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What makes a successful AI investor, with Fusion Fund Founder Lu Zhang
Manage episode 423581402 series 3271919
Content provided by The Fintech Blueprint and Lex Sokolin. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Fintech Blueprint and Lex Sokolin or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Lex chats with Lu Zhang, the founder and managing partner at Fusion Fund, a venture fund that invests in deep technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. They discuss Lu's experience as an entrepreneur and the challenges she faced in building her own company. Lu also shares her investment thesis on AI, highlighting the opportunities in AI application and infrastructure. She believes that while large tech companies dominate the consumer AI market, there are still opportunities for startups in enterprise AI, particularly in industries with high-quality data and a need for AI solutions. Lu also discusses the potential of edge computing and the importance of addressing energy consumption and data privacy in AI infrastructure. She emphasizes the coexistence of large and small AI models and the need for practical, cost-efficient solutions. Finally, Lu discusses the revenue pools for AI companies and the growing awareness and adoption of AI in enterprises. She encourages startups to focus on reducing energy consumption in AI and addressing sustainability challenges.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Fusion Fund's Website: https://bit.ly/4egJMgp
Lu's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3KIWozf
Topics: Venture Capital, VC, Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, Startup, Infrastructure, LLM, Decentralized AI, Healthcare
Companies: Fusion Fund, OpenAI, IBM, Microsoft, Nvidia, AMD
ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT
🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2
🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV
👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin
TIMESTAMPS
1’30: From Entrepreneur to VC: Insights from Building and Exiting a Successful Healthcare Startup
5’50: Navigating Startup Challenges: Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Growth in My Entrepreneurial Journey
9’56: From Founder to Investor: Experiencing the Transition and Learning to Say No
15’16: Fusion Fund’s AI Investment Thesis: Identifying Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges in Artificial Intelligence
23’03: Comprehending Enterprise AI: Ensuring Startups Thrive Without Being Captured by Big Corporates
26’48: The Challenges and Opportunities in Selling Large AI Models to Enterprises: Fine-tuning The Sales Process and Building Strategic Partnerships
30’31: Exploring AI Infrastructure Investments: Paths to Acquisition and IPO in a Competitive Landscape
36’24: AI Infrastructure Gaps: Identifying Opportunities and Challenges in the Evolving Value Chain
40’53: The Future of Decentralized AI: Commercial Opportunities and Economic Dynamics in a World of Personal AI Models
47’07: Key Opportunities in AI: Unmet Needs and Ideas for Future Startups
48’08: The channels used to connect with Lu & learn more about Fusion Fund
Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.
Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella
Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.
180 episodes
ShareManage episode 423581402 series 3271919
Content provided by The Fintech Blueprint and Lex Sokolin. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Fintech Blueprint and Lex Sokolin or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Lex chats with Lu Zhang, the founder and managing partner at Fusion Fund, a venture fund that invests in deep technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. They discuss Lu's experience as an entrepreneur and the challenges she faced in building her own company. Lu also shares her investment thesis on AI, highlighting the opportunities in AI application and infrastructure. She believes that while large tech companies dominate the consumer AI market, there are still opportunities for startups in enterprise AI, particularly in industries with high-quality data and a need for AI solutions. Lu also discusses the potential of edge computing and the importance of addressing energy consumption and data privacy in AI infrastructure. She emphasizes the coexistence of large and small AI models and the need for practical, cost-efficient solutions. Finally, Lu discusses the revenue pools for AI companies and the growing awareness and adoption of AI in enterprises. She encourages startups to focus on reducing energy consumption in AI and addressing sustainability challenges.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Fusion Fund's Website: https://bit.ly/4egJMgp
Lu's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3KIWozf
Topics: Venture Capital, VC, Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, Startup, Infrastructure, LLM, Decentralized AI, Healthcare
Companies: Fusion Fund, OpenAI, IBM, Microsoft, Nvidia, AMD
ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT
🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2
🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV
👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin
TIMESTAMPS
1’30: From Entrepreneur to VC: Insights from Building and Exiting a Successful Healthcare Startup
5’50: Navigating Startup Challenges: Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Growth in My Entrepreneurial Journey
9’56: From Founder to Investor: Experiencing the Transition and Learning to Say No
15’16: Fusion Fund’s AI Investment Thesis: Identifying Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges in Artificial Intelligence
23’03: Comprehending Enterprise AI: Ensuring Startups Thrive Without Being Captured by Big Corporates
26’48: The Challenges and Opportunities in Selling Large AI Models to Enterprises: Fine-tuning The Sales Process and Building Strategic Partnerships
30’31: Exploring AI Infrastructure Investments: Paths to Acquisition and IPO in a Competitive Landscape
36’24: AI Infrastructure Gaps: Identifying Opportunities and Challenges in the Evolving Value Chain
40’53: The Future of Decentralized AI: Commercial Opportunities and Economic Dynamics in a World of Personal AI Models
47’07: Key Opportunities in AI: Unmet Needs and Ideas for Future Startups
48’08: The channels used to connect with Lu & learn more about Fusion Fund
Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.
Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella
Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.
