It's been a productive summer. We wrapped up Berkeley's Pad-13 program, joined two major fintech networks, and had great conversations with banks and credit unions about what we're building.

Here's what we're learning and where we're heading.

What We're Hearing from the Market (And It's Exciting)

Community banks and credit unions still lead with trust and relationships - but many are losing borrowers to fintechs that move faster.

That tension is exactly where ZorroFi fits in: we help institutions maintain their trust advantage while catching up on speed and automation - without overhauling their systems.

Here’s what leaders are telling us:

• “There is an enormous gap for what you are working on in our industry” 
  We’re hearing this consistently from lenders struggling with disjointed processes and rising synthetic fraud risk at intake. ZorroFi fills the gap between application and underwriting - where drop-offs and bad data still slip through.

• “You’re well positioned at the front end. That’s a real gap - and an easier lift than replacing our portal.” 
  By operating before the LOS, ZorroFi adds intelligence without requiring core integration - making it faster to adopt and easier to justify.

• “You're creating a smoother, easier process for borrowers - and saving staff from all the chasing. That’s amazing!”

  Institutions are excited not only about fraud prevention - but also about the operational lift ZorroFi delivers for teams under pressure.

These insights come from 50+ discovery conversations with credit unions, community banks, and CDFIs across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. Yes, even a bank from our home country in Austria is dealing with the same struggles!

Building Strategic Market Access

We've joined two key industry networks that provide direct channels to our target customers:

North American Fintech Coalition
We’ve joined this early-stage fintech community focused on credit unions and community banks across North America.
The coalition provides direct access to financial institutions through "Meet the Credit Unions" events, regular market intelligence sessions, and investor introductions. This gives us structured pathways to both customers and capital in our target market.

California Community Banking Network 
This membership strengthens our commitment to building for (and with) the institutions that power local economies - and gives us a direct line to the challenges and opportunities they're navigating in real time.

CCBN represents over 150 community banks across California, providing structured access to a significant portion of our target market.

Save the Date: Friday, 9/26
Excited to Speak at the 2025 Finance Hybrid Conference

I’m honored to be speaking at this year’s Finance Hybrid Conference, hosted by Menlo College at the SVB Experience Center in San Francisco.

This event brings together global leaders across fintech, AI, real estate, and sustainability to explore how innovation is transforming financial systems. I’ll be sharing how ZorroFi is helping community banks and credit unions stay competitive—without sacrificing trust.

It’s a great opportunity to connect with founders, investors, students, and financial professionals shaping the future of finance.

🗓 Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
📍 Location: SVB Experience Center, San Francisco
🎙️ Time Slot: 1:15–2:00 PM — joint keynote with Suzanne St. John-Crane
👉 Register here

If you’re in the Bay Area - or tuning in virtually - I’d love to see you there!

Save the Date - Tuesday, 10/7
Moderating: Women Driving the Fintech Revolution

Part of #SFTechWeek | Hosted by Financial Women of San Francisco

I’m excited to be moderating this powerful panel during SF Tech Week, spotlighting the women—and their allies—who are reshaping the future of financial services.

We’ll dive into:
🌟 Women’s leadership in fintech
🌍 How women-led initiatives are expanding financial inclusion
💸 The investor perspective on supporting diverse founders
🤝 The power of mentorship and community

This event is open to anyone interested in championing women in fintech and learning how we can build a more inclusive financial future—together.

• Mona Ahmadi, President, Financial Women of SF & Director of FP&A, Earnin

• Nicole Casperson, Founder, Fintech is Femme

• Gwyneth Borden, Founder, Remynt

• Drew Glover, Co-Founder, Fiat Growth; General Partner, Fiat Ventures

👉 Learn more or register here

If you’re in the Bay Area - I’d love to see you there!

What’s Next for ZorroFi

• Finalizing 2–3 early adopter pilots for Q4

• SOC2 compliance underway

• Continuing investor conversations

• 50+ discovery interviews completed

• Zero core integration required for adoption

• Attending key fintech and banking conferences

🙌 Thank You + A Small Ask

Know someone we should meet?
We’re actively looking to connect with:

• Community banks, credit unions, or CDFIs focused on improving their front-end loan experience

• Angel investors passionate about financial inclusion

• Pre-seed/seed funds focused on fintech infrastructure

If you make an intro, we’ll send a thank-you and a small token of appreciation 🎁

Thank you for being in our corner - we’ll keep you posted as we move into pilot testing and prepare for the next phase of growth.

Warmly,
Sandra Wasicek
Founder & CEO, ZorroFi