TruStage Ventures

Thank you so much to everyone who traveled from near and far to Madison for our annual Fintech Summit! Throughout the week, we had the pleasure of networking with credit unions, fintechs, leagues and associations, venture capitalists and many others. Stay tuned for a more detailed recap, but in the meantime, enjoy this behind-the-scenes glimpse of just a few of the many individuals who made this week a success and the enjoyable moments we shared along the way!

In the latest 22 Minutes in Lending episode, Brian Kaas, President & Managing Director of TruStage Ventures, joined Vince Passione and shared his insights on the dynamic relationship between credit unions and fintechs. Here are three quick takeaways from their conversation: 🤝 Cultural Fit is Key: Trust and collaboration between fintech founders and credit union executives can make or break partnerships. 💹 Saturation of Fintechs: With so many fintechs out there, credit unions must carefully evaluate potential partners to avoid being overwhelmed. Consolidation may be a key trend. 💰 Embedded Finance: Traditional models, like auto lending, are shifting with embedded finance, and credit unions must find ways to plug into platforms like Amazon or Walmart to stay competitive. This episode highlighted the challenges and opportunities that arise from staying ahead of industry shifts, and why embracing innovation will help credit unions thrive. Listen to their full conversation here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gs_RFa49

#ICYMI our February Fintech Forum, "The Data Dividend: Turning Insights into Action," was earlier this month! Our expert panel was a phenomenal group that brought forth a wealth of knowledge, innovative thinking, and unique perspectives on data, its value, and how it’s shaping the future of financial institutions. If you missed it, have no fear, the recording is available to watch here, as well as on our Fintech Forum Community Platform! 🎥 https://lnkd.in/gUQ3PcZs

🚨 Big News from TruStage Ventures! 🚨 We're looking for a new Senior Associate to join our team! This role is all about supporting our awesome group on both venture investments AND corporate development/M&A. With a portfolio of ~50 companies and $350M across two strategies, we’re driving change in the fintech world from seed to growth stage. 🌱💥 This is an opportunity to get involved from day one and contribute directly to the fast-paced, high-impact team you see below. You’ll be part of a small but mighty crew, and we’re all about collaboration, innovation, and making things happen. If you’re passionate about fintech and love getting into the nitty-gritty of investments, we want to meet you! 🤝 Know someone who might be a great fit? Don’t be shy—send them our way! And if you have any questions, we’re all ears. Learn more by checking out the job posting here: https://lnkd.in/gu_QDYqa

Over 40% of #creditunion executives don't know their own member acquisition cost (MAC), despite the fact that their #1 goal is to grow their credit union membership. Are you one of them? Join Debbie's February 26th "Measure Your MAC Workshop," which will cover industry benchmarks - from the average member acquisition cost for the top 100 credit unions, as well as survey data from over 50 credit union executives, covering their marketing budgets, channel breakdown, and growth strategy. Key takeaways will include: 💡 How to calculate your MAC (member acquisition cost) and include it in budgeting sessions 💡 Industry benchmarks for MAC 💡 Test different marketing channels to help reduce your MAC Register today 👉 https://lnkd.in/gKPcGCs3

🚨 Sign up now for an Exclusive Webinar: "What’s Trending with Lending? TruStage x Fintech Takes" 🚨 Fintech companies are making waves in lending, but diving into this space isn't without its challenges. Join Fintech Takes on February 19th at 12 PM ET as Alex Johnson explores the ins and outs of lending in the fintech world, discussing key topics such as: 💡 How are fintechs navigating the lending landscape? 💡 What lessons are they learning? 💡 Who are they partnering with? 💡 How are customers responding? 👉 Register now to secure your spot and hear from Alex and his industry experts Danielle Sesko, CPA from TruStage and Happy Money CEO Matt Potere: https://lu.ma/k3u7diz8

TruStage Ventures, alongside LoneTree Capital, is proud to announce its strategic investment in Arkatechture, a data analytics firm helping credit unions use data to empower better decision-making. We’re excited to further support innovation in the credit union industry. https://bit.ly/416WZ6W #VentureCapital #Investment #CreditUnions

🚀 Exciting things happening at Stackwell Our Managing Director of the Discovery Fund Elizabeth Coston McCluskey had the opportunity to attend a Washington Wizards game recently as a guest of Stackwell, an incredible portfolio company of ours making waves in financial inclusion. Stackwell has partnered with the Wizards to provide the DMV community with access to investment, education and financial resources. While the Wizards didn’t come out on top that night, the impact Stackwell is having on the community is undeniably a win. But the good news doesn’t stop there! Stackwell just released an exciting new study conducted by the Financial Health Network (FHN) showcasing the results of their Student Investment Program (SIP). Launched in partnership with the Student Freedom Initiative and Prudential Financial, this program is driving real change in the financial landscape for Black Americans, focusing on increasing investment access and education for college students. 🔑 Key findings from the report: - 2.5x increase in students with high investment knowledge - 89% of participants feel like investing is for “people like me” - 32% increase in participants with sufficient savings to cover 3+ months of expenses These results demonstrate the power of programs like SIP in addressing the racial wealth gap. Equity ownership not only builds wealth but empowers communities and drives resilience. And the momentum is building! With $1.65M in new funding, Stackwell is expanding the SIP to ten HBCUs and working hard to raise even more support to scale their programs further. We're proud to support them on this journey and to see how they're reshaping the future of fintech. Let’s keep the momentum going! Check out the findings, share the news, and help us spread the word. Read the report here https://lnkd.in/gdK4VV-9 #FinancialInclusion #WealthBuilding #InvestmentEducation #SocialImpact

Have you registered for next week's Fintech Forum yet? 🚨💻 We have an incredible webinar lined up that you won't want to miss! "The Data Dividend: Turning Insights into Action" is set to be an engaging conversation with a stellar group of panelists. The experts joining us are absolutely incredible! Each of them brings a wealth of knowledge, innovative thinking, and a unique perspective on data, its value, and how it’s shaping the future of financial institutions. 💡 If you’re looking to unlock the hidden potential within your own data, improve your data-driven decision-making, or just hear from some of the most forward-thinking leaders in the industry, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Don’t miss out on this chance to learn from the best. 🔥 Register today: https://lnkd.in/gkXiyQMM

As you plan for relevant fintech events to attend this upcoming year, don't forget to save the date for our September Fintech Summit that will be back at our company headquarters in Wisconsin! 🧀