OWF 2025 Wrapped: A Year of Innovation, Investment & Impact
2025 was an impactful year for One Washington Financial, WSECU’s CUSO holding company. We evaluated more opportunities than ever, welcomed nine new CUSOs into our portfolio, celebrated a successful exit, and deepened our commitment to the credit union mission through pilots, partnerships, and thought leadership.
Here's a look back at how we spent the year advancing innovation for credit union members everywhere.
Shown in the image above:
153 opportunities evaluated — our most active pipeline year yet
9 new CUSO investments — backing founders building the future of member-first fintech
1 successful exit — validating our investment thesis and returning instant value
15 portfolio CUSOs — and growing!
5+ industry conferences — connecting with innovators, sharing insights, and championing our portfolio
New CUSO Investments
This year, we welcomed nine exceptional CUSOs into the OWF family. Each one shares our commitment to improving financial well-being, expanding access to affordable financial services, and driving innovation for credit union members:
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Retirement shouldn't be scary—and Silvur is proving it. Their platform helps members #RetireFearlessly with personalized guidance on Social Security, Medicare, and retirement budgeting. Through our partnership, WSECU now offers expanded guidance to members age 65+, and Silvur took home the CU2.0 Fintech Madness crown in 2025.
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AKUVO brings AI-driven technology to collections and credit risk management, helping credit unions recover more while treating members with dignity and respect. WSECU joined their Advisory Board, and their 2025 Community Conference drew 230+ attendees eager to learn how AI is transforming the collections experience.
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What if debt recovery could actually help people rebuild? Remynt is flipping the script on collections, replacing fear and shame with empowerment and a path back to financial health. With OWF's investment, Remynt became a CUSO and committed to serving credit unions of all sizes—because smaller institutions deserve great technology too.
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Identity verification shouldn't slow members down or leave them vulnerable to fraud. Idgo's secure digital authentication helps credit unions verify members quickly and confidently, creating seamless experiences while keeping bad actors out. It's security that works for members, not against them.
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Every member is unique—and BlastPoint helps credit unions understand exactly how. Their AI-powered member intelligence platform turns data into personalized engagement strategies, helping credit unions meet members where they are and deliver the products and services they actually need.
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Millions of Americans qualify for government assistance programs but never apply. Starlight changes that by connecting credit union members to benefits they've already earned—building financial stability while deepening the credit union relationship. We helped Starlight form a new CUSO, cementing their commitment to the movement.
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Financial planning has always been for the wealthy—until now. Penny Finance is democratizing access with the first personalized financial planning platform designed for everyday Americans. Members can finally understand their spending, grow their savings, eliminate debt, and start investing with confidence. Their FinovateSpring 2025 Best of Show win proved what we already knew: this is the future of financial wellness for credit union members.
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What if saving money could feel good? Spiral's award-winning platform helps credit unions grow deposits and retention through personalized savings experiences that let members give back to their communities while building their own financial futures. With 280% year-over-year growth and Top 100 Financial Technology Company recognition, Spiral is proving that purpose and performance go hand in hand.
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Rounding out our biggest investment year ever, Delfi joins the OWF CUSO portfolio with innovative balance sheet management solutions designed to help credit unions better serve their members and reduce risk. We're excited to support their growth in 2026 and beyond.
Strategic Partnerships & Leadership
Curql Investment Committee
In September, OWF Principal Scott Daukas was appointed to the Curql Investment Committee, joining an elite group of credit union leaders shaping the future of fintech investment. "Scott brings unmatched experience in CUSO investing and innovation," said Curql CEO Nick Evens. This seat at the table means OWF can help guide strategic decisions that benefit credit unions industry wide.
Industry Access
WSECU, our parent, renewed its partnership with Filene by sponsoring another one of its Centers of Excellence (Future of Payments). Through this relationship, OWF was fortunate enough to be granted access to the FiLab Symposium, which produced several innovative initiatives. Similar experiences held true with MDC and Curql as well; WSECU is well-regarded, and that benefits OWF!
Curql Unboxed at WSECU
We were proud to host a Curql Unboxed event at WSECU, bringing together credit union leaders from across Washington and six fintech innovators for hands-on exploration of emerging solutions. These intimate gatherings are where real partnerships begin—and we're honored WSECU’s headquarters could serve as the backdrop.
