SMU FinTech Coalition, Executive-in-Residence

About the position

MassChallenge is seeking a fintech Executive-in-Residence (EIR) to support the SMU FinTech Accelerator in Dallas. The EIR works alongside program leadership, which owns program design, curriculum, and investor engagement, and serves as the cohort’s expert on regulatory readiness, financial institution pilots, and fintech technical depth. The role helps founders get regulatory, compliance, and technical fundamentals right; prepares and connects them to financial institution pilots, proofs of concept, and partnerships; and represents MassChallenge and the SMU FinTech Coalition among DFW financial institutions, fintech operators, and regulators.

The EIR advises founders on licensing, bank partnerships, banking-as-a-service, AML/KYC, consumer protection, data privacy, vendor onboarding, third-party risk management, security and compliance reviews, procurement, contracting, payment rails, core banking systems, APIs, integrations, and data security. The role also supports curriculum development, provides individual and group mentorship, makes targeted introductions to financial institutions and corporate partners, and represents the Coalition at program events.

The engagement runs from November 2026 through June 2027 and is a contracted, part-time engagement of approximately 8 to 10 hours per week. November through January includes weekly program-team touchpoints and action items; founder-facing work is heaviest from February through June 2027. Compensation is a flat rate of \$1,800 per month.

Responsibilities

• Advise founders on licensing, bank partnerships and banking-as-a-service, AML/KYC, consumer protection, and data privacy considerations.
• Coach founders through financial institution vendor onboarding, including third-party risk management, security and compliance reviews, procurement, and contracting.
• Provide subject matter guidance on payment rails, core banking systems, APIs and integrations, and data security; recommend specialist mentors when needed.
• Partner with program leadership on the Product, Technology, Regulatory Alignment, Enterprise Engagement, and Partnerships curriculum modules.
• Provide one-on-one and group mentorship on regulatory, technical, and enterprise go-to-market questions.
• Make targeted introductions to financial institutions and corporate partners to accelerate use-case discovery, pilots, and partnerships.
• Represent MassChallenge and the SMU FinTech Coalition at Executive Circle convenings, founder salons, and related events.
• Provide fintech-specific input on curriculum modules ahead of the Accelerator Kickoff.
• Complete a brief regulatory and pilot-readiness assessment for each startup at the beginning and end of the program.
• Participate in and/or co-facilitate the Executive Circle convening in Q1 2027.
• Contribute founder progress input and help source potential speakers and attendees for the Midpoint Founder and Partner Convening in late April 2027.
• Support founders throughout the program, including at least one monthly one-on-one meeting with each startup in the anticipated cohort of 15, with a focus on preparation for the Accelerator Finale and Showcase.
• Deliver at least one office-hours session per month for the full cohort during the 16-week Accelerator, February through June 2027.
• Provide qualitative input on founder milestone progress and CSAT for program reporting against Year 1 targets.
• Serve as a member of the Steering Committee if requested.

Requirements

• 10 or more years of experience in a senior operating, product, technology, risk, or compliance role at a financial institution or fintech company; investing or advisory experience alone does not meet this requirement.
• Hands-on experience with financial services regulatory frameworks, such as money transmission and licensing, bank partnerships, AML/KYC, or consumer financial protection.
• Experience on the buying side of fintech pilots or vendor evaluations at a financial institution, or experience leading enterprise sales cycles into financial institutions.
• High emotional intelligence and a passion for guiding early-stage entrepreneurs.

Nice-to-haves

• Founder or executive of a fintech company that has scaled or exited.
• Former innovation, partnerships, or vendor management leader at a financial institution.
• Based in DFW with active financial institution relationships.
• Technical depth in payments infrastructure, core banking, APIs, or data security.