FinovateSpring 25: Finalytics AI Finds Success
- John San Filippo
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
By John San Filippo
FinovateSpring, held in San Diego May 6-9, proved to be a winning choice for Finalytics AI. CEO Craig McLaughlin and Chief Strategy Officer Baron Conway sat down with Finopotamus during a break to discuss why they chose this particular conference, their objectives, and their surprising success.
Choosing the Right Venue
With several fintech conferences vying for their attention this week, including SymWest in Portland and EDGE in Las Vegas, Finalytics AI opted for FinovateSpring. The decision, McLaughlin explained, came down to the format. “The framework of this conference is really effective for us because the technology that we’ve built is so new,” he stated. “We really need to demonstrate it, show it to people.” The short presentation format, allowing companies a mere five to seven minutes to showcase their product, proved ideal for demonstrating Finalytics AI’s innovative platform.
Conway added that the attendees, particularly credit union and bank representatives, displayed a proactive interest in understanding their own business challenges and recognizing how Finalytics AI could provide solutions. This engaged audience, he noted, set FinovateSpring apart from other conferences, creating a valuable environment for meaningful conversations.
While acknowledging the smaller scale of FinovateSpring, compared to fintech conference giants like Money20/20, McLaughlin and Conway appreciated the intimate setting and the “refreshed” feel of the San Diego venue. They viewed the smaller size not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to connect with a more focused and qualified audience, facilitating genuine engagement and standing out from the crowd.
Exceeding Expectations
Finalytics AI’s objective for FinovateSpring was clear: Demonstrate the business benefits of their platform to credit unions. They hit it out of the park, according to McLaughlin. He deemed it “the most effective conference we’ve done all year, in terms of engagement,” and, surprisingly, “probably also the least expensive.” The concentrated audience and impactful presentation by Conway, which focused on business benefits rather than technical jargon, resonated deeply with attendees. The result? A surge of interest and booth visits from CEOs, chief lending officers, and vice presidents of marketing, validating their approach.
“We demonstrated it, and I think that really resonated with the audience,” Conway remarked. He emphasized the importance of addressing the specific business needs of credit unions and banks, namely advertising effectiveness, growth measurement, and brand differentiation.
The Digital Transformation Imperative
On the topic of digital transformation, McLaughlin and Conway stressed the importance of focusing on outcomes. Conway advocated for a shift in mindset, moving away from the label “digital transformation” and instead framing it as “designing the future of my business.” This approach, he argued, helps organizations stay focused on the ultimate goals of brand building, customer engagement, and growth, rather than getting bogged down by buzzwords.
McLaughlin recounted the success of their presentation at a credit union roundtable, highlighting the effectiveness of showcasing practical, applied use cases of their technology. He contrasted this with the common industry practice of “tooting their own horn” and stressed the importance of genuinely addressing client problems and providing solutions. Conway echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s about how we help our clients be successful.”
Reimagining the Core
A thought-provoking question arose during the discussion: In a reimagined credit union technology stack, would the core processing system still hold the central position, or would it be replaced by a customer relationship management (CRM) system given the increasing emphasis on relationships?
Conway envisions a future driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and its ability to manipulate data, where the core system essentially becomes a general ledger, and the user becomes “the center of the universe.” He anticipates the emergence of a new, integrated data ecosystem powered by AI, making the user experience at the focal point. While acknowledging the current embedded nature of core systems, he predicts a significant shift in the coming years, with a new player potentially disrupting the market and forcing legacy platforms to reinvent themselves. “Any legacy technology platform that is not thinking about completely reinventing itself should be shitting their pants right now,” Conway declared.
McLaughlin agreed, suggesting a future where AI takes the lead, with traditional databases playing a supporting role. He also foresees a major transformation in how data is interacted with, rather than the databases themselves.
Navigating Compliance and Regulation
The potential impact of regulatory concerns on this transformation was also discussed. While acknowledging that compliance issues will inevitably present challenges, both McLaughlin and Conway remain optimistic. They suggested that advancements in AI could potentially simplify and improve compliance processes, with sophisticated AI-powered engines seamlessly integrating regulatory requirements into the overall workflow.
Closing Thoughts
Reflecting on their experience at FinovateSpring, McLaughlin and Conway expressed their satisfaction with the conference, praising the organizers and the engaged audience. They left with a sense of accomplishment and a renewed focus on helping credit unions navigate the exciting, yet challenging, landscape of digital transformation. “This has been a great conference,” Conway concluded. “We love Finovate.”