The Table Series: Fintech
The Table Series: Fintech
👋 I’m Damian Murray, an Investor at Level Up Ventures. I’m excited to host the Fintech edition of The Table Series in New York City and bring together a curated group of stealth through Series A founders, investors, and operators for an evening centered on meaningful conversation, shared perspective, and relationships beyond the deal.
The evening will begin with a brief perspective on where fintech and capital are moving, but the dinner is built around conversation. Seats will rotate midway through the evening so that everyone has the opportunity to meet more of the room, not just the people seated beside them.
No pitches. No panel. No name badges.
IDEAL GUESTS
Stealth through Series A founders building in fintech, investors focused on early-stage financial services, and operators with experience across technology, venture, and financial services.
The table will be intentionally curated to bring together people who are building, investing, and thinking deeply about the future of financial services.
EVENT DETAILS
Thursday, October 29, 2026
6:00–8:00 PM
Manhattan — exact location shared upon confirmation
Request a seat to join. Seating is limited, and we’ll review each request to help curate the right group around the table.
ABOUT THE HOSTS AND INVESTORS
Shashi Srikantan — Level Up Ventures
Shashi Srikantan is Managing Director at Hearst and Head of Level Up Ventures, Hearst’s corporate venture arm investing in early-stage technology companies led by founders who have historically faced barriers to accessing capital. She brings experience across credit, capital markets, venture, and corporate innovation.
Damian Murray — Level Up Ventures
Damian Murray is an Investor at Level Up Ventures, where he invests in pre-seed and seed-stage technology companies across fintech, climate tech, sports, and media. He focuses on supporting founders who have historically faced barriers to accessing capital and previously worked with Volvo Cars Tech Fund.
William Crowder — Aperture Venture Capital
William Crowder is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Aperture Venture Capital, a seed-stage fund investing in companies using financial innovation to help individuals and businesses thrive. Prior to founding Aperture, William created and led the Comcast Ventures Catalyst Fund, one of the first corporate-backed venture funds with a diversity focus.
Bukie Adebo Umeano — Anthemis
Bukie Adebo Umeano is an Investment Principal at Anthemis, where she sources, evaluates, and executes early-stage investments across financial services and AI. She previously worked in consulting and brand strategy, co-founded a credit-building business, and invested in Series A and Series B companies through WomensVCFund.
ABOUT LEVEL UP VENTURES
Level Up Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Hearst, launched to invest in exceptional entrepreneurs who have historically faced barriers to accessing capital.
We invest in early-stage technology companies while helping founders access the strategic resources, relationships, and expertise available across Hearst’s broader ecosystem. Through the Level Up Scout Network and our connections across Hearst’s businesses, we support founders with mentorship, market insight, and opportunities to build meaningful relationships beyond capital.
ABOUT APERTURE VENTURE CAPITAL
Aperture Venture Capital is a seed-stage investor focused on companies increasing the ubiquity, movement, and security of capital. Aperture believes financial services are central to economic transformation and the creation of a more prosperous society.
ABOUT ANTHEMIS
Anthemis is an early-stage venture firm investing at the intersection of financial services and the agentic economy. The firm backs pre-seed and seed-stage companies and brings together entrepreneurs, incumbents, academics, policymakers, and other ecosystem participants to support the next generation of financial services innovation.