If you’ve been following the housing market lately, you know it’s been… well, let’s just say “challenging” is putting it mildly.
But one company just convinced a room full of credit union executives that they might have cracked the code on making homeownership actually attainable again.
Duome took home the top prize at the Cooperative Credit Union Association‘s Fifth Annual Cyber Showcase on June 17, beating out four other fintech contenders at the Fintech Connect conference in Nashua, New Hampshire. Think of it as a startup pitch competition, but specifically for solutions that could genuinely help credit unions serve their members better.
How the Competition Worked
Silvur hosted and sponsored the showcase, which featured five emerging fintech companies—AiVantage, Casap, Confer Lending, Saris AI, and Duome—each getting eight minutes to make their case. That’s roughly the length of two songs on your favorite playlist to convince an audience of industry pros that your solution is worth their attention.
After the rapid-fire presentations and Q&A sessions, attendees voted live to pick their winner. It’s democratic, it’s immediate, and it gives credit union leaders direct input on which innovations actually resonate with them rather than having some committee decide behind closed doors.
What Makes Duome Different
So what did Duome pitch that got everyone’s attention? Co-Founder Eric Berg presented their community-led co-ownership model—basically a new way to tackle the housing affordability crisis that’s been pricing people out of homeownership across the country.
Here’s how it works: Duome, which is structured as a credit union service organization (or CUSO, if you like acronyms), pairs qualified homebuyers with both a credit union mortgage and community investment capital. The result? Lower upfront costs, smaller monthly payments, and more opportunities for credit unions to help people who might otherwise be stuck renting indefinitely.
It’s the kind of collaborative approach that shows what’s possible when you bring together credit unions, tech companies, and community investors who all want the same thing—making housing accessible to real people, not just those with trust funds or Bitcoin fortunes.
Why This Competition Matters
“The Cyber Showcase continues to be one of the most anticipated elements of Fintech Connect because it gives credit union leaders a firsthand look at emerging solutions that have the potential to make a meaningful impact on their institutions and members,” said Melissa Pomeroy, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cooperative Credit Union Association.
She added that this year’s presenters brought strong business cases and a clear grasp of the actual challenges credit unions face today—not just theoretical problems or manufactured pain points. “We congratulate Duome on earning this year’s top honor and thank all of the participants for sharing their vision and expertise with our attendees.”
The Bigger Picture
Fintech Connect itself brought together credit union leaders and fintech innovators from across the Northeast for a full day of education, networking, and collaboration. The CCUA hosted the event in partnership with the Association of Vermont Credit Unions and the New York Credit Union Association, focusing on emerging technologies and practical solutions rather than just flashy demos.
Now in its fifth year, the Cyber Showcase has become the signature moment of the conference—a platform where fintech innovators can showcase what’s next while credit union leaders get an early preview of where financial services might be heading. And based on this year’s winner, that future might involve more people actually being able to afford homes. Which, honestly, would be a refreshing change.
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