180 episodes
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Inside the Platform Powering +$171B in Private Capital, with AngelList CEO Avlok Kohli 43:06
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex chats with Avlok Kohli - the CEO of AngelList, about the company's significant evolution. Initially a platform for startups to connect with venture capitalists, AngelList has transformed into a comprehensive fintech entity encompassing private equity and cryptocurrency. Avlok discusses the strategic pivots, including the introduction of syndicates and rolling funds, that have redefined the company's business model. The episode also explores the broader implications of crowdfunding and the unique challenges in the crypto space, offering a deep dive into AngelList's impact on the financial services industry. Notable discussion points: 1. AngelList’s Second Founding: Reinvention as a Fintech Platform: Since 2019, AngelList has transformed from a mixed-use startup platform into a focused fintech infrastructure business for fund managers. Avlok Kohli spun out the syndicates arm and built a scalable product offering that includes SPVs, venture funds, and innovative structures like Rolling Funds and Roll Up Vehicles. This pivot catalyzed explosive growth—from ~$1B in AUM in 2019 to $171B+ today—by enabling fund creation and deployment at scale. 2. Product Innovation as a Strategic Advantage: Instead of competing with well-capitalized incumbents like Carta on sales and marketing, AngelList focused on building category-defining products. The launch of Rolling Funds—allowing fund managers to raise publicly and continuously—was a breakout moment. It created viral word-of-mouth growth and redefined how emerging fund managers could access capital, illustrating the principle: “You can’t win by playing someone else’s game.” 3. AI and the Future of Private Markets Infrastructure: AngelList is embedding AI across three strategic layers: (1) Back-office automation, replacing manual workflows, (2) Customer service enhancement, enabling agents to respond to LPs with real-time data, and (3) Data reasoning products, like Fin, which analyzes anonymized fund and secondary data to deliver actionable private market insightsThis positions AngelList not only as an admin platform but as a data intelligence layer over the private capital markets. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Fintech, Web3, Venture, VC, Venture capital, private markets, fundraising, crowdfunding, crypto, web3, AI, Angellist, Coinlist, Carta, Gumroad ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’09: AngelList Reimagined: How Avlok Kohli Transformed a Startup Directory into a Fintech Powerhouse 6’43: Syndicates vs. Crowdfunding: Solving the Signal Problem in Startup Investing 11’43: From Community to Capital: Rebuilding AngelList Through Business Model Reinvention and Rolling Fund Innovation 16’49: Playing a Different Game: How AngelList Scaled by Redefining the Category Through Product Innovation 21’59: Creating the Category: How Rolling Funds Sparked a Movement and Redefined Venture Fundraising 28’51: From $1 Billion to $125 Billion: How AngelList Scaled by Saying No Before Saying Yes 32’56: The Liquidity Mirage: Why Private Market Access Remains Elusive for Most Investors 37’57: AI Meets Private Markets: Automating Back Offices, Enhancing Customer Touchpoints, and Powering Intelligent Fund Infrastructure 42’26: The channels used to connect with Avlok & learn more about Angellist Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 400 Startups Building the Post-Web Economy, with Outlier Ventures Founder Jamie Burke 1:01:30
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex chats with Jamie Burke - founder of Outlier Ventures, about the current state and future of Web3, decentralized finance, and the metaverse. Jamie highlights Outlier Ventures' impressive growth, with a portfolio of around 400 startups, and discusses successful projects like IOTA and Fetch.ai. The conversation delves into the open metaverse, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure and middleware in blending physical and digital realities. Jamie also explores the transformative role of AI in the metaverse and offers practical advice for entrepreneurs navigating this rapidly evolving landscape. Notable discussion points: 1.The “Post-Web” Is an Intent-Led Internet: Jamie Burke outlines a shift from today’s attention-based web to an intent-driven internet, powered by AI agents, Web3 infrastructure, and DePIN. In this model, agents act on user intent, radically streamlining interactions and replacing much of today’s web interface. 2. Web3 Will Be Run by Machines, Not People: Burke predicts that autonomous agents—not humans—will become the primary users of blockchains, making crypto “machine money.” As a result, products, brands, and processes matter less, while incentive systems and on-chain automation take center stage. 3. Founders Must Embrace Systems Thinking: In the Post-Web era, survival depends on designing self-optimizing systems, not just building products. Burke stresses that token engineering, incentive design, and value flow mapping will define the next generation of durable startups. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Web3, decentralized finance, metaverse, Open metaverse, Post web, Outlier Ventures, IOTA, Fetch.ai, accelerator program, AI, artificial intelligence, Agentic AI, agents, Web3, post-web, digital economy, blockchain technology ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’18: Outlier Ventures in 2025: From IOTA to Fetch.ai, Backing the Infrastructure Behind Intelligent Web3 10’24: The Open Metaverse Revisited: Outlier’s Long-Game Bet on Augmented Reality, Middleware, and AI-Driven Agents 26’01: FThe Post-Web Era: How AI Agents, Web3 Infrastructure, and Delegation Will Redefine the Internet 35’57: From Attention to Intention: How AI Agents and Web3 Are Flipping the Internet on Its Head 49’39: Surviving the Post-Web Paradigm: Why Founders Must Shift from Startup Thinking to Systems Design 57’49: The channels used to connect with Jamie & learn more about Outlier Ventures Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 The $500MM Startup Making Payroll Painless, with Gusto Co-Founder Joshua Reeves 42:44
