Justin Bjerkaas

Justin Bjerkaas is a recovering banker and the Founder & CEO of Micah Group, a Minneapolis-based fintech that solves lending inefficiencies for banks and financing companies by leveraging AI, machine learning and computer vision. 

Prior to founding Micah, Justin spent a decade as a banker, witnessing firsthand the technology challenges hindering banks and hurting the customer experience. Today, he translates his technical knowledge to understandable insights for bank leaders who are navigating the digital transformation journey. Justin has been a speaker for various events and groups, including the Independent Community Bankers Association and Beta.MN, covering a range of topics at the intersection of technology and financial services. 

Justin began his career at Associated Bank, where he was selected for its rising star leadership program and most recently served as Sr. Manager, overseeing the Minneapolis market. Justin later worked in commercial lending at U.S. Bank and Great Western Bank. 

Justin saw no shortage of opportunities for improving the lending process and customer experience. In 2017, he wiped out his savings to pursue his dream of forming Micah Group. He partnered with technologists from MIT, Harvard and George Washington University to build Micah™, the intelligent lending platform. Justin and team worked to automate the data gathering, financial spreading and credit presentation processes that delay customer decisions. Micah evolved to handle the job of multiple systems and automate decisioning, allowing banks to grow loan portfolios without adding staff. 

In 2021, Micah Group doubled its team size and added nearly 80 new users to its system. The company plans to continue its growth trajectory and enhance its capabilities, add personnel, and partner with forward-thinking customers. 

Justin grew up in Alexandria, MN and studied theology at Crown College. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s at the Boundary Waters or on the golf course. Justin lives in Minnetrista, MN with his wife and two children.