Other events for brokers in the industry seem to be both very expensive and short on actual take home value. While we’re sure those events are very lucrative for the people who put them on we’re confident that brokers deserve better. A high quality product, delivered at a fair price and with all the proceeds being reinvested to support the industry – that’s how it should be!
Stay out of trouble with new laws
& regulations
The latest on key policy developments and hear directly from the policymakers who are shaping the future of the industry.
Brokers Expo New York is the first conference organized for the small business finance industry, by the small business finance industry. It is an opportunity to engage with and learn from industry thought leaders and policymakers while networking with fellow brokers from across the country.
Brokers Expo New York is the first conference organized for the small business finance industry, by the small business finance industry. It is an opportunity to engage with and learn from industry thought leaders and policymakers while networking with fellow brokers from across the country.
Brokers Expo New York welcomes small business financiers from across the country to New York to learn from and network with some of the nation’s top small business industry thought-leaders and policymakers.
This one-day program will provide you with the tools, strategies, and best practices you need to successfully compete in today’s rapidly changing business environment.
Brokers Expo New York will take place on September 15 – 16, 2026, at Center 415, located at 415 5th Avenue (between 37th and 38th Streets).
The New York metro area is served by three major airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
We encourage you to come ready to learn from some of the nation’s top small business finance experts and policy leaders. You will want your laptop or other mobile devices on hand to take notes during the interactive sessions.
The dress code for Brokers Expo New York is business casual. This includes the forum sessions as well as the networking events.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. For sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities, contact info@thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com
Please contact info@thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com
Join us at The Refinery Rooftop, 63 West 38th St, New York, NY 10018 to kick off Broker Expo NYC.
Registration For Broker Expo NYC 2025 Opens at 8:30 AM.
Start your morning with breakfast and great connections! Grab a bite, meet fellow attendees and explore the Vendor Hall before the day’s sessions begin. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect, make new introductions and get energized for the day ahead.
Canter 415 – Vendor Hall
Join us as we officially kick off Brokers Expo New York City 2026 with special opening remarks from A Member of the New York State Legislature, followed by Mary Donohue, Executive Director of the Revenue Based Finance Coalition (RBFC).
Together, they’ll welcome attendees and set the stage for a full day of industry insights, meaningful connections and opportunities across the commercial finance community.
The Broker-Funder Network: Closing the Gap Between Relationships and Results.
Explore how stronger broker-funder relationships can lead to better opportunities and better outcomes. This session will discuss communication, trust, transparency and alignment, with practical insights on how brokers and funders can work together more effectively, from the initial submission through closing and beyond.
Race to the Bottom: Is Competition Becoming Unsustainable?
As competition intensifies across the industry, how far is too far? This session examines the pressure to offer lower pricing, faster approvals and increasingly aggressive terms and whether the race to win deals is creating long-term challenges for brokers and funders. Industry leaders will discuss how to remain competitive while maintaining responsible practices, sustainable margins and strong partnerships.
Connect with brokers, lenders, funders and industry leaders while enjoying lunch and building valuable relationships.
Explore additional platforms, tools and opportunities from exhibitors and sponsors shaping the future of the industry.
Kickoff reception for Women in Commercial Finance (WCF) with a champagne toast. If you are not a member and are interested in joining, please email janessa.whidden@rbfc.net for more information.
Unwind, continue conversations and make meaningful connections with peers, partners and decision-makers in a relaxed setting.
Engaging and impactful content is only as strong as the venue it is presented in, that is why Brokers Expo New York City creates a full top notch experience down to the very last detail.
Another year, another industry-leading experience everyone will be talking about. This year we will be heading to an incredible new venue to create incredible new experiences. Brokers Expo New York City will continue to grow and change the industry, and it will continue to be the event of the year everyone will be talking about. Don’t wait, lock in this year’s event at its low super early bird rate.
We’re excited to host our upcoming event at Center 415, a premier, full-service venue located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. With over 30,000 square feet of modern, flexible space and stunning city views, Center 415 offers the perfect blend of style, sophistication, and convenience. Just steps from Bryant Park and major transit hubs, it’s an ideal location to connect, network, and make an impact. Join us at this vibrant NYC destination for a memorable experience in one of the city’s most dynamic event spaces.