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Josh Reeves, co-founder of Gusto, a company specializing in payroll, HR, and benefits solutions for small businesses. Josh shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges and strategies involved in building Gusto. The discussion covers the evolution of technology from Web 2.0, the importance of understanding customer needs, and maintaining strong unit economics. Josh emphasizes Gusto's mission to simplify payroll and HR tasks for small businesses, aiming to improve their survival rates and overall efficiency. The episode underscores the significance of product quality and customer satisfaction in navigating industry competition. Notable discussion points: 1. Solving Payroll as a Massive, Underserved SMB Pain Point: Reeves highlighted how in 2011, 40% of small businesses were fined annually due to manual payroll errors. Gusto addressed this pain using cloud and mobile tech, making payroll fast, accurate, and accessible—especially for non-experts. 2. Product Sequencing and the Power of a Payroll-Centric Ecosystem: Starting with payroll, Gusto built a sticky, horizontal product with strong retention. From there, they expanded into benefits, time tracking, and more—adding products based on customer pull and reinforcing their ecosystem. 3. Organizational Evolution: From Founder-Led to Functional and Matrixed: Gusto grew from 3 co-founders to 2,600+ employees by evolving from a hands-on team to a matrix structure. Reeves emphasized hiring leaders suited to each stage and giving small, focused teams autonomy to drive new product development. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Fintech, Gusto, Payroll, HR, Zazzle, SMB, CAC, Customer, Scaling, Growth, Web2.0 ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’13: From PhD Dropouts to Payroll Pioneers: Joshua Reeves on Building Gusto and Solving Real Problems with Technology 4’21: The Web2 Reawakening: Democratizing Creation and Commerce Through the Internet 8’14: From Pen and Paper to the Cloud: Tackling Payroll Pain and Modernizing SMB Operations 11’15: Is Gusto a Fintech?: Ignoring Labels, Solving Problems, and Building for Small Business from Day One 16’07: Cracking the SMB Code: Building Scalable Products with Strong Unit Economics and Organic Growth 19’39: The Fundamentals of Scaling: Navigating CAC, LTV, and Retention in Subscription Businesses 22’49: Building Beyond Payroll: How Customer Demand and Smart Sequencing Shaped a Scalable Product Organization 27’16: Scaling with Intention: Evolving Leadership, Structure, and Talent from 10 to 2,600 People 33’00: Structuring for Scale: Balancing Autonomy, Focus, and Flexibility in a Multi-Product Organization 36’22: From Traction to Tenure: Scaling Impact, Navigating Competition, and Building for the Next Decade 41’12: The channels used to connect with Joshua & learn more about Gusto Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Reinventing Traditional Services through Modern Platforms, with David Snider CEO of Harness Wealth 38:59
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews David Snider - founder and CEO of Harness Wealth. David shares his extensive fintech journey, including his pivotal role at Compass, a real estate technology firm. He discusses the challenges of aligning agents with new technology and the evolution of Compass's business model to empower agents with better tools and incentives. Transitioning to Harness Wealth, David explains his vision to enhance tax advisory services through a modern platform, addressing complex financial needs. The episode underscores the importance of innovation and human expertise in fintech and real estate. Notable discussion points: Empowering Advisors in Complex Industries: David Snider has built platforms that enhance human advisors rather than replace them—first in real estate with Compass - a technology-powered real estate brokerage, now in tax with Harness Wealth. In industries with high complexity and large transaction sizes, like wealth management and real estate, human expertise remains essential. His approach emphasizes that technology should enable, not displace, trusted advisors. Compass Pivoted to Power Top Agents: Compass began with a plan to disrupt real estate agents but pivoted to support top performers with better tech and economics. This shift—paired with smart execution—enabled rapid growth and market leadership by focusing on high-value agents and transactions, rather than cutting them out of the process. Harness Wealth Modernizes Complex Tax Advisory: Harness Wealth applies a Compass-like model to tax, serving clients with equity comp, crypto, and private investments by connecting them to top advisors through a modern, tech-enabled experience. The platform improves both advisor workflows and client usability, targeting a large, underserved market that DIY tools can’t effectively serve. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Fintech, Harness Wealth, Compass, AI, RealEstate, Platform-As-A-Service, Advisory, Data, Tax, WealthTech, TaxTech, CryptoTax, PersonalFinance, FinancialAdvisors ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’06: From Bain to Compass: David Snider on Navigating Finance, Real Estate, and the Rise of Advisor-Enabled Tech 5’42: Evolving Real Estate Through Tech: Market Levers, Rollups, and Building Compass's Super Agent Model 13’20: Digital vs. Human: Why Tech Wins in Some Industries—and Advisors Thrive in Others 17’16: Scaling Compass: How Tech, Economics, and a New Go-to-Market Strategy Fuelled Rapid Agent Growth 22’20: Overcoming Resistance: The Grind Behind Compass’s Data Integration and Agent Tech Adoption 26’13: From Compass to Harness: Building a Tech-Driven Platform to Simplify Complex Tax and Financial Advice 31’05: Serving the Underserved: How Harness Wealth Empowers Advisors and Clients Navigating Complex Tax Needs 34’16: Building Smarter Tax Tech: Harness’s Curated Approach to Streamlined Data, Insights, and Advisor Collaboration 36’02: Scaling with Purpose: Harnessing Data, Advisor Value, and a Massive Market Opportunity in Tax 37’46: The channels used to connect with David & learn more about Harness Wealth Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 How Metronome is Building the Revenue Engine for AI, with CEO Scott Woody 49:32
