On May 15, FirstBank hosted the Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter for a discussion on the ever-changing world of financial technology.
Wade Peery, FirstBank’s Chief Innovation Officer, was joined by Brandon Arvanaghi, BA’16, and Bryce Crawford, BS’16, founders of Meow Technologiesa company that has broken into the growing enterprise fintech segment. The conversation was moderated by Deanna Meador, lead trainer at The Wond’ry and CEO of Couture Technologies, and took place at the One 22 One building in Nashville’s Gulch neighborhood.
Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter Alumni Event Includes Conversation on Financial Technology and Innovation with FirstBank, Meow and Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter Alumni Event Includes Conversation on Financial Technology and Innovation with FirstBank, Meow and Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter Alumni Event Includes Conversation on Financial Technology and Innovation with FirstBank, Meow and Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter Alumni Event Includes Conversation on Financial Technology and Innovation with FirstBank, Meow and Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter Alumni Event Includes Conversation on Financial Technology and Innovation with FirstBank, Meow and Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter Alumni Event Includes Conversation on Financial Technology and Innovation with FirstBank, Meow and Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter Alumni Event Includes Conversation on Financial Technology and Innovation with FirstBank, Meow and Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt University)
Crawford and Arvanaghi captivated the crowd as they told their story about their close friendship while at Vanderbilt and how they used that friendship to start their company. “We just committed to getting together in a closed room and coding and hoping, with blind faith, that something would work,” Arvanaghi said. Forbes in an article featuring him and Crawford as two of the “30 Under 30” of 2024. Today, Meow manages more than $1 billion in assets on its platform.
The panel also highlighted the value of the Vanderbilt network as a great place to identify others in similar fields. Vanderbilt chapter members have the opportunity to connect with Vanderbilt alumni and parents as well as friends of the university cultivated through corporate partnerships and Vanderbilt’s alumni development and relations teams.
Alumni and parents interested in learning more about the Vanderbilt Nashville Chapter are encouraged to follow the chapter on Instagram @Vandyalumnashville or contact the chapter co-chairs, Stephanie ByrneBA’12, and Melissa SmithsonBS’07.