Resistant AI wins Finance Connect Fintech Innovator Award 2026

AI-powered document fraud detection solution recognised after winning Dragons’ Den pitch competition at Finance Connect Summer Conference

Resistant AI has been named the winner of the Finance Connect Fintech Innovator Award 2026, sponsored by Lendscape, following a compelling live presentation during the Dragons’ Den session at the Finance Connect Summer Conference 2026.

Presented by Kristyna Schusterova, Product Manager, and Jiri Svidernoch, Account Executive, Resistant AI impressed both the judging panel and conference delegates with its AI-powered document fraud detection platform designed to detect fraudulent documents used in lending and onboarding, helping finance providers strengthen underwriting, accelerate decision-making and protect automated workflows.

The presentation focused on one of the fastest-growing challenges facing lenders: the increasing sophistication of AI-generated and digitally manipulated documents. As underwriting teams continue to rely on bank statements, invoices and other customer documentation to make lending decisions, advances in generative AI are making document fraud increasingly difficult for human reviewers to identify.

Rather than relying solely on manual reviews, Resistant AI uses an ensemble of AI models to analyse documents in seconds, identifying digital manipulation, AI-generated content, serial fraud and other indicators that may otherwise go undetected. During a live demonstration, Schusterova challenged the audience to identify fraudulent documents within a typical lending pack before revealing that three of the four examples had been manipulated using different techniques.

The demonstration highlighted how fraudsters can now use readily available AI tools to modify addresses, generate convincing supplier invoices or repeatedly reuse document templates across multiple finance applications. The company argued that traditional manual reviews are no longer sufficient, particularly as lenders increasingly introduce automation and AI into underwriting processes.

“Our customers need to protect not only manual underwriting teams but also automated workflows and agentic AI,” Svidernoch explained. “Ultimately, we help businesses make more confident, faster lending decisions while improving the customer experience.”

The judges also questioned how the technology integrates into lenders’ existing operations, with Resistant AI explaining that while organisations often begin using its user interface for manual reviews, the platform is designed primarily as an API solution that integrates directly into document ingestion workflows. Documents can be automatically analysed at the start of the process, with only higher-risk cases escalated for manual review.

The company also demonstrated measurable customer outcomes using a public case study with Close Brothers. According to Resistant AI, the deployment helped prevent £800,000 of fraud losses within eight months, delivered a 22-times return on investment, reduced manual document reviews from around 15 minutes to just 12 seconds and enabled applications to be reviewed twice as quickly.

Following the presentation, the Dragons praised the practical nature of the solution and questioned how lenders can balance automated fraud detection with risk appetite. Schusterova explained that the platform returns both an overall risk score and detailed indicators, allowing lenders to determine their own acceptance policies depending on loan value and internal risk frameworks, rather than relying on a simple pass-or-fail decision.

Commenting after receiving the award, Kristyna Schusterova, Product Manager at Resistant AI, said:

“It was a privilege to take part in the Dragon’s Den pitch competition at Finance Connect and an honour for Resistant AI to be named the Fintech Innovator Award winner. AI implementation across lenders’ workflows was a key theme throughout the day, and it was encouraging to see asset, auto and SME finance leaders thinking seriously about how to use AI in practical and responsible ways.

“The Dragon’s Den format was an engaging way for the audience and contestants to explore technologies that support specialist lenders. Winning is a strong recognition of our mission to help lenders stay ahead of document fraud, and we are proud to be part of the industry’s efforts to fight it.”

For more information, visit the Resistant AI website or LinkedIn page.