2025
Finance and Fintech Judging Panel
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Greg CULLEN |
|
Company |
Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Pendula |
|
Profile |
Over the past 20 years Mr.Cullen has held leadership positions with some of the fastest growing software companies of our time, including the IPO of NOW (NYSE), TLND ( Nasdaq) and contributing to the IPO of ZUO (NYSE) and PlateSpin, Acquired by Novell. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Paul SAKR |
|
Company |
WSN Consulting Head of APAC |
|
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. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Saul Lokier |
|
Company |
|
|
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. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Raghu Praneeth Akula |
|
Company |
|
|
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. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Sourabh Dadapure |
|
Company |
|
|
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. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Stanislav Salkov |
|
Company |
|
|
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. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Matt Lloyd Travis |
|
Company |
|
|
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. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Yu (Sydney) Cheng |
|
Company |
Finance |
|
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. |
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Marie Ramen |
|
Company |
|
|
Profile |
Marie Ramen serves as Manager of Business Lines Sales and Digital Marketing at State Farm, where she drives measurable business outcomes through strategic evaluation and optimization methodologies. Her role requires continuous assessment of market dynamics, team performance, and operational effectiveness across the insurance and financial services sectors. With over a decade of specialized experience, she has led cross-functional teams of 25 professionals across Canada, the United States, and Colombia during her tenure at Medtronic. Ramen successfully managed complex operational initiatives, coordinated product launches, and achieved a 150% increase in lead generation through innovative retention strategies. Her entrepreneurial experience as founder of Duo Chrome LLC demonstrates her ability to evaluate emerging technologies and assess market viability across international markets. She possesses sophisticated analytical frameworks for determining individual contributions within organizational contexts, making her well-qualified to evaluate excellence across diverse professional sectors. |
Take your business to the next level
Apply today and be a winner