2013 Innovators to Watch: 6 to 10
6. The Winklevoss twins, bitcoin investors
The film “The Social Network” introduced the Winklevoss twins to the world, and brothers Cameron and Tyler have kept up the media blitz ever since, with the most attention focused recently on their roles as investors in — and evangelists for — bitcoins. Most analysts are wary of bitcoins, but most analysts aren’t 6’5” identical twins that were members of Harvard’s Hasty Pudding society and rowers that earned their Oxford Blues. The “Winkevii” must be considered social networking pioneers, and their high-profile guarantees any investment they make will get at least double the attention it might otherwise receive.
7. Matt Wilcox, senior vice president and director, Interactive Services and Marketing at Zions Bank
You might know him as a banker, but do you read Matt Wilcox’s blog, Matt Wilcox Pro? If you don’t, you’re missing out on some insights from a banker in the trenches who is seriously examining how mobile banking is transforming the customer experience. Wilcox’s knowledge is broad and deep — still young, he has 14 years of experience in the industry — and he approaches his work with passion and humor.
8. Ashton Kutcher, actor and fintech investor, A Grade Investments
You may be wondering who this guy is — or rather, why he’s on this list? The reason is simple: Kutcher is one of the savviest fintech investors out there. He was early out of the gate with Skype, Square and Dwolla, and also has investments in payments processor Balanced and many other promising startups. Mila Kunis, we hope you’re taking notes.
9. Bianca Buckridee, social media operations manager, JPMorgan Chase
Bianca Buckridee (better known to many as @blatantlybianca) is one of the leading lights of social media in financial services, and she got into it in an odd way. A new and reluctant Twitter user in 2009, she entered the name of her employer (SunTrust Bank) and saw that, while the bank was not on Twitter, its customers were. This is perhaps the greatest lesson of social media for bank executives. She started up SunTrust’s corporate Twitter effort and was soon snapped up by JPMorgan Chase, where her team — which is smaller than you might think — recently earned a Webby award for its work in community-building during Hurricane Sandy. Check out what Chase did for a textbook case of social media done right.
10. Kristoffer Lawson, founder, Holvi
Holvi’s Vault is not a bank, but it will replace your bank, the company says. Based in Helsinki, Finland, Holvi is a financial platform that blends the notions of consumer and commercial banking. This makes sense, since which of us can say our work life is completely separate from our personal life these days? Holvi allows users to perform all online banking functions from its platform, as well as easily set up a storefront to sell products or services that is directly attached to the Holvi Vault account. Can your bank do that? Lawson is known (at least here at Bank Innovation) for his excellent hat and tweed get-up. We’re superficial that way.