As Paul Kirkbride, COO at WSECU and CEO of OWF, recently noted, “Curql has become one of our most valued partners and these events reinforce our industry’s commitment to innovation and collaboration.”
Expanding the Team
To deepen our support for our CUSOs and strategic partners, we brought on Amy Schultz, former founder of Bolder Money, as a fintech consultant. Amy's entrepreneurial experience and passion for the credit union mission will help us provide even more value to our CUSOs as we scale our impact in 2026.
Pilots & Research
Investing in CUSOs is just the beginning. We believe in rolling up our sleeves and piloting solutions with our internal partners to prove what works and share those learnings with the industry. In addition to the pilots below, we’re taking steps to ramp up pilots for 2026 with more of our portfolio CUSOs.
Silvur Retirement Planning
WSECU recently launched Silvur's retirement planning tools for members. The platform delivers personalized Retirement Scores, Social Security optimization calculators, Medicare guidance, and 500+ educational lessons—translating tens of thousands of variables into clear, actionable guidance.
For the first time, WSECU members approaching retirement have a comprehensive, free resource to help them understand how long their savings will last and make confident decisions about their financial futures.
Goodbuy Community Commerce
What if credit unions could become engines of local economic growth? This summer, WSECU, OWF’s parent, partnered with Goodbuy to test "community commerce"—connecting members with 15 local small businesses through a digital marketplace.
The results exceeded expectations:
45% email open rates
881 community access passes
100% SMB satisfaction
As one business owner put it: "Credit unions that tangibly invest in marketing for small businesses are rare. This shows real support."
Scott co-authored the resulting whitepaper with Goodbuy's Cary Fortin, published through NACUSO to help other credit unions replicate the model.
Portfolio CUSO Wins
When our portfolio CUSOs win, credit unions win. Here's how our CUSOs made their mark in 2025:
Portfolio wins shown in the image above:
DefenseStorm earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 with 123% three-year revenue growth and crossed the 200-client milestone—protecting more credit unions than ever from cyber threats
Silvur won CU2.0 Fintech Madness and took the stage at NACUSO Reimagine, cementing their place as the go-to retirement planning solution for credit unions
Penny Finance captured Best of Show at FinovateSpring 2025—the only personal finance company recognized among a field of AI and automation solutions
Spiral delivered 280% year-over-year growth, launched their new Savings Center, and was selected to demo at FinovateFall 2025
Ranqx partnered with MSUFCU to launch their first pilot in the CU industry.
AKUVO drew 230+ attendees to their Community Conference, creating space for credit unions to learn from each other about AI-driven collections
Starlight joined the CU 2.0 Podcast to share how benefits automation is helping credit unions support members facing financial hardship
Goodbuy reached the finals at the VentureTech 2025 Pitch-Off, showcasing their community commerce model to industry leaders
Remynt was selected for the WMNfintech Accelerator 2025 (powered by BMO), gaining access to mentorship and resources to scale their impact, and MDC’s accelerator for 2026, gaining access to go-to-market strategy support, targeted mentorship, pilot opportunities, and CUSO investment readiness
On the Road
We believe showing up matters. This year, OWF hit the road to connect with innovators, champion our portfolio CUSOs, and share what we're learning with the credit union community.
Money 20/20 (Las Vegas)
The world's largest fintech event brought us face-to-face with the cutting edge of financial innovation. Scott and Amy attended events hosted by Themis, Alloy Labs, Bits of Stock, Array, Charm, and more—building relationships and scouting opportunities that could benefit credit unions.
VentureTech 2025 (Frisco, TX)
The premier credit union fintech showcase—and OWF portfolio companies took center stage. Remynt and Goodbuy were selected to pitch their solutions to an audience of credit union decision-makers, demonstrating how innovation built for the movement is gaining momentum, while Paul, Scott, and WSECU & OWF Board member, Doug Mah, made several new connections.
FiLabs Symposium (Filene Research Institute)
Filene's innovation lab selected two of our portfolio CUSOs (Goodbuy and Delfi Labs) for their 2025 accelerator cohort—an opportunity to test and validate solutions with credit union partners and publish findings that benefit the entire industry.
