2025
Finance and Fintech Judging Panel
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Name |
Paul SAKR |
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Company |
WSN Consulting Head of APAC |
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Profile |
With over 10 years in financial markets and banking professional, Mr. Sakr has worked in Senior positions at E-Trade, ANZ Bank and now head APAC for WSN Consulting. |
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Jean-Pierre Sfeir |
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Company |
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Profile |
Jean-Pierre Sfeir is a finance and investment leader with over 15 years of international experience in financial management, investment strategy, and large-scale project financing. As founder and CEO of FACT Advisors, he has guided financial operations for more than 80 companies across industries including technology, real estate, hospitality, and construction. He has overseen projects such as the development of the first AI-powered hotel in Las Vegas and secured over $300 million in business and investment loans. His expertise, strategic insight, and proven ability to evaluate both opportunity and risk make him exceptionally qualified to serve as a fair and effective judge. |
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Saul Lokier |
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Company |
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Profile |
Saul Lokier is a seasoned financial leader with over 15 years of forex trading expertise and proven executive management experience. As CEO of The5ers, he has developed innovative evaluation systems that have assessed thousands of traders with fairness, transparency, and precision. His leadership combines technical knowledge with a strong focus on professional development, enabling him to cultivate high-performing individuals and sustainable growth strategies. Lokier’s ability to balance practical trading insight with visionary business leadership demonstrates his capacity to recognize talent, foster innovation, and maintain global standards of excellence, making him a standout figure in the financial services sector. |
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Raghu Praneeth Akula |
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Company |
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Profile |
Raghu Praneeth Akula is a seasoned Oracle EPM Architect with over 17 years of experience in cloud finance, strategic forecasting, and operational analysis. At CSAA Insurance Group, he has led transformative initiatives in cloud-based accounting platforms, automation, and data integration. His expertise spans financial modeling, risk management, and change implementation, driving measurable performance improvements across large enterprises. Akula is also a thought leader, sharing best practices and training cross-functional teams to elevate industry standards. Holding PMP and CSM credentials, he bridges technical and managerial domains with precision, making him a standout contributor to technology-driven business transformation and strategic enterprise success. |
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Sourabh Dadapure |
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Company |
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Profile |
Sourabh Dadapure is a seasoned software engineer and fintech entrepreneur dedicated to creating impactful, user-focused technology. As the founder of CreditConnect, he developed an AI-powered mobile app that helps users manage credit card debt through personalized insights and smart automation. His work demonstrates a rare fusion of technical excellence, financial literacy advocacy, and real-world problem-solving. Beyond product innovation, he serves as a lead mentor at Founders Network, guiding early-stage entrepreneurs with strategic and technical advice. His commitment to financial empowerment, mentorship, and building meaningful digital tools positions him as a standout leader in the tech and fintech industries. |
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Stanislav Salkov |
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Profile |
Stanislav Salkov excels in investment banking and strategic leadership across multiple industries. As Vice President at ScaleView Partners, he orchestrates high-value transactions, once securing a 40 percent higher acquisition bid through identifying overlooked synergies. Previously, he grew Dragon Capital’s portfolio by $300 million through nine strategic M&A deals. During Ukraine’s war crisis, he leveraged his CEO experience at Pampik.com to deliver emergency aid to 2,000+ families despite severe logistical challenges. His data-driven approach at Interpipe unlocked $40 million in revenue opportunities through competitive analysis. His CFA credentials and international experience enhance his ability to evaluate excellence across diverse global contexts. |
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Matt Lloyd Travis |
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Company |
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Profile |
Matt Lloyd Travis leverages over 15 years of financial technology expertise as CEO of Bounce Funding LTD, where he developed a platform enabling businesses to secure capital in 90 seconds across UK and US markets. His career spans leadership roles at Puzzle Funding, Funding Xchange, and Capital Index, where he increased revenues by 400% in 18 months. Travis combines technical prowess in algorithm development with practical business acumen, having created AI-driven investment tools for Middle Eastern markets. His diverse professional background, which includes experience in global sales operations and cross-continental business development, provides him with comprehensive insight into excellence across multiple industries and international contexts. |
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Yu (Sydney) Cheng |
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Company |
Finance |
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Profile |
Yu (Sydney) Cheng is a Senior Asset Management Analyst in the alternative investment sector, specializing in distressed-asset management, special-situations investing, and strategic asset restructuring. Cheng develops sophisticated financial models for multi-million-dollar capital allocation decisions and manages healthcare real-estate portfolios, optimizing capital structures to achieve enhanced risk-adjusted returns. With an M.A. in Social Quantitative Methods from Columbia University and a B.S. in Mathematical Economics from USC, Cheng combines quantitative expertise with practical investment experience. Cheng has published peer-reviewed research on healthcare finance and collaborates internationally on healthcare economics studies, demonstrating analytical rigor and cross-sector evaluation capabilities essential for assessing diverse professional achievements. |
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