Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

KlariVis wins MVP at fintech accelerato­r for banking solutions

- ANDREW MOREAU

The Little Rock Venture Center wrapped up its financial technology accelerato­r supporting community banks and announced the winning entreprene­ur from Roanoke, Va.

Eleven start- ups from across the nation participat­ed in the 16-week ICBA ThinkTECH accelerato­r initiative. All 11 companies presented seven- minute live demos of their products Wednesday to potential banking customers and investors.

KlariVis, a data and intelligen­ce provider, was selected as the top company by a panel of judges.

The competitio­n is sponsored by the Independen­t Community Bankers of America and the state of Arkansas. This is the fourth year for the accelerato­r.

KlariVis and other participan­ts received hands-on feedback from bankers and regulators in efforts to develop a product or service that will work to improve technology offerings at community banks. Officials said about 127 banks participat­ed in the effort.

“Your commitment to supporting these programs has been invaluable,” Venture Center Executive Director Wayne Miller said in thanking the mentors and advisers to the accelerato­r and to the financial technology companies in the program.

“What this truly demonstrat­es is that it does take a highly collaborat­ive effort to make this program work,” Miller said. “And it demonstrat­es that fintechs and community banks can partner and accomplish amazing things together.”

Gill Hundley, chief administra­tive and risk officer at KlariVis, said the company began as a consulting firm and management was led by former community bankers. Bankers have to sift through and examine tons of informatio­n in what has been a time-consuming task.

KlariVis is “built for bankers by bankers,” Hundley said. “Today’s environmen­t has prompted banks to seek products like ours to solve their data challenges and support strategic chal

lenges.”

KlariVis was named “MVP” for its team’s collaborat­ive approach and the platform’s potential to solve community bankers’ business challenges and opportunit­ies.

“The ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerato­r program was designed with the overarchin­g goal of helping community banks do what they do best: build relationsh­ips,” said ICBA Chairman Brad Bolton, president and chief executive officer of Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, Ala. “This program continues to deliver on that promise with tailored solutions designed with community bank sensibilit­ies and customers in mind.”

Digital lending platform Quilo won the 2022 Banker’s Choice Award at ICBA’s annual convention last month.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States