We’ll have 60+ demos on stage at this year’s FinovateFall conference, taking place September 8 through 10 at the Marriott Marquis in New York. As always, the lineup blends first-time startups with established players, with all demos running on a single track. That concentrated view makes it easy to spot the patterns shaping bank roadmaps for the next 12 to 18 months.

To get a pulse on what trends lie ahead, we distilled common threads across this year’s demo companies. Below are the big themes to watch.

Agentic AI moves from pilots to production

If 2024 was about AI leveraging LLMs, 2025 is about agents that actually do the work. At FinovateFall 2025, we can expect live demos of AI agents that triage alerts, auto-draft responses, and fetch context across systems, with guardrails for compliance and trust. Look for Lyzr AI’s autonomous agents, WNSTN’s human-in-the-loop agents, Castellum.AI’s agents that clear L1 AML alerts, LemonadeLXP’s InsightAI for training and knowledge at scale, and Clarista’s productivity push.

Identity, authentication, and scam defense sharpen

Identity verification and step-up authentication continue to improve, especially now that they are paired with real-time scam and dispute tooling. Watch for ID-Pal, which combines identity verification and AML; Keyless, which offers passwordless biometrics replacing legacy OTP MFA; and LexisNexis Risk Solutions that will be showcasing IDVerse. AirKey leverages card rails to secure high-value transactions, while Charm Security and Quavo spotlight dynamic risk profiling and faster, more transparent dispute resolution.

Personalization and customer experience now come with measurable ROI

Technology to improve the customer experience is getting more predictive and robust. Vertice AI translates data into next-best-product recommendations, Mall IQ uses location intent for hyper-personalized engagement, WaveCX brings AI-powered support and documentation flows, and CollaborationRoom.ai re-creates the contact center virtually. Expect demos to quantify the increase in acquisition and retention.

Product launch without rip-and-replace

Banks want speed without having to completely take out their core. FintechOS will show how to create products and modernize experiences without swapping their core, ebankIT focuses on omni-channel orchestration, Chimney aligns data and automation to loan growth and digital engagement, and Appli adds AI-driven approvals and payment estimates.

Small business lending, portfolio growth, and risk ops

Small business lending remains a battleground in today’s post-COVID environment. Kaaj AI helps institutions deeply understand small-business needs and grow portfolios; Abacus unlocks the power of enterprise search to offer lenders valuable time savings and loan asset growth; and Conductiv uses data combined with AI to detect fraud, predict charge-offs, and safely increase approvals without lowering standards.

From wellness to wealth: deposits, planning, and advice

The wealthtech industry has accelerated from PFM technologies into engagement engines that grow not only balances, but also trust. Eko helps banks bring digital investing to everyone, BankingON’s Boucoup funnels parents and teens into new accounts, Gentreo meets families where they are with estate planning, and Zeplyn streamlines advisor workflows to help reduce manual tasks and surface growth opportunities.

What’s missing?

Two once-hot categories feel comparatively quieter on the demo stage this year:

• Standalone AI as a theme
  Companies are no longer touting AI as a feature. This is not because the technology is absent, but because it’s everywhere. It’s baked into identity, customer experience, lending, operations, and training. This year, it is assumed that most solutions out there use AI. Companies now need to differentiate themselves by how outcomes are measured.
• Consumer BNPL
  While BNPL is still growing, it is no longer cutting edge. These point-of-sale installments aren’t front-and-center like they were a few years ago.

FinovateFall isn’t just demos, but the demos offer a good preview of the storylines you’ll hear on stage: cybersecurity and financial crime, data-driven personalization, agentic AI in production, faster product launch without core swaps, and practical growth plays in deposits and SMB. We’ll see you in New York!

Photo by Alexandr Borecky

As summer winds down, it’s a good time to start looking ahead to FinovateFall. This year’s conference returns to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, New York, from September 8 through 10 (register early to save!). With the event just over a month away, now is the time to lock in your travel plans and start mapping out your agenda.

Financial services continues to evolve rapidly, and this year’s keynote lineup reflects that urgency. From AI and customer experience to stablecoins and lending, these speakers will offer insights into where the industry is headed and how to stay ahead. Here’s a look at some of the voices you’ll hear on stage.

General session

Beth Haddock, Board Member and Global Policy Lead, Stablecoin Standard

Beth Haddock will take the stage at 4:20 PM on Monday, September 8 to explore how stablecoins are moving from the regulatory fringe to the strategic foundation of modern banking. With the GENIUS Act poised to redefine digital dollar issuance, Haddock will break down the operational, compliance, and competitive pressures facing banks and trust companies. From payments and custody to customer expectations, this session will spotlight what leaders need to know now as stablecoins become embedded in the financial ecosystem.

