José V. Fernández first got interested in using technology to ramp up financial inclusion when he first arrived in New York City from Spain around 10 years ago. His job working as a trade officer for Spain didn't impress numerous prospective landlords, none of whom would rent him an apartment because he lacked a U.S. credit score. Finally, one company agreed to sign a one-year lease, but only if Fernández paid six months of his pricey Manhattan rent ahead of time. A few years after that, Fernández co-founded a fintech firm to open up microloans to unbanked people in West Africa. Then, last year, he founded Bankuish, which aims to give gig workers and freelancers a way to access banking services they normally wouldn't be able to tap.