Financial innovations proliferated in recent decades, yet access to capital to launch or scale remains the top challenge for most small businesses, especially women and minorities. Given the important role small businesses play in our economy creating jobs and driving innovation, small business financing is essential to our future economic growth. Panelists in this session will explore where and how we can innovate to establish lending and investment models that more effectively channel capital to underserved groups and communities.

Moderator

Kristen Fanarakis

Associate Director, MI Finance, Milken Institute

Speakers

Eric Cromwell

Founding Member, Cromwell Schmisseur LLC

Lauren Grattan

Chief Community Officer, Mission Driven Finance

Sekou Kaalund

Executive Vice President, Head of Branch and Small Business Banking, U.S. Bank

Chris Pilkerton

Chief Legal and Regulatory Strategy Officer, Accion Opportunity Fund

Alexandra Rosen

Global Head, Venture Forward, GoDaddy