Press Release
Media Contact: Milind Borkar, info@illuma.cx
Illuma Selected As Finalist for 2026 Tech Titans Emerging Company Innovation Award
Illuma, the FinTech leader in Voice Security, today announced it has been named one of only four finalists for the 2026 Tech Titans Emerging Company Innovation Award, recognizing Illuma’s leadership in Voice Security through IllumaSHIELD™, its platform for securing every voice interaction against evolving AI-driven fraud.
Presented annually by Tech Titans®, North Texas’ largest technology trade association, the Emerging Company Innovation Award recognizes companies demonstrating exceptional innovation through breakthrough technologies, proprietary intellectual property, and transformative applications of technology. Now in its 26th year, the Tech Titans Awards are among the region’s longest-running and most respected technology awards programs, honoring the companies and leaders shaping the future of technology in North Texas.
Illuma was selected as a finalist in recognition of the innovation behind IllumaSHIELD™, its comprehensive Voice Security platform that continuously verifies trusted account holders, detects fraud in real time, and secures every conversation. IllumaSHIELD™ combines passive voice biometrics, AI-powered fraud prevention, adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA), deepfake detection, and Human + AI collaborative intelligence to strengthen security while eliminating friction across both live agent and AI-powered self-service interactions.
Illuma is the fastest-growing provider of Voice Security solutions for financial institutions across the United States, helping financial institutions deliver faster, more secure, and more seamless voice interactions. Illuma’s clients have consistently reported robust fraud protection across both contact center and AI-powered self-service channels while achieving more than an 85% reduction in the time required to verify customers and account holders. Several clients have also reported immediate improvements in Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) following the deployment of IllumaSHIELD™. These customer outcomes and continued platform innovation reflect Illuma’s leadership in Voice Security and its commitment to advancing the industry through continuous innovation.
By making advanced Voice Security accessible to financial institutions of all sizes—including many that have historically been underserved by traditional enterprise solutions—Illuma has helped redefine the market. Implemented in days, IllumaSHIELD™ enables organizations to realize value quickly, with most clients reporting a positive return on investment within the first year.
Selection as one of only four finalists underscores Illuma’s continued investment in advancing Voice Security technologies that help organizations protect trusted account holders while addressing the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
“AI is fundamentally changing how organizations engage with customers—and how fraudsters attempt to exploit the voice channel,” said Dr. Milind Borkar, Founder and CEO of Illuma. “Being recognized as one of only four finalists for the Tech Titans Emerging Company Innovation Award is a tremendous honor and reflects our team’s continued commitment to advancing Voice Security innovation. We remain focused on helping organizations verify trusted account holders, defend against increasingly sophisticated fraud, and deliver seamless, secure experiences across every conversation.”
This recognition reflects the growing importance of Voice Security as organizations increasingly adopt AI-powered voice interactions while facing more sophisticated threats, including voice cloning, deepfakes, and social engineering attacks. As demand for secure, seamless voice experiences continues to grow, Illuma remains focused on advancing Voice Security technologies that help organizations protect trusted account holders, reduce fraud, and secure every conversation.
Winners will be announced during the 2026 Tech Titans Awards ceremony on Friday, August 28, 2026, in Plano, Texas.
About Tech Titans®
Tech Titans® is a forum that leverages the regional technology community to collaborate, share and inspire creative thinking that fuels tomorrow’s innovations. Tech Titans members include the companies and individuals that create technology as well as the people and institutions that embrace, nurture and leverage technological innovation. For more information, visit techtitans.org.
About Illuma
Illuma is the FinTech leader in Voice Security and the only CUSO dedicated to securing voice interactions for financial institutions. IllumaSHIELD™ is a comprehensive Voice Security platform that combines real-time voice authentication, fraud prevention, adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA), deepfake detection, and Human + AI collaborative intelligence to continuously verify identity and secure every conversation. Implemented in days, IllumaSHIELD™ helps organizations reduce fraud, streamline authentication, and deliver more secure, seamless account holder experiences across contact center and self-service channels.
Illuma’s leadership in Voice Security has been recognized through multiple Best in Show and innovation awards, including Finovate, VentureTech, the CreditUnions.com Innovation Series, NACUSO’s Next Big Idea Competition, and The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates Shark Tank. For more information, visit illuma.cx.