Big Bright Minds (Nashville)
Filene's flagship gathering brought together the industry's most forward-thinking leaders. Paul and Scott joined the conversation on where credit unions are headed—and how strategic fintech partnerships will get us there.
CU WealthTech Connect (Nashville)
OWF showed up in force at WealthTech Connect, a first-of-its-kind conference hosted by our portfolio company WealthCabinet. Scott joined a panel exploring stablecoins' impact on credit unions alongside Curql's Martin Walker, while portfolio CUSOs Silvur, Remynt, and TAPP Engine presented their solutions to credit union wealth and innovation leaders.
FinovateSpring (San Diego)
OWF Board Member Randy Gunderson represented OWF at FinovateSpring, where portfolio CUSO Penny Finance took home Best of Show honors. The conference brought together the industry's most innovative fintech companies to demo their solutions live on stage—and watching one of our CUSOs earn top recognition made the trip especially rewarding.
Fintech Meetup (Las Vegas)
Former OWF Board Member Tracy Guerin attended Fintech Meetup on behalf of OWF, connecting with founders and fintech leaders through the event's signature meeting format. With thousands of curated one-on-one sessions, Fintech Meetup continues to be one of the most efficient ways to discover emerging solutions and build relationships that benefit credit unions.
CU Broadcast Interviews
Scott shared the mic with founders from OWF portfolio CUSOs Remynt, Goodbuy, and Starlight to tell the story of how these partnerships are making a difference for credit union members. He also teamed up with Curql's Martin Walker to break down stablecoins and what they mean for the industry—bringing complex topics to life for credit union leaders everywhere.
The OWF Portfolio
As of December 2025, OWF's portfolio includes 15 CUSOs—each one committed to helping credit unions better serve their members:
Shown above: Ranqx | Goodbuy | Silvur | Starlight | Penny Finance | Spiral | AKUVO | Remynt | Coviance | BlastPoint | DefenseStorm | IDgo | CCG | WealthCabinet | Delfi
What’s Ahead in 2026
The momentum isn't slowing down. Here's what we're excited about heading into the new year:
Portfolio Companies in Accelerators
Two OWF portfolio companies have been accepted into the MDC Accelerator program for 2026, gaining access to go-to-market strategy support, targeted mentorship, pilot opportunities, and CUSO investment readiness:
Remynt | scaling their consumer-centric approach to debt recovery
Goodbuy | expanding community commerce to connect more members with local businesses
Where to Find Us
Catch the OWF team at these events in early 2026:
MDC Owners Meeting — February 9 | Scottsdale
GAC — March 1 | Washington, DC
Fintech Meetup — March 30 | Mandalay Bay
NACUSO Reimagine – April 27 | Lake Buena Vista
See our full 2026 conference schedule here.
The OWF Team
Paul Kirkbride | CEO COO of WSECU, overseeing member experience, operations, and innovation with nearly 30 years in financial services.
Scott Daukas | Chief Partnership Officer Manages OWF's early-stage fintech CUSO investment fund. 25+ years of credit union experience, launched multiple CUSOs, and executed 20+ direct investments.
Amy Schultz | Fintech Consultant Former co-founder of Bolder Money, Amy brings fintech startup experience and a passion for financial wellness to support OWF's portfolio CUSOs and strategic partners.
Gary Swindler | Board Chair President CEO of WSECU with over 35 years at the credit union, guiding growth to 330,000+ members and $5B+ in assets.
Vikki Smith | Board Member Retired Director of Washington State Department of Revenue. Elected to the WSECU Board in 2021, joined OWF Board in 2025.
Doug Mah | Board Member WSECU Board member since 2011, former Mayor of Olympia, and 2024 Distinguished Leader Award recipient from Leadership Thurston County.
Michael Cockrill | Board Member CTO at Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences. Former CIO for the State of Washington under Governor Inslee, with 25+ years of technology leadership.
Randy Gunderson | Board Member SVP & CFO at WSECU. Previously VP & CFO at Verity Credit Union, bringing extensive financial leadership experience.
“Here’s to another year of people helping people.”
