Reseda Summit 2026: Filip Danielewicz (MSUFCU) & Arjun Sahgal (Ascent)

The guests discuss their companies, their working relationship, and how their collaboration began through the MSUFCU Conquer Fintech Accelerator. Arjun explains that Ascent is a data and AI platform designed to help credit unions understand their data and combine it with institutional knowledge such as policies, prior decisions, and member context. He says the goal is to create a single intelligence base that can be used across different systems and by both employees and automated agents.

Filip describes his role in the accelerator and says Ascent was one of the first companies in the program. He explains that the accelerator is meant to help fintechs understand how to work with credit unions, and that the relationship with Ascent has continued beyond the initial 10-week program.

They say Ascent currently works with about 70 credit unions and also serves community banks. Arjun says the platform sits above systems of record and data warehouses and can send “signals” or insights into tools such as Salesforce, CRM systems, Encino, or copilots, depending on what an institution uses.

A major topic is the role of AI in financial institutions. Both guests say AI is being discussed widely, but they emphasize that institutions need strong data foundations and practical use cases rather than broad AI messaging. They say many organizations still struggle with siloed and fragmented data.

They also discuss how to approach product development. Arjun says Ascent started with specific use cases, such as quality control, deposits leaving the institution, and lending opportunities, and expanded from there. Filip adds that smaller, focused solutions are often easier for institutions to adopt.

The conversation closes with future plans. Filip says applications are open for a new cohort of the accelerator. Arjun says Ascent is available to credit unions that want to improve workflow, identify member behavior, or address specific operational pain points.