Jon Lakefish, Founder of the Lakefish Group

On Wednesday, September 10 at 9:45 AM, Jon Lakefish will examine how financial institutions can use AI to build customer trust and loyalty. In a world where technology drives personalization, Lakefish will share how banks can design AI-powered customer experiences that feel authentic and deliver long-term value.

Ben Feller, Partner at the Maslansky Partners

Also on Wednesday at 3:10 PM, Ben Feller, Partner at Maslansky + Partners and former Chief White House Correspondent for the Associated Press, will share his front-row view of presidential leadership and media. Drawing on six years covering Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Feller will offer a candid, behind-the-scenes look at high-stakes decision-making, communication strategy, and the power of narrative in moments that shaped history.

Industry Stage sessions

Yury Pukha, CEO of Intelligent Edge Consulting

At 10:50 AM on Wednesday, September 10, Yury Pukha will lead the AI industry stage with a deep dive into the current landscape of artificial intelligence in financial services. Drawing on insights from large-scale implementations, Pukha will explore what’s working, what’s not, and the critical lessons financial institutions must understand to scale AI successfully.

Stephanie Miracle, FedNow Client Specialist, Federal Reserve Financial Services

Also at 10:50 AM on Wednesday, September 10, on the Payments stage, Stephanie Miracle will tackle the evolution of real-time payments. As RTP and FedNow gain momentum, Miracle will discuss whether faster is always better and will also consider the challenges institutions face when building products on top of these instant payment rails.

Jason Mikula, Publisher, Fintech Business Weekly

On the Lending industry stage at 10:50 AM on Wednesday, September 10, Jason Mikula will share his perspective on the growing opportunity in small business lending. With demand for capital on the rise, Mikula will outline how financial institutions can effectively tap this market and deliver products that resonate with small business owners.

Nick Fok, Managing Partner, Erez Capital

At 12:05 PM on Wednesday, September 10, on the AI stage, Nick Fok will explore the rise of agentic AI and its potential to reshape financial services. As models become more autonomous and capable of making decisions, Fok will discuss what this shift means for innovation, risk, and the future of financial institutions.

Sarah Welch, Managing Director at Curinos

Also at 12:05 PM on Wednesday, September 10, Sarah Welch will join the Customer Experience industry stage to examine the power of brand distinctiveness. In a crowded marketplace, Welch will highlight how bold, differentiated branding is becoming a key driver of customer growth, and what it takes to stand out.

Ryan Miller, Vice President and Senior Counsel at the American Bankers Association

Rounding off the list, Ryan Miller will speak on the Open Banking stage at 12:05 PM on Wednesday, September 10. Miller will explore how open data could reshape the US banking landscape, what regulatory and strategic shifts are on the horizon, and why early movers stand to benefit the most.

These keynote and industry stage sessions offer timely insights from leaders at the forefront of innovation. Whether you’re focused on AI, payments, customer experience, or regulation, FinovateFall’s agenda is packed with ideas to inform your strategy and spark new thinking. Registration is now open! We look forward to seeing you in New York this September.

FinovateFall returns returns to New York this September with a best-in-class demo lineup. 

Over 60 companies will have just 7 minutes to show why they’re industry leaders and disruptors. And then you’ll decide who takes home the coveted Best of Show award. Make sure you’re there to see it!

Curated to reflect fintech’s state of play, this year’s demo lineup hits all the high notes for emerging tech. Here’s why to tune in: 

• First impressions matter: Delight new customers with a personalized onboarding switch kit
• Plant seeds early: Supercharge teens’ digital banking experience and deposit growth
• Break the scam spell: Disrupt high-risk situations with AI trained on human vulnerabilities and exploit techniques 
• Strike (more) gold: Automate 90% of client interactions to manage (and build) even more wealth
• Mine your data: Transform scattered data into an intelligent ecosystem with more opportunities for growth and automation 
• Raise your shields: Combat the rising tide of deepfakes and synthetic identities without customer inconvenience
• Help them nest: Nurture first-time homebuyers from curiosity to closing with a personalized journey

And here’s who you’ll meet:

Are you a fintech or tech company? Demo applications are still open—if you’re working on something new and groundbreaking in fintech, apply now.

Are you a financial institution, venture capitalist, or another leader in the finserv space? Early-bird delegate passes expire THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 13. Register today!