A few months ago, Susu Lend was named one of 11 semifinalists in the Innovative Finance Challenge, hosted by Jobs for the Future (JFF) in partnership with BNY. After weeks of refinement and mentorship, we made it to the final five — alongside an incredible group of founders building real solutions for financial access.
On August 14, we pitched live alongside Alisha Chowdhury of Kiro, Daryl Holman of Revival Inc., Cedric Lipsey of Clusivi, and Sid Pailla of Sunny Day Fund.
We didn't take home the top prize, but we left with something just as valuable: direct mentorship from the BNY and JFF teams, sharper instincts on how to tell our story, and a small cash prize that's going straight back into building Susu Lend.
Competitions like this aren't really about winning. They're about getting in the room, getting tested, and getting better. We're grateful for the chance to do all three — and for the relationships with JFF and BNY that came out of it.