CENTER415
415 5th Avenue Btw. 37th and 38th Streets New York, NY 10016
Martinique New York on Broadway —a historic gem nestled in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. This beautifully restored Beaux-Arts landmark blends timeless elegance with modern comfort, offering guests a one-of-a-kind experience. With over 8,000 square feet of event space, Art Deco–inspired guest rooms, and a variety of on-site dining options.
Located just steps from Herald Square, Penn Station, the Empire State Building, and 12 major subway lines, this prime Broadway location offers unmatched convenience and vibrant city energy.
Martinique New York
49 W 32nd Street, New York, NY 10001
Important Notice About Hotel Reservations
Please be aware that unauthorized third-party companies may contact attendees or sponsors claiming to offer discounted or limited hotel rooms for the Funders Forum + Broker Expo. These solicitations are not affiliated with our event and may be deceptive.
For your security, only use the official hotel booking link or phone number provided directly by our team. This is the only authorized method to reserve rooms for the event.
If you receive any unsolicited calls or emails from outside vendors, please disregard them and notify us.
Assemblyman Clyde Vanel serves as the Chair of the Banks Committee, Chairs the Subcommittee on Internet and New Technology. He has sponsored numerous landmark bills, such as legislation to create a robotics, automation and artificial intelligence commission; license high-risk AI systems; and create a cryptocurrency and blockchain study task force. He is focused on emerging technologies and works to close the digital divide among marginalized communities.
Vanel is an attorney, entrepreneur, and pilot from Queens. He is the owner and operator of Vanel Law Firm, P.C., where he practices intellectual property and business law. Vanel is also an internet entrepreneur operating TrademarkReady.com, a service focused on trademark filings and intellectual property protection. Vanel has extensive entrepreneurial experience, including owning and operating a restaurant and lounge, Vanel on First, in Lower Manhattan for five years. Vanel works to expose the next generation to STEM careers. Vanel is also the founder of the New York Metro chapter of the Black Pilots of America, Inc. The organization trains and exposes the community and youth to the field of aviation.
Vanel serves as a member of the MIT AI Policy Forum and frequently lectures and presents on issues including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, international policy, and intellectual property.
Vanel earned a Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Science & Technology Law. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Administration and an Associate of Applied Science in Aerospace Technology from Farmingdale State College, where he served as the Student Government President.
Serving as the Assembly Member for the 33rd District of New York since November 8, 2016, his district includes Cambria Heights, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, Bellerose, and parts of Floral Park. Vanel was raised in Cambria Heights, New York, with nine siblings, Vanel is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Mary Donohue is Executive Director of the Revenue Based Finance Coalition (RBFC), where she leads the association’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the revenue-based financing industry. She works with policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to advance policies that promote innovation, responsible regulation, and access to capital for small businesses.
Prior to joining RBFC, Mary served as a Government Relations Specialist at CATALYST Government Affairs, where she managed diverse client portfolios spanning financial services, foster care policy, and other legislative issues at both the state and federal levels. She also previously managed federal and state public policy strategies for Enova International’s small business lending brands (NYSE: ENVA)—including OnDeck, Headway Capital, and The Business Backer—working across business units, external partners, consultants, and trade associations to support policies that expand access to small business financing.
Mary brings more than a decade of government affairs experience in Washington, D.C. This includes time at Polaris Consulting, where she specialized in financial services and developed strategic advocacy initiatives through congressional engagement and policy research.
Mary holds a Master of Public Administration and Policy from American University and graduated magna cum laude from St. Lawrence University with dual degrees in Government and Psychology.
Akhilesh is the COO – North America at HyperVerge, an AI co-pilot that helps small-business lenders reduce time-to-offer from hours to minutes.
He brings over 15 years of experience building and scaling teams across Bain, Amazon, and global technology startups, spanning strategy, product, and go-to-market roles. At HyperVerge, Akhilesh leads the US business of a bootstrapped, AI-led organization that has processed over 2 billion applications worldwide, with technology certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
He works closely with small-business lenders to drive step-change improvements in underwriting efficiency, managing risk and scaling operations without adding headcount. Akhilesh holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, one of India’s leading business schools with a strong global reputation.
