From Accelerator to Advisor – Supporting Fintech Growth at Every Stage

Founders are often surrounded by advice but short on guidance that is specific, actionable, and grounded in real-world execution.

The Challenge

In early stages, they need clarity on who they are selling to and how to get that first yes. Later, the challenges shift to scaling, building a repeatable go-to-market motion, and navigating sales into regulated markets like banking and credit unions.

Without real buyer insight or industry experience, it’s easy to waste time chasing the wrong customers with the wrong message.

The Maven Advantage

I participated in the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator as a fintech seller. That experience shaped how I now support other founders through Maven Advisory.

While in the program, I worked with ICBA leadership, community bank executives, and fellow founders to refine my Ideal Customer Profile, sharpen my messaging, and validate go-to-market strategy with bankers.

That inside view of how community banks evaluate fintech gave me a front-row seat to what works and what gets ignored. It helped me become a sharper seller and a better advisor.

Since then, I’ve continued to support the fintech ecosystem as an advisor and mentor to founders at RevTech Labs and as an EIR at 1871 in Chicago. I work directly with founders to build sales foundations, craft messaging that resonates, and create GTM plans that lead to real deals.

What I bring to each engagement:

01.

Deep experience on both the buyer and seller side

02.

A sharp focus on message-market fit

03.

Tactical support on sales strategy, outbound, and pipeline

04.

Clarity on how to sell into community banks and credit unions

The Outcome

Founders I work with walk away with practical strategies, not just frameworks. They get hands-on support with the exact challenges they’re facing, from early traction to scaling sales teams.

They have:

Booked meetings with ideal bank and credit union partners

Shifted from founder-led sales chaos to structured GTM execution

Built credibility with buyers through better positioning

Accelerated sales cycles and improved conversion

Rachael Feuerborn
Chief Product Officer, 1871

While subject matter experts bring valuable knowledge, the best mentors for startups are those who’ve built from 0 to 1. Selling an established product is entirely different from the messy, iterative process of entrepreneurial selling. Angi stands out not only as a sales expert, but as someone who truly speaks startup—she helps founders craft sales strategies from day one, grounded in the realities of early-stage growth.