LendIt, the global lending and fintech conference series, announced on Thursday the finalists for its first annual LendIt Industry Awards. The organization revealed that out of hundreds of applicants worldwide, the selected finalists were placed in 18 categories, which notably celebrate fintech market leaders, emerging innovators, and top talent. Finalists were chosen based on innovation, emerging talent and top performers.
Jason Jones, Co-Founder of LendIt, shared:
“Having been on the front lines of emerging and later stage Fintech companies for the past five years, we wanted to unveil our own best of the best industry accolades. We were positively overwhelmed with the high number and high caliber of entrees. These finalists represent some of the most innovative companies that are radically improving financial services through technology.”
Lendit also reported that the finalists would be evaluated by more than 30 renowned Fintech industry experts including CEOs, investors, and media. The winners will be announced during the LendIt Industry Awards Show & Dinner at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on March 7th. In addition to the ceremony, the LendIt Industry Awards evening will include a cocktail reception, dinner, and live entertainment. Below are the finalists, per category:
Innovator of the Year
- Fundbox
- Lemonade
- LendKey
- XOR Data Exchange
- Zopa
Executive of the Year
- Noah Breslow, CEO, OnDeck
- Matt Burton, CEO, Orchard
- Dave Girouard, Founder & CEO, Upstart
- Matt Humphrey, Co-founder and CEO, LendingHome
- David Klein, CEO & Co-Founder, CommonBond
- Raul Vazquez, CEO, Oportun
Fintech Woman of the Year
- Olympia De Castro, Partner, Community Investment Management (CIM)
- Jilliene Helman, CEO, RealtyMogul
- Krista Morgan, CEO & Founder, P2Binvestor
- Kathryn Petralia, Co-Founder & Head of Operations, Kabbage
- Denise Thomas, CEO & Co-Founder, ApplePie Capital
- Eva Wong, Co-Founder and COO, Borrowell
Top Consumer Lending Platform
- Avant
- LightStream
- Marlette Funding
- SoFi
- Upstart
- Zopa
Emerging Consumer Lending Platform
- Afluenta
- Ascend Consumer Finance
- Better Mortgage
- Borrowell
- Flexiti Financial
- Float Credit
Top Small Business Lending Platform
- Ascentium Capital
- Iwoca
- Kabbage
- OnDeck
- StreetShares
- SmartBiz
Emerging Small Business Lending Platform
- ApplePie Capital
- Capital Float
- Credibility Capital
- Lendio
- Lendix
- Wunder Capital
Top Real Estate Platform
- LendingHome
- LendInvest
- RealCrowd
Emerging Real Estate Platform
- Fund That Flip
- Income&
- PeerStreet
- Point
- Sharestates
- Sindeo
Top Fund Manager
- HCG Fund Management
- Incline Fund Management
- Prime Meridian Capital Management
International Innovator of the Year
- Afluenta
- Finomena
- Innovative Assessments
- Meniga
- Shenzhen RRJC Financial Informational Service Co.
- Trulioo
Top Law Firm
- Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
- Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
- Clifford Chance
- Chapman and Cutler
- Ballard Spahr
Top Accounting Firm
- Burr Pilger Mayer
- KPMG
- PwC
Top Fintech Equity Investor
- Canaan Partners
- Center for Financial Services Innovation
- Khosla Ventures
- QED Investors
- SenaHill Partners
Most Innovative Bank
- Cross River Bank
- Goldman Sachs
- ICICI Bank
- Santander Bank
- UBS
- WebBank
Top Service Provider
- Blend
- Cloud Lending Solutions
- First Associates Loan Servicing
- LendKey
- PeerIQ
- ThreatMetrix
Best Journalist Coverage
- Anna Irrera, Fintech Correspondent, Reuters
- Zack Miller, Founder and Editor, Tradestreaming
- Sean Murray, President and Chief Editor, deBanked
- George Popescu, Editor in Chief, Lending Times
- Oscar Williams-Grut, Senior Reporter, Business Insider UK
- Tony Zerucha, Managing Editor, Bankless Times
Best in Show
- Announced at the ceremony. Awarded to the best exhibitor at LendIt, judged on booth design and impression as well as staff conviction and enthusiasm.