Join us on this week's episode of the Slice of Finance podcast, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!

Our Guest: Katie Quilligan, Investor at BankTech Ventures.

What you’ll get out of this episode:

• Katie Quilligan’s career journey from operations to investing at BankTech Ventures.

• BankTech Ventures’ mission to drive innovation in community banking through strategic investments.

• How automation and AI improve efficiency in banking operations.

• Insights into trends shaping banking and FinTech in 2025, including agentic AI and fraud prevention.

• The role of founders in adapting solutions for regulatory environments.

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A Vision for Modern Banking
Katie Quilligan, an investor at BankTech Ventures, shared her path from helping startups grow to investing in solutions that transform community banking. With an MBA and experience in ventures like Web Bush Ventures, Katie brought her operational expertise to BankTech Ventures, aligning with its mission to act as an R&D arm for over 100 community banks.

BankTech Ventures was founded to bridge the gap between traditional banking and modern technology. By leveraging market intelligence and innovative solutions, it helps banks enhance efficiency, improve service offerings, and stay competitive.

Solving Core Banking Challenges
Katie highlighted a key focus on back-office efficiency powered by automation and AI. For example, BankTech Ventures invested in Deepsea, an advanced RPA tool that goes beyond traditional automation to streamline paper-intensive processes. By introducing human-in-the-loop oversight, banks gain confidence in adopting AI-driven tools.

Additionally, BankTech Ventures empowers banks to utilize vast amounts of data effectively, transforming it into actionable insights. Solutions range from fraud detection to customer personalization, ensuring banks are prepared for future challenges.

Finding the Right Innovators
Selecting startups with potential isn’t just about technology; it’s about founders. Katie emphasized the importance of resilience, existing relationships in the banking sector, and a willingness to adapt solutions for complex regulatory environments.

By educating banks and connecting them with capable founders, BankTech Ventures ensures both parties thrive. Founders learn to navigate long sales cycles and regulatory hurdles while banks gain tailored, effective solutions.

Looking Ahead: Trends for 2025 and Beyond
Katie discussed key trends shaping the banking industry in 2025:

• Agentic AI: Automating workflows and combating fraud with AI-driven tools.

• Cybersecurity: Ensuring resilience as banks shift to cloud-based systems.

• Relationship Building: Engaging the next generation of customers early.

• Personalized Experiences: Leveraging data to offer tailored banking services.

BankTech Ventures’ Success Metrics
Success for BankTech Ventures means adding value to community banks through innovation and intelligence while fostering growth for portfolio companies. Bringing more banks into the ecosystem and helping portfolio companies adapt solutions for the banking sector remains a core priority.

As the industry evolves, Katie and her team are excited about scaling their impact and driving meaningful change in community banking.

To learn more about BankTech Ventures:

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