Bill Gallagher has been the President of CFGMS since its inception in 2015. Prior to that, Bill was the Chief Credit Officer of CapFlow Funding, CFGMS’s factoring sister company, since 2009. Bill has held various senior-level Capital Markets and Investment Banking positions in the Institutional Fixed Income divisions of Lehman Brothers, and Barclays Capital.
Brian Mullins is a technology executive and career CTO with extensive experience building and scaling fintech platforms and engineering teams. He has served as CTO for multiple lending organizations, leading the development of loan origination systems, underwriting platforms, and risk automation supporting high growth funding operations.
As founder of Digsites, Brian designs and delivers scalable platforms and AI driven automation for modern financial institutions. He also serves as a fractional CTO for both lending and brokerage organizations, giving him a hands-on perspective across the full lending lifecycle.
His work focuses on transforming underwriting, risk decisioning, and lending infrastructure through software architecture, data intelligence, automation, and applied AI.
Louis Calderone is the President and co-founder of VOX Funding, a leading fintech company specializing in innovative funding solutions for small businesses. Under Louis’s leadership, VOX has experienced rapid, exponential growth, driven by a strong emphasis on building lasting client partnerships. His vision and expertise continue to shape VOX’s mission of empowering businesses by providing them with the capital needed to fuel their success and growth.
Louis brings over 30 years of industry experience to his role, having navigated diverse sectors of financial services. Louis began his career as an options and equity trader in New York, honing his skills in high-pressure environments. Prior to founding VOX Funding, he spent over two decades at Aegis Capital, eventually rising to the role of President. Louis transformed Aegis from a small player in the industry to a premier, full-service investment firm. He has held various leadership positions at firms such as Converge Media Group, where he guided them to an acquisition by Zealot Networks in 2015.
Matthew Feit is a CEO, sales leader, and RBF industry veteran with well over a decade of experience in business finance. In 2016, he founded High Power Capital Group, building a reputation for high-value relationships between merchants, funders, and lenders nationwide. His deep understanding of the funding market is driven by extensive hands-on experience, industry research, and direct engagement with entrepreneurs and financial solutions providers. Under his leadership, High Power Capital Group became recognized for reliability, consistency, and a results-driven formula.
In 2023, Matthew expanded his vision to Tampa, Florida, founding FloridaFunding.com and achieving the distinction of becoming the first brokerage firm to join the RBF Coalition. Today, he remains committed to conducting business with the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Herk Christie is the Chief Operating Officer at Expansion Capital Group (ECG), where he plays a key role in advancing the company’s mission to provide fast, innovative capital solutions to small businesses.
With over 25 years of experience in consumer and small business lending, Herk has built his career across both banking and alternative finance, focusing on expanding access to capital for underserved markets. He joined ECG in 2016, drawn by the opportunity to apply his operational expertise to a growing platform dedicated to small business success.
Since joining ECG, Herk has helped lead the company through more than 10x growth, building scalable operating models, strengthening operational discipline, and leveraging data and technology to support sustainable expansion. He brings a disciplined, execution-focused approach to operations and is deeply committed to helping small businesses grow and thrive.
Chad Raiche joined Elite in 2023 and currently serves as Manager of Strategic Operations, where he supports initiatives focused on operational efficiency, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration. Prior to his current role, Raiche was a Process Improvement Project Manager, responsible for leading projects that streamline workflows and enhance organizational effectiveness.
Before Elite, Raiche worked as a Business Process Manager at Supreme Lending, building expertise in compliance, process improvement, and business development within the lending services industry. Earlier in his career, he held Mortgage Underwriter positions at Summit Mortgage Corporation and Wells Fargo, responsible for credit analysis, mortgage lending, and customer relationship management.
Raiche earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Operations from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Matthew Knatz is an experienced Business Development Representative at CFG Merchant Solutions, located in the heart of New York City’s financial district. With over 12 years in the industry, Matt has been recognized for his ability to build meaningful partnerships and drive deal momentum through clear and straightforward communication.
