NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Money20/20, the world’s leading fintech show and the place where money does business, today reveals the full roster of Jury members from across the world for The Money Awards 2026. This milestone reinforces the Awards’ position as the industry’s definitive global benchmark for excellence. Building on the success of last year’s edition, which saw hundreds of entries from over 41 countries and culminated in 27 winners crowned in Las Vegas, the 2026 edition continues to raise the bar for what outstanding innovation looks like across the financial ecosystem.
The prestigious Jury panel underscores Money20/20’s unmatched global influence across the fintech ecosystem, with The Money Awards recognized as one of the most credible and competitive distinctions in the industry.
Each Jury member brings deep, real‑world expertise from across the global financial technology landscape. Together, they represent leaders from major financial institutions, technology innovators, investors, startups, and emerging disruptors, ensuring a judging process grounded in operational insight, forward‑looking vision, and a clear understanding of the challenges and innovations shaping the future of money.
“The Money Awards were created with a single purpose: to set a global benchmark for excellence in fintech,” said Grania Chesterton, VP of Awards at Money20/20. “What truly defines them is who’s behind the decisions. Being recognised by these Awards signals that a company’s work is making a genuine impact. Our Jury Presidents and Global Jury are embedded in the industry with deep operational expertise, and they play a critical role in defining what great really looks like. That’s why this recognition carries real weight.”
The 2026 edition is expanding its scope to reflect the rapid evolution of financial technology and the increasing demand for credible, independent recognition. It features five award categories that reflect the priorities shaping the future of financial services. The Startup Early & Growth Stage category recognizes founders who are at key moments in their journey and pushing the industry forward. The Banking, Payments, and Partnerships & Strategic Alliance categories highlight excellence across the industry’s core pillars. The Diamond Award, the program’s highest honour, celebrates the most transformative achievement in global fintech.
All entries will undergo a multi‑stage evaluation process, combining independent scoring with collaborative deliberation among the Jury to ensure fairness, transparency, and a true merit‑based outcome.
The Jury Lineup for The Money Awards 2026 is as follows:
Startup (Early Stage & Growth Stage):
Jury President:
- Osama Bedier, Investment Partner, NYCA Partners
Jury Members:
- Ankit Sud, Partner, NewView Capital
- Blair Cohen, Chief Evangelist, Incode
- Bruno Batavia, Director of Emerging Tech, Valor Capital Group
- Chris Yeo, CEO, DOKU
- Gwera Kiwana, Partnerships & Global Expansion, Sling Money
- Monica Eaton, Founder & CEO, Chargebacks911
- Monika Liikamaa, Builder & Investor, Co-Founder, Enfuce
- Sara Eadie, Partner, Tiger Global
- Visa Kannan, Managing Partner, Saison Capital
Banking:
Jury President:
- Shruti Patel, EVP, Business Banking; Chief Product Officer, U.S. Bank
Jury Members:
- Daniel Minarik, Chief Data & Innovation Officer, Tatra Bank
- Daniele Tonella, Chief Technology Officer & Board Member, ING
- Lee Chen Choong, Deputy Director, Central Bank of Malaysia
- Murtaza Ali, CEO, JazzCash Pakistan
- Rafael Fragoso, Digital Banking Executive Director, Banorte
- Tamas Kadar, Co-Founder & CEO, SEON
- Tendai Dube, Chief Operating Officer, Absa CIB Technology
- Trish Devine, Global Head of Corporate Payments Sales, J.P. Morgan
Payments:
Jury President:
- Dave Excell, Founder, Featurespace, a Visa Solution
Jury Members:
- Colleen Taylor, Former President, American Express Merchant Services US
- Gary Conroy, CEO, TransferMate Global Payments
- Iana Dimitrova, CEO, OpenPayd
- Paul Meng, Co-Founder & CEO, SUNRATE
- Roenen Ben-Ami, Co-Founder & Chief Risk Officer, Justt
- Saeeda Jaffar, Managing Director, Middle East, Circle
- Sunil Sachdev, Head of Embedded Finance & Digital Assets, Fiserv
- Tami Rosen, Board Member, Pagaya Technologies
- Tim Watson, Chief Product Officer, Corpay, Cross Border
Partnerships & Strategic Alliance:
Jury President:
- Garry Sien, Chief Innovation & Solutions Officer, International, Ant Digital Technologies
Jury Members:
- Elizabeth Moncada Vega, Head Non Bank Financial Institutions, Círculo de Crédito
- Kara Kazazean, VP, Financial Services, Sam’s Club
- Kirsten Klotz, VP, Financial Products & Partnerships, Rocket Money
- Tim Weller, Business Owner Monetization, Volkswagen Group
- Tunde Anjorin, Executive Director, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships, Morgan Stanley
Diamond Award Category:
Jury President:
- Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President & CEO, Women’s World Banking
Jury Members:
- Joanne Dewar, Co-Founder & Project Lead, Project Nemo
- Maria Oldham, Chief Operating Officer, Yellow Card Financial Inc.
- Olu Olufemi-White, CEO, Alami Capital
- Rob Schimek, Founder & Group CEO, bolttech
- Ronit Ghose, Global Head, Future of Finance, Citi Institute, Citi
The Money Awards 2026 will be judged through a rigorous, merit‑based process designed to highlight organizations and products that are transforming industries and redefining what’s possible in financial technology. Winners will be announced at the global award ceremony taking place at Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 18.
Winners will receive a bespoke trophy and year-round visibility through Money20/20’s platforms, including exclusive speaking engagements, media coverage, investor exposure, and global networking opportunities. Past winners have gone on to secure major partnerships, investment rounds, and international visibility, underscoring the awards’ role as a launchpad for industry‑defining success. Following a record level of interest in 2025, the 2026 edition is expected to attract an even broader field of innovators from across the globe.
Entries are now open and will remain live until July 28. For information on categories, judging criteria, and entry instructions, visit www.money2020.com/awards.
About Money20/20 Money Awards
The Money Awards are Money20/20’s prestigious global awards program, recognizing the companies, innovations, and partnerships shaping the future of money. Launched in 2025, these awards celebrate excellence across the full spectrum of fintech innovation, from emerging startups to global institutions driving transformative change. Judged by a distinguished panel of industry leaders, The Money Awards honor those redefining how the world interacts with money through bold innovation and impactful solutions.
The awards span five core categories: Banking, Payments, Partnerships & Strategic Alliance, and Startup Early & Growth Stage, culminating in the distinguished Diamond recognition. The inaugural 2025 winners showcased global fintech innovation, with Project Nemo taking the Diamond Grand Prix Award. Other notable winners included bolttech, Cleo AI, Greenlight, JazzCash, Taktile, U.S. Bank and Yellow Card Financial. The annual award ceremony is held at Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas, where The Money Awards represent fintech’s most credible recognition and transformative work earns validation that extends far beyond the ceremony itself.
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