FiRadar is an elite strategic advisory firm and accelerator. We bridge the gap between Fintech innovation and institutional stability. For the few who pass our 10-point Strategic Audit, we provide the capital, the core integration expertise, and the direct line to 5,000+ C-level Bank and CU leaders to drive rapid scale.
FiRadar is led by Managing Partner Tom Penton, a Gartner veteran and a collective of veteran C-level banking executives. With over two decades of trust built in the boardrooms of the nation's leading FIs, we know exactly what it takes to turn a "tech solution" into an "institutional standard."
Having successfully guided 8 fintech acquisitions and exits, our methodology is designed to do one thing: Maximize Valuation through Institutional Readiness.
See If You QualifyThe FiRadar methodology isn't theory — it's a repeatable playbook built from two decades of institutional deal-making. Here's what it delivers.
FiRadar's advisory team combines decades of institutional sales, regulatory mastery, and deep technology expertise — the exact disciplines that determine whether a fintech succeeds or stalls inside a bank or credit union.
Tom founded BankRadar — now evolving into FiRadar to serve the full spectrum of Banks and Credit Unions. A former SVP of Sales at Gartner across Asia Pacific and Latin America, Tom has spent 27 years building trust in FI boardrooms. His firm Pentonian has driven game-changing sales results for fintech firms across the nation, and his personal relationships with 5,000+ C-level Bank and CU executives are FiRadar's most valuable asset.
Pawneet is the CEO & Founder of PARC Solutions, a globally recognized compliance and risk advisory firm. With 25+ years across public and private sectors, she is a former CCO and Head of Financial Crimes/BSA Officer, and former SVP of AML Risk Management at The Bancorp. An ACAMS panelist and GRC World Forums speaker, Pawneet ensures every fintech FiRadar vets meets the rigorous regulatory standards that FI boards demand — from AML and KYC to FFIEC and sanctions compliance.
Minesh is FiRadar's technology authority, bringing deep hands-on expertise in Banking-as-a-Service, core system architecture, and API-driven FI integrations. Based in the Greater Chicago Area, he brings a practitioner's understanding of what it actually takes to connect a fintech to the FIS, Fiserv, and Jack Henry ecosystems — cutting through vendor claims to assess real integration timelines, security posture, and scalability inside a regulated banking environment.
Tom brings over 30 years of banking law and regulatory risk management expertise to FiRadar. Recently retired as Executive Vice President & General Counsel of The Bancorp — one of the nation's most prominent fintech-forward financial institutions — he previously served as a Partner at Lindquist & Vennum (now Ballard Spahr), where he specialized in banking law within their Financial Institutions Practice Group, and as SVP & Regulatory Counsel at Marshall BankFirst Corp. Tom guides FiRadar's fintechs and FI partners through the legal complexities of institutional partnerships, licensing, and regulatory structure.
The proof isn't just in our exits. It's in the relationships — from the boardroom to the founding team.
"I trust Tom and his recommendations. He will be transparent with me about the fintech's strengths and weaknesses."
"When a fintech makes it through FiRadar's audit process, we will absolutely review it."
"Tom (FiRadar) was instrumental in securing our CUSO investments, readiness and pipeline of CU's."
Our AI-powered Lead Analyst will run you through the same 10-point vetting process used to identify every firm in the FiRadar portfolio. Get your Institutional Readiness Score — and see if you have what it takes to access the network, the capital, and the exits.