2024 Georgia Fintech Academy Impact Report

2024 IMPACT REPORT

December 2024

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Letter from the Executive Director

As we close another remarkable year, I am proud to present the 2024 Impact Report for the Georgia FinTech Academy. This report reflects the incredible growth, accomplishments, and milestones we’ve achieved together in advancing fintech education, innovation, and industry connections.

2024 IMPACT REPORT

In 2024, we engaged over 1,800 students across semesters with an expanded curriculum tailored to meet the evolving demands of the financial technology sector. Beyond the classroom, our events and career fairs reached an additional 1,300 students, offering unprecedented access to industry leaders, real-world career opportunities, and hands-on experiences that bridge the gap between education and the workplace.

Our mission has never been more vital: cultivating a pipeline of future fintech leaders.

Through our partnerships within the University System of Georgia, innovative companies, and industry pioneers, we are equipping students with the skills and experiences necessary to transform the future of financial technology.

This report celebrates the collective impact of our work and the students, faculty, partners, and supporters who make it possible. Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to advancing this shared vision. Together, we are shaping the future of fintech.

Laura Gibson-Lamothe

Executive Director Georgia FinTech Academy

OUR TEAM

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

Best regards,

Interns Kenny Kim

Asha-lee Smith Alison Gregg

Dr. Laveda Pullens

Letia Wyatt

Program Director

Student Engagement

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Overview

2024 IMPACT REPORT

History The Georgia Fintech Academy was established in 2019 by the University System of Georgia (USG) to prepare students for careers in the rapidly growing fintech industry. Co-founded and housed at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business in Atlanta, the academy launched its core curriculum online, ensuring accessibility to students across all 26 public institutions within the USG system.

Vision To be the leading platform for fintech education and source for talent, empowering students with the knowledge and expertise to shape the future of finance and technology.

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

Mission To prepare the next generation of fintech professionals by delivering innovative education, fostering industry partnerships, and equipping students with the skills to excel in the dynamic financial technology ecosystem.

2024 IMPACT REPORT

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Program Pillars Curriculum

We offer a comprehensive fintech curriculum across partner universities covering blockchain, payments technology, AI in finance, and regulatory compliance.

Events

Our Speaker Series brings industry leaders to students, fostering dialogue on trends, innovation, and career paths. These sessions feature FIS, Visa, U.S. Bank, Truist, and more.

Career Fairs

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

Podcasts

Virtual career fairs connect students with top fintech and payments companies, facilitating internships and full-time opportunities.

A dynamic platform where students collaborate with fintech professionals to explore industry trends, share insights, and amplify their voices in the fintech ecosystem.

04

2024 In Numbers

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

2024 IMPACT REPORT

We’re excited to share the impact of the Georgia Fintech Academy’s key initiatives! This year, we’ve achieved tremendous success. In every focus area—whether through our Speaker Series, curriculum offerings, podcasts, or career fairs—our engagement numbers have grown by at least 13% compared to prior years.

1,800+ Students Enrolled in Fintech Courses

1,300+ Students Attended Speaker Series Events

42 Speaker Series Events

Engaging all 26 USG institutions

Career Fairs - 359 average participants per event

Reached over 15k Podcast Streams since 2020

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Inclusive Focus Our diverse student population reflects our dedication to cultivating a robust and inclusive talent pipeline for the fintech industry.

12%

5%

White Black/African American

37%

2024 IMPACT REPORT

17%

Asian Hispanic/Latino

29%

Other

3 out of every 10 students is a first-generation enrollee

3.5% of participants are veterans or active military.

Our student population reflects a strong mix of representation

63% underrepresented

Pell Grant Eligibility: 30.8% of students

STUDENTS BY LEVEL Seniors

Juniors

Sophomores

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

Dual Enrollment (HighSchool)

Female 43%

0.6% Male 57%

2.2%

Graduate/Masters

8.5%

16.6%

18% Out of State

82% In State

15 highschool students enrolled in Fintech courses this year!

72%

06

Immersive Experiences FIS Headquarters February 2024

2024 IMPACT REPORT

In the Spring, we visited FIS headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, with 5 of our partnering institutions; - Georgia Southern University - Albany State University - Valdosta State University - Savannah State University - Georgia Institute of Technology Out of the 40 students who were in attendance; 17 students were hired for full-time or internship positions.

GSU Panthers in Charlotte

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

October 2024

During our third year of cohosting, we collaborated with Georgia State University Robinson College of Business to organize an immersive student trip to Charlotte, NC. We visited five companies, including Truist, Ally Bank, Sia Partners and RevTech Labs.

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Industry Connectivity

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

2024 IMPACT REPORT

Strategically curated opportunities for our students to experience key industry events and conferences to learn and network.

PayTech Women Leadership Summit

TAG Fintech South

Fintech Atlanta’s Run it by the buyers, Juniors

MPC24

Atlanta Digital World Summit

ATPC Cyber Forum

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Planting the Seed for Entrepreneurship

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Partnered with Fintech Atlanta to host the first annual “Run it by the buyers, Juniors,” where students pitched their fintech innovative solutions competing for up to $6,000 in scholarship funds.