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Scott Woody, CEO and founder of Metronome, a usage-based billing platform. Scott shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, detailing his experiences at UC Berkeley, D.E. Shaw, and Stanford, where he studied biophysics. His tenure at Dropbox, where he tackled billing system challenges, inspired the creation of Metronome. The discussion highlights Metronome's real-time billing data capabilities, which aim to improve business efficiency and customer experience. Scott also explores the broader implications of AI in fintech, emphasizing the shift towards usage-based business models and the importance of real-time data. Notable discussion points: Metronome emerged from firsthand frustrations at Dropbox, where Scott Woody experienced how rigid billing systems slowed growth, confused customers, and blocked real-time insights. He built Metronome as a flexible, real-time billing engine that merges usage data with pricing logic—powering the monetization infrastructure for top AI companies today. Real-time billing isn’t just about invoices—it's a strategic revenue lever. For AI and SaaS businesses alike, Metronome enables teams to run dynamic experiments, optimize GPU allocation, and make last-minute decisions to hit quarterly targets—turning billing into a core growth engine. The rise of AI is accelerating a shift to usage-based models. As AI becomes specialized labor across verticals (from loan collection to customer service), companies are rapidly replatforming, and entire industries may flip from seat-based to outcome-based pricing within quarters—Metronome is positioned as the "payment processor" for this AI economy. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Metronome, Dropbox, Datadog, OpenAI, AI, AGI, machine learning, pricing models, financial services, business optimization, operational frameworks, analytics, financial modeling ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’05: Talent Spotting and Swag Strategy: How Scott Woody Recruited the Brightest Minds at Berkeley 7’27: From Biophysics to Startups: How Stanford and Protein Folding Led Scott into Tech 9’28: Lessons from Dropbox: Why Talent Density Beats Perks in Building Scalable Tech Teams 14’09: Solving the Billing Bottleneck: How Metronome Powers Real-Time Monetization for Modern Tech 19’45: Real-Time Revenue Intelligence: How Metronome Helps Teams Optimize Pricing, Experiments, and GPU Allocation 24’55: Optimizing AI Economics: Metronome’s Real-Time Matching of Model Usage, Customer Spend, and GPU Allocation 29’03: The Rise of Usage-Based AI: Why Real-Time Monetization Is Reshaping Business Models Across Tech 34’25: Specialized AI as Labor: Why Purpose-Built Agents Are Shaping the Future of Work and Software Integration 40’46: The Tipping Point for AI Adoption: Why Clear ROI and Competitive Pressure Are Rewriting Entire Industries 48’39: The channels used to connect with Scott & learn more about Metronome Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Building a Trustless Supercomputer for Web3 and AI, with Arweave's Founder Sam Williams 46:04
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Sam Williams - founder of Arweave. This episode delves into the innovative aspects of Arweave, a protocol designed for permanent data storage and computation within the Web3 ecosystem. The discussion covers a range of topics, from the economic models underpinning Arweave to its potential applications in decentralized finance (DeFi) and beyond. Notable discussion points: The Founding of Arweave and its Mission – Sam Williams’ interest in distributed computing and concerns about authoritarianism led him to create Arweave in 2017. Inspired by the Snowden leaks, he saw the need for a blockchain-based permanent storage solution to protect journalism, historical records, and digital assets from censorship. Decentralized vs. Distributed Storage – Williams explained how Arweave differs from alternatives like IPFS and Filecoin. Unlike traditional storage, which requires ongoing payments, Arweave uses a one-time payment model. This storage endowment leverages declining storage costs to ensure long-term data persistence without relying on centralized infrastructure. Arweave’s Expansion into Decentralized Compute – Arweave has evolved beyond storage to develop decentralized computing through "Arweave IO." This enables parallelized smart contract execution, making it possible to run AI models, financial automation, and decentralized apps on-chain—aligning with Web3’s shift toward autonomous, intelligent systems. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Arweave, permanent data storage, Web3, decentralized systems, distributed systems, blockchain, economic models, IPFS, Filecoin, decentralized computing, decentralized finance, compute ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’06: From Distributed Computing to Decentralized Truth Preservation: A Journey into Web3 4’31: Decentralization vs. Distribution: Defining the Future of Web3 Infrastructure 9’41: Building a Decentralized Archive: Arweave’s Journey from Vision to Adoption 16’28: Web3 Storage Economics: Arweave vs. IPFS and the NFT Data Dilemma 22’42: Arweave’s Endowment Model: A Blockchain-Native Approach to Permanent Storage 27’13: Arweave’s Next Chapter: From Permanent Storage to Decentralized Supercomputing 31’36: Decentralized AI and Agent Finance: Expanding Arweave’s Computational Power 36’26: Decentralized AI and Blockchain: Overcoming Computation and Consensus Challenges 41’34: The Future of Decentralized Intelligence: Trustless Finance and Digital Immortality 44’59: The channels used to connect with Sam & learn more about Arweave Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 The Virtual Card Revolution Powering $7 Billion in Transactions, with Extend CEO Andrew Jamison 41:39
