Melissa Pancoast
Founder & CEO The Beans
Melissa is the Founder and CEO of The Beans, the trusted Financial OS for Caring Professionals. By automating financial workflows and addressing the leading cause of employee stress - money - The Beans empowers organizations and their workforce. With a background as a VC in artificial intelligence, researcher at the University of Oxford, and former elementary math teacher Melissa brings a unique perspective to her role. She led the development of the Economic Strengthening Program which has been rolled out by the UN, WHO, and CDC to reduce the financial stress of 300 million people globally. She is also an angel investor and advisor, passionate about supporting diverse entrepreneurs. Melissa holds an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford and a BS in Political Science from Stetson University. A former competitive rower and coach, she cherishes any opportunity to be in, on, or near the water.
2026 Agenda Sessions
Fintech Feud - the gameshow
Fintech Feud brings two high‑powered teams head‑to‑head in a fast‑paced, survey‑style gameshow where every question digs into one theme: financial health.
Inspired by a classic format but reimagined for the fintech crowd, this session blends sharp industry insight with big‑energy competition. Teams will battle to guess the top answers from industry surveys and consumer data on what drives financial resilience.
Expect bold guesses, friendly rivalry, and plenty of laughs as our contestants race the clock, challenge assumptions, and reveal how well they really understand the financial health landscape. It’s educational, unpredictable, and genuinely fun — a perfect break from traditional panels while still delivering real takeaways about the state of financial wellbeing in fintech.
Tuesday 31 March 09:35 - 10:15 The Pulse
Inspired by a classic format but reimagined for the fintech crowd, this session blends sharp industry insight with big‑energy competition. Teams will battle to guess the top answers from industry surveys and consumer data on what drives financial resilience.
Expect bold guesses, friendly rivalry, and plenty of laughs as our contestants race the clock, challenge assumptions, and reveal how well they really understand the financial health landscape. It’s educational, unpredictable, and genuinely fun — a perfect break from traditional panels while still delivering real takeaways about the state of financial wellbeing in fintech.
The Pulse US/Pacific
