Jason is the founder of the FinTech Forge, a managed service provider helping financial institutions transform in the era of digital disruption, and co-host of Breaking Banks, the world’s largest fintech podcast. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of FinTEx, a non-profit growing the FinTech cluster across the Midwest, and Currency, a FinTech Center of Excellence in partnership with the University of Chicago, Northwestern and DePaul University. Jason is a frequent speaker on financial innovation, regulation, compliance as competitive advantage, the importance of diversity and the potential for technology to drive financial inclusion. He is on the FinTech advisory boards for the City of Chicago, the AARP, the Center for Financial Services Innovation Lab, and the SXSW Accelerator.
Jason stumbled into financial services in the early 90’s as a manufacturing engineer for Deluxe Corporation. Since leaving paper checks for the digital world, he’s been an entrepreneur, venture capitalist and head of innovation for a public company. In 2008, he co-founded PerkStreet Financial, one of the first challenger banks, helping pave the way for new partnerships between traditional financial service firms and startups.
Jason and his wife are active angel investors in companies that include mobile savings, B2B payments, international payments, investment management, fraud detection, analytics and back office tools.
Non Profit Focus
Jason is the co-founder and Chairman of FinTEx, a non-profit growing the FinTech cluster across the Midwest, and Currency, a FinTech Center of Excellence in partnership with the University of Chicago, Northwestern and DePaul University. Jason is also on the board of FinTech Women, a FinTEx initiative to bridge the gender gap in financial services. Jason is a frequent speaker on financial innovation, regulation, compliance as competitive advantage, the importance of diversity and the potential for technology to drive financial inclusion. He is on the FinTech advisory boards for the City of Chicago, the AARP, the Center for Financial Services Innovation Lab, and the SXSW Accelerator.
Jason and his wife are active angel investors. They have two investment criteria that is different from most other investors: 1. The world would be a less good place if the company’s product didn’t exist 2. Diversity on the senior management team. While their portfolio is heavy with FinTech companies such as mobile savings, payments, investment management, analytics and back office tools, they also have invested in things like bike sharing and technology for senior health.