FinTech

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Sam Hanigan

Sam Hanigan is a associate director in the Milken Institute’s Center for Regional Economics and California Center.

FinTech, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation

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The Milken Institute's FinTech program explores market innovation and developments, analyzes alternative regulatory approaches, and offers policy recommendations to facilitate FinTech’s responsible development and foster a more favorable economic environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs. We engage and educate policymakers and stakeholders to improve access to capital, financial inclusion, transparency, and compliance. Our guiding principle is to ensure that financial technology innovations and entrepreneurial opportunities are accessible to individuals and businesses while increasing the stability and efficiency of the U.S. banking system.

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Pillars
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Nicole Valentine

Director, FinTech, Milken Institute Finance
Nicole Valentine is the FinTech Director of the Milken Institute’s Finance pillar with over a decade of financial services, international Mergers & Acquisitions, technology, and innovation experience. As the FinTech Director, Nicole explores market innovation and developments, analyzes alternative regulatory approaches, and offers policy recommendations to facilitate FinTech’s responsible development.
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Kristen Fanarakis

Associate Director, Small Business Policy and Innovation
Kristen Fanarakis leads the small business policy, entrepreneurship, and innovation initiative within the Milken Institute’s Finance pillar. She focuses on the macroeconomic and systemic trends affecting American small businesses and startups, and the implications for the economy and innovation.
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Maxwell DeGregorio

Senior Associate, FinTech, Milken Institute Finance
Maxwell DeGregorio is a senior associate at MI Finance at the Milken Institute. DeGregorio works on the Institute’s FinTech Program, which focuses on access to capital, financial inclusion, compliance, and transparency. He writes the “FinTech in Focus” newsletter and co-programs the Institute’s FinTech content.