About Stephen

Stephen founded SoundGrowth Data to empower lenders with data and AI tools to better serve small, underserved businesses, providing them greater access to capital in a safe, sound, and profitable way. With over 15 years of financial services and data analytics expertise, Stephen has built a career on transforming complex data into actionable insights that drive growth and innovation in small business lending.

Currently, Stephen is the Head of Data & AI Strategy at Lenders Cooperative, where he helps financial institutions improve operational efficiency, better serve their communities, and achieve sustainable growth through data-driven solutions.

Previously, as SVP of Analytics at Live Oak Bank, "America's small business bank," Stephen established and led the data analytics department. He developed innovative credit scoring and pricing models for small businesses and played a key role on the Model Risk Management Committee, ensuring robust risk management through rigorous model validation.

In 2021, Stephen co-founded Lumos Data, creating the industry-leading PRIME+ small business credit score, which enabled financial institutions to expand and diversify their lending portfolios. In 2024, he co-founded AuFort Insurance, where he developed advanced risk models to enhance small business credit for lenders and protect business owners’ personal assets through personal guarantee insurance.

Stephen’s expertise spans small business lending, pricing and risk modeling, and AI applications in banking. Through SoundGrowth Data, he continues his mission of equipping financial institutions with the tools and insights to better support small businesses, driving economic growth and innovation in underserved communities.