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Andrew Jamison - CEO and Co-founder of Extend - a financial infrastructure platform that helps banks innovate financial product development with capabilities while working with their existing systems, starting with virtual cards. Andrew shares his journey into fintech, detailing his experiences at American Express and the evolution of virtual cards. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the virtual card space, the founding of Extend, and its innovative approach to simplifying spend management. The episode highlights Extend's rapid growth, unique market position, and the future of financial management, emphasizing real-time transactions and integrated solutions for businesses. Notable discussion points: Virtual Cards = Smarter Spend ManagementVirtual credit cards revolutionize payments by enabling real-time reconciliation, reducing fraud, and improving financial control—especially for SaaS, digital ads, and legal expenses. Extend’s Edge: Partnering with Banks, Not Disrupting ThemUnlike Brex and Ramp, Extend powers virtual cards on existing bank-issued cards, making adoption seamless for businesses while strengthening bank relationships. B2B Payments Go EmbeddedThe future of finance is embedding payments directly into platforms like SAP Concur - letting CFOs manage expenses within the tools they already use. From Enterprise-Only to Instant AccessVirtual cards once took months to implement. Extend’s API-first approach makes them deployable in minutes, bridging the gap between legacy banking and modern finance. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Extend, American Express, AMEX, SAP, fintech, credit cards, spend management, virtual cards, B2B, API, banking infrastructure, embedded payments ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’10: From Green Screens to the Cloud: How Early Tech Shaped Andrew Jamison’s Approach to Business and Automation 5’12: Scaling Amex: Expanding Beyond Travel to B2B Payments and Virtual Cards 10’27: Virtual Cards in Travel: Solving Payments but Struggling with Scale 15’19: Virtual Cards and On-Demand Growth: How APIs Unlocked a New Payments Model 19’17: From Amex to Extend: Reinventing Virtual Cards for Everyday Business 26’00: Scaling Smart Payments: How Extend is Reshaping B2B Credit Cards 29’33: Rethinking Spend Management: How Extend Partners with Banks Instead of Replacing Them 31’47: Built for CFOs: How Extend Streamlines Payments and Expense Management 35’08: The Future of Finance: How Embedded Payments and APIs Are Reshaping the CFO’s Role 40’34: The channels used to connect with Andrew & learn more about Extend Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 How Sei is Breaking Ethereum's Limits with Co-Founder Jayendra Jog 42:16
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Jayendra Jog - co-founder of Sei Labs, about his professional journey and the innovative Sei protocol—a high-performance parallel blockchain. Jay shares insights from his time at Robinhood, emphasizing the importance of distribution over technology and the challenges of scaling a fintech company. He discusses the limitations of Ethereum's transaction processing and how Sei Labs aims to address these through parallelization. The conversation also covers the future of blockchain in finance, the need for regulatory clarity, and the potential of high-performance blockchains to support emerging industries like AI and decentralized science. Notable discussion points: Impact Over Paychecks – Jog’s career leap from SAP to Facebook, Pinterest, Robinhood, and Sei Labs was driven by impact, not salary. He thrived in small, high-talent teams where he could truly move the needle. Robinhood’s Growing Pains – Early Robinhood was fast and scrappy, but as it scaled, bureaucracy slowed innovation. The shift from “missionary” to “mercenary” employees hurt culture and velocity. Tech Doesn’t Win—Distribution Does – The best crypto projects don’t just have great tech; they win by getting users. Sei Labs focuses on real-world adoption, not just engineering breakthroughs. Sei’s Parallelized EVM: A Game Changer – Ethereum is slow. Sei Labs fixes this by parallelizing transactions, enabling high-speed trading and complex on-chain applications. It’s Ethereum’s power with Solana’s speed. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: fintech, blockchain, Sei Labs, Sei protocol, Ethereum Virtual Machine, EVM, Robinhood, decentralized applications, DeFi protocols, DePIN ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’29: From Silicon Valley Roots to Startup Hustle: Jayendra Jog’s Journey Through Tech’s Elite Ranks 7’53: Scaling Robinhood: From Scrappy Startup to Corporate Bureaucracy 12’56: Why Robinhood Won: Distribution Over Technology in Fintech and Crypto 17’38: Sei and the Parallelized EVM: Scaling Blockchain for High-Performance Trading 25’18: Parallelization in Blockchain: Unlocking Scalability Without Breaking the System 28’03: Building Sei: Solving the Blockchain Adoption Puzzle for Finance and Developers 33’50: The Blockchain Race: Competing for Killer Apps and Market Dominance 38’02: The Next Wave: Sei’s Vision for AI, DePIN, and High-Performance Blockchain Applications 41’34: The channels used to connect with Jay & learn more about Sei Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Protecting 2,700 Customers Across 100 Million Transactions, with Socure's CTO Arun Kumar 41:50
