Econofi 

Bill and Demetra founded Econofi with a vision to address the financial challenges they witnessed growing up in Englewood and Roseland. The decline of community banks and the rise of predatory financial services left many South Side neighborhoods struggling. Inspired by these experiences, Bill and Demetra knew they had to create something meaningful to restore economic stability and hope. 

What started as a simple idea for a mobile app has evolved into Econofi, a fintech platform in its pilot stage. Econofi’s mission is to hack the racial wealth gap by developing innovative, AI-powered solutions that empower community banks to serve the “unbanked” and “underbanked” with affordable financial services. We’re currently testing these solutions to refine them before a broader rollout. 

Econofi shines on the South Side because it’s building a future where financial inclusion is the norm, not the exception. For Bill and Demetra, this journey is deeply personal—it’s about giving back to the neighborhoods that shaped them and ensuring that economic empowerment is accessible to all. They’re excited to bring this vision to life and make a lasting impact for all South Side communities.