledger Consensus Protocol and co-authored a paper about the protocol’s theoretical safety properties. Prior to joining Ripple, Brad managed quantitative development and trading strategy research teams in the high-frequency trading industry for closer to a decade. He holds Bachelor degrees in computer science and physics from Rice University, and a Ph.D. in quantum information and control theory from the University of New Mexico.