“It is always wonderful to support the Georgia Fintech Academy. The project showcased an impressive array of startup ideas, and I was proud to be part of the evaluation and mentor team.”

Steve Nigri, Co-founder, Nxt-Moves

Mitch Ruthridge, CEO & Cofounder, Vertice AI

“It was an honor and a pleasure to mentor and support this great program. Great pitches from all the teams and participants.”

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

2024 IMPACT REPORT

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Global Partnerships The Georgia Fintech Academy, invited by the American Transaction Processors Coalition (ATPC), played a key role in the inaugural Transatlantic Fintech Exchange (TFE) in May. The Opportunity A highlight of the event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Fintech Corridor, aimed at strengthening education and workforce development across the U.S., Ireland, and the U.K. TFE brought together leaders from these regions to share ideas, foster connections, and explore opportunities for collaboration in fintech workforce development, policy, and innovation.

Next Steps The collaboration has sparked exciting initiatives, including potential student exchanges, joint courses, hackathons, and case competitions with Ulster University. There’s also work underway to develop fintech apprenticeship programs, inspired by Ulster’s successful model, and create microcredential courses to give students and professionals global exposure.

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Innovation Spotlight

2024 IMPACT REPORT

Empowering Future FinTech Leaders In collaboration with Go Studio, the innovation hub of InComm Payments, the Georgia FinTech Academy has launched an eight-week innovation training program to equip local college students with essential skills for the FinTech industry.

Program Highlights: Hands-On Training: Students engage in practical exercises at Go Studio's Atlanta headquarters, learning methodologies such as problem framing and design thinking.

Skill Development: The program emphasizes curiosity, research abilities, and consumer empathy—qualities highly valued by FinTech employers.

Industry Collaboration: This initiative reflects a strong partnership between academia and industry, preparing students for real-world challenges in financial technology.

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

By fostering such collaborations, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators who will drive the future of FinTech.

For more information, visit Go Studio's announcement.

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

2024 IMPACT REPORT

11

Fall Graduation Spotlight

Esha Bhat

Vanessa Cadet

University of Georgia (UGA) Management Information Systems Visa Leadership Associate (VLA) program

Georgia State University (GSU) Finance

Austin Swanson

Trung G

Kennesaw State University (KSU) Master’s Digital Financial Technologies KSU, Program Manager of Admissions

Georgia State University (GSU) Finance American Commercial Funding - Mortgage

Kenny Kim

Raisa Basher

Georgia State University (GSU) Finance Georgia Fintech Academy Intern

Georgia State University (GSU) Computer Information Systems

2024 IMPACT REPORT

12

Looking Ahead

Future Plans As we look ahead to 2025, the Georgia FinTech Academy is poised to build on the successes of this past year with a sharpened focus on growth, accessibility, and student success. Insights gained from our recent Fintech Education Summit have helped refine our direction, guiding us to expand our capacity and impact to meet the evolving needs of our curriculum and programs.

Key Priorities for 2025: Expand Resources: To sustain excellence, we will grow our team to support our expanding curriculum and program offerings. This includes recruiting additional expertise to enhance curriculum and industry engagement.

Increase Student Engagement: We are committed to fostering a vibrant fintech ecosystem by strengthening support for student organizations and leveraging our alumni network as ambassadors to inspire and guide the next generation of fintech leaders.

Enhance Accessibility: Addressing barriers to participation remains a priority.

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

We will identify and tackle challenges to ensure equitable access for all students through targeted surveys and on-campus events. In addition, we will expand scholarship opportunities to support students, removing financial barriers to education and career growth.

Georgia FinTech Academy will continue its mission to empower students, foster innovation, and shape a fintech workforce that is diverse, skilled, and future-ready.

Your continued support and engagement fuel our efforts as we work to transform the future of financial technology.

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Thank you to our Sponsors Platinum

2024 IMPACT REPORT

Gold

Silver

Bronze

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

Community Partners

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Get Involved

GEORGIA FINTECH ACADEMY

2024 IMPACT REPORT

Are you eager to shape the future of fintech? Join the Georgia Fintech Academy and make a real difference by sharing your knowledge and passion with aspiring leaders.

Here’s how you can help: Be a Guest Speaker: Share your experiences and wisdom at our Speaker Series.

Host a Workshop: Teach valuable skills through interactive training.

Join Career Fairs: Meet students and showcase career opportunities at your company.

Be a Mentor: Support students in their academic and career journeys.

Interested in Sponsorship or Scholarship opportunities? Please reach out to Laura Gibson-Lamothe at laura.gibsonlamothe@usg.edu.

Your involvement nurtures emerging talent and builds a brighter fintech future for Georgia and beyond!

Website

www.georgiafintechacademy.org

Address

55 Park Pl NE, Atlanta GA 30308