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Arun Kumar, the CTO of Socure, an identity management and risk assessment company. In this exciting episode, Arun touches on: (1) his experience building large-scale, high-throughput, and low-latency systems at companies like Amazon and Citadel, and how he applies that expertise to the identity verification and fraud detection challenges at Socure. (2) Socure's rapid growth, serving over 2,700 customers including 9 of the top 10 U.S. banks and over 30 state agencies, processing hundreds of millions of transactions per month. (3) Socure's approach to building a real-time identity graph by aggregating signals from devices, phone numbers, IPs, and other data points to detect and prevent sophisticated fraud tactics like deepfakes and fraud GPTs. (4) The company's recent acquisition of Effectiv to simplify the integration process for customers and improve efficiency, as well as its use of Generative AI to automate various tasks. Lastly, (5) Socure's future plans to expand beyond account opening and login into transaction monitoring, as well as exploring opportunities in the growing embedded finance and digital identity spaces. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Socure, Effectiv, Citadel, Amazon, Identity management, digital identity, generative AI, deepfakes, fraud prevention, machine learning, identity verification ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’02: Scaling Innovation: Exploring High-Performance Systems and Real-Time Technology 4’04: From Financial Data to Machine Learning: Scaling Systems and Solving Edge Cases 8’49: Bridging Big Tech and Quant Finance: Exploring Technology Overlaps and Ultra-Low Latency Systems 11’12: Protecting Digital Identity at Scale: The Journey to Socure and Solving Real-Time Fraud Challenges 15’50: Building the Network Effect: How Socure Became a Leader in Identity Verification and Fraud Prevention 21’00: Battling Modern Fraud: Deepfakes, Generative AI, and the Evolving Landscape of Digital Security 26’30: Revolutionizing Customer Success: Simplifying Integrations with No-Code Solutions and Real-Time Performance Insights 29’57: Scaling Customer Integration: Fixed Costs, POCs, and Generative AI-Driven Value Propositions 34’00: Driving Efficiency and Scale: Socure's Evolving Product Roadmap and Future Vision 36’14: Learning from Customization: Standardizing for Scalability and Long-Term Growth 38’58: Expanding Horizons: Growing Market Share and Addressable Markets in Digital Transactions 41’00: The channels used to connect with Arun & learn more about Socure Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Curve’s Big Bet Reinventing Payments and Wallets, with CEO Shachar Bialick 52:40
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Shachar Bialick, the founder and CEO of Curve, a fintech mobile wallet. In this exciting episode, Shachar touches on: (1) his background as a serial entrepreneur and his experience in the Israeli military shaped his ability to solve problems and work in high-stress environments, which are key traits for a successful founder. (2) The initial idea behind Curve was to create a "wallet to rule them all" - a single interface that could consolidate and manage multiple payment cards and accounts, providing more value and convenience to customers. (3) Building Curve involved navigating complex challenges, such as convincing payment networks like Mastercard and Visa to change their rules to allow Curve's back-to-back wallet technology. This required a resilient, innovative, and persistence approach. (4) Shachar emphasizes the importance of building a company culture that fosters curiosity, adaptability, and a belief that "everything is possible" rather than focusing on perceived limitations. (5) Lastly, Shachar discusses the evolution of the fintech landscape, including the challenges faced by neobanks in creating true financial marketplaces, and the ongoing issues with the implementation of open banking standards. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Curve, ApplePay, Google Wallet, PayPal, Tink, neobank, fintech, wallets, payments, paytech, NFC, Open Banking ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’02: From Military Service to Fintech Success: Shachar Bialick on Founding Curve and Redefining Payments 9’10: The Resilient Founder: Risk-Taking, Leadership, and the Cultural Mindset Behind Entrepreneurship 14’59: From Unbundling to Rebundling: Building Curve to Solve Financial Fragmentation 20’50: Revolutionizing Payments: Curve's Ambition to Unite Financial Ecosystems 24’26: Trailblazing Curve: Overcoming Challenges to Redefine Payments and Build a Global Fintech Ecosystem 30’23: Project Elah: How Curve Challenged Apple’s NFC Restrictions to Redefine Digital Wallets 34’50: Shaving the Lion: How Curve Built a Culture to Overcome Industry Challenges and Innovate 39’05: Challenging Apple Pay: Curve’s Strategy to Deliver Tangible Customer Benefits 42’01: The Evolution of Fintech Infrastructure: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Role of Open Banking 51’54: The channels used to connect with Shachar & learn more about Curve Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 The Decentralized AI Revolution with 0G Labs CEO, Michael Heinrich 45:51
45:51 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked45:51
Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Michael Heinrich, co-founder and CEO of 0G (Zero Gravity) Labs. In this exciting episode, Lex and Michael explore the concept of decentralized artificial intelligence (AI) and how it differs from centralized, closed-source AI models provided by big tech companies. Michael kicks off with his background in tech and finance, and how he became interested in decentralized AI as a solution to the issues with closed AI systems. Notable discussion points: (1) Decentralized AI provides transparency and verifiability around the data, training, and model alignment used, unlike closed AI systems. (2) Blockchain-based systems can help enforce a "code of conduct" for AI models and ensure fair rewards distribution for data contributors. (3) 0G Labs is building a decentralized AI operating system focused on key components like decentralized storage, data availability, and a serving layer for AI inference. (4) And lastly, the company is working with various providers of AI verification mechanisms (zKML, OPML, TEML, etc.) to integrate with their decentralized AI platform. The ultimate goal is to provide a seamless user experience for building and deploying decentralized AI applications, similar to how centralized tech platforms operate today. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: 0G, 0G Labs, Zero Gravity Labs, Bridgewater Associates, ORA, Story Protocol, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Decentralized AI, Tokenized AI, Web3, Blockchain, zkML, TeeML, OPML, SPML ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’10: Decentralized AI: From Early Tech Fascination to Innovating the Future 4’08: From Finance to Founding: A Journey of Passion, Growth, and Resilience 9’07: Web3 Meets AI: Building a Human-Centric Future Through Blockchain Innovation 13’45: Decentralized AI Explained: Trustless Systems vs. Closed AI Paradigms 17’21: Decentralized AI Solutions: Addressing Bias, Censorship, and Fair Rewards 23’30: Decentralized AI Framework: Building Open, Trustless Systems for Developers 27’28: Data Availability in Decentralized AI: Supercharging Blockchain for High-Performance Applications 31’24: Integrating Decentralized AI: From User Queries to Scalable Inference Frameworks 34’38: Tokenized AI Ecosystems: Economic Flows and Emerging Inference Networks 40’04: Ensuring Trust in AI Outputs: Bridging Verification Mechanisms with Decentralized Systems 42’13: Decentralized AI's Future: Breakout Use Cases and the Path to Mainstream Adoption 44’40: The channels used to connect with Michael & learn more about 0G Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Coinbase view on the future of crypto, with VP of International Policy Tom Duff Gordon 46:18
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Tom Duff Gordon, the Vice President of International Policy at Coinbase, where he drives the company’s engagement with policymakers in global markets across the UK, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and the MENA region. Together, Tomm and Lex discuss the importance of policy work in the financial services industry, especially after the 2008 financial crisis, and how policy teams collaborate with regulators to shape the regulatory environment; the reasons why the financial services industry is heavily regulated, including the systemic and interconnected nature of the financial system and the need to protect retail consumers; the regulatory approaches to cryptocurrency and digital assets in different jurisdictions, with Europe (MiCA), the US, and other regions like Asia. The discussion highlights the diverse and evolving nature of crypto regulation globally; the challenges faced by the US in developing a coherent regulatory framework for crypto assets, particularly the jurisdictional tussle between the SEC and CFTC; Coinbase's efforts to advocate for clear and balanced crypto regulation, including through grassroots initiatives like "Stand with Crypto"; and lastly, Coinbase's evolving product strategy, expanding beyond its core exchange business into areas like custody, lending, and infrastructure for the broader crypto ecosystem. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Coinbase, Credit Suisse, SEC, Circle, MiCA, Stand With Crypto, FIT21, financial regulation, financial policy, crypto, exchange, USDC ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’02: Shaping the Future of Finance: Tom Duff Gordon’s career involving Policy, Crypto, and Global Regulation 7’30: Preventing Financial Panic: How Regulation Mitigates Systemic Collapse 13’12: From Bank Runs to Balance Sheets: Tackling Systemic Risk and Preventing Financial Contagion 16’32: Regulating Crypto: Global Progress and Emerging Frameworks 19’42: Expanding Crypto Regulation Worldwide: Frameworks, Challenges, and the Road Ahead 28’18: Crypto and the SEC: Unpacking America’s Contradictory Approach to Regulation 34’30: Crypto Politics: Why the US is Divided While Europe Stays Unified 41’30: Scaling Crypto: Coinbase's Multi-Vertical Strategy and Ecosystem Vision 45’28: The channels used to connect with Tom & learn more about Coinbase Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Scaling Dynasty to 2,5k Monthly Signups using TikTok, with CEO Alessandro Chesser 43:42
43:42 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked43:42
Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex interviews Alessandro Chesser - CEO of Dynasty, a San Jose-based online platform for trust creation and management. In this episode, the key topics discussed include: The importance of aligning business and product teams, and the challenges Chesser faced when this alignment broke down during Carta's unsuccessful foray into the private markets business. Chesser's decision to leave Carta and co-found Dynasty, a startup that aims to simplify the process of creating trusts to avoid probate and protect assets. Dynasty's go-to-market strategy, which focuses on driving organic growth through short-form video content on platforms like TikTok. And lastly, the technical and legal complexities of automating the trust creation process, and how Dynasty is navigating those challenges. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Dynasty, GetDynasty, Carta, eShares, fintech, trusts, legaltech, private markets, legal, SaaS, social media, TikTok, Instagram, LegalZoom ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’24: From Sales Pioneer to Scaling Success: Alessandro Chesser on Building Carta’s Sales Organization and Transforming the Cap Table Market 5’38: Building Carta's Success: Strategic Partnerships, Demand Generation, and Sales-Product Synergy 9’57: Navigating Growth and Product Alignment: Carta's Scaling Challenges and the CartaX Experience 14’19: The Journey from Carta to Founding Dynasty: The Lessons Learned and Taking the Leap 16’55: Democratizing Estate Planning: Dynasty’s Mission to Make Trusts Accessible for Everyone 23’11: Unlocking Wealth Protection: Directed Trusts, Asset Security, and Tax Strategies for Founders and Investors 26’00: Trusts for the Middle Class: Simple Solutions for Inheritance and Probate Avoidance 28’19: Privacy and Protection: Using Trusts to Safeguard Real Estate and Build Awareness Through Organic Growth 32’02: Cracking the Viral Code: Leveraging Short-Form Video to Drive Customer Acquisition in Estate Planning 35’09: Building a Viral Marketing Team: Crafting Convincing Content for Organic Growth in FinTech 39’35: Engineering Simplicity in Legal Tech: Automating Trusts and Navigating Legal Complexities 42’52: The channels used to connect with Alessandro & learn more about Dynasty Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 What really happened at Synapse according to Founder Sankaet Pathak 48:32
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex is interviewing Sankaet Pathak, the former CEO and founder of Synapse, and CEO and current founder of Foundation, to explore what happened with Synapse, the banking as a service industry, and key lessons learned. The discussion covers Synapse's origins, the reliance on bank partners like Evolve, the discovery of reconciliation issues and missing payments, and the eventual sale of Synapse to TabaPay. Pathak shares details on the various categories of "breaks" they uncovered, including debits from customer accounts, undisclosed fees, and the challenges around the Mercury migration. The episode also touches on potential regulatory oversights, the role of blockchain technology, and Pathak's perspective on his critics. The summary provides a comprehensive overview of the issues faced by Synapse and the broader implications for the banking infrastructure space. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: BaaS, API, Open Banking, payments, banking, Fintech, Embedded Finance, regulation Tags: Synapse, Foundation, Evolve Bank, Mercury Bank, TabaPay, Yotta, FDIC ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’06: Synapse and the Evolution of Banking-as-a-Service: Sankaet Pathak’s introduction 3’26: The Synapse Story: Inside the Banking Infrastructure and Its Collapse 6’17: Behind the Rise and Reliance: How Evolve Bank Became Synapse’s Key Partner 9’16: Uncovering Reconciliation Issues: How Synapse Detected Problems with Evolve Bank 11’05: Tracking Customer Funds: How Synapse Managed User-Level Data with Pooled Bank Accounts 14’41: Uncovering Payment Breaks and Fee Issues: The Challenges Synapse Faced with Evolve Bank 21’16: Tracing Missing Funds: Synapse’s Financial Breakdowns and Evolve Bank’s Alleged Deception 24’44: From Billion-Dollar Valuation to Fire Sale: The Synapse Collapse and TabaPay Deal 29’04: Missing Millions: How a Migration Error with Mercury Led to a $49 Million Discrepancy 33’37: Lessons from Synapse’s Collapse: Reflecting on What Could Have Been Done Differently 39’10: Reflecting on Mistakes: Scaling Too Fast and the Complexities of Synapse’s Brokerage Service 43’11: Rethinking Financial Oversight: The Need for Bank Accountability and Direct Regulation of Bank-Adjacent Companies 45’59: Addressing the Critics: Sankaet Pathak on Misunderstandings and Missed Opportunities in the Synapse Collapse Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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The Fintech Blueprint
1 Brigit's journey to $100MM+ revenue and $1B in fees saved, with CEO Zuben Mathews 46:15
46:15 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked46:15
Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedLex chats with Zuben Mathews - CEO and Co-founder of Brigit. Brigit is a leading consumer financial app in the United States that offers a suite of holistic financial products including budgeting, financial insights, access to paychecks, and credit building. Zuben kicks off the conversation discussing his journey from investment banking at Deutsche Bank to founding one of the largest financial health apps in the U.S. Mathews reflects on his early experiences in banking, where he launched a small entrepreneurial team within Deutsche to leverage the bank’s data and client relationships to drive revenue. This experience helped shape his approach to solving real financial pain points, which became the foundation of Brigit. Zuben explains Brigit’s focus on addressing the U.S. financial crisis of living paycheck-to-paycheck, a problem he personally experienced as an immigrant student. Brigit’s initial product leverages cashflow data to provide instant cash advances, helping users avoid overdrafts and predatory loans. Mathews emphasizes that Brigit’s success stems from a commitment to solving users’ deepest financial issues and using real-time cashflow data, not traditional FICO scores, to provide financial solutions. The conversation delves into Brigit’s subscription-based business model, which offers transparency and value to users, helping them save money while improving financial stability. Zuben discusses how the app has grown to serve over a million users, generating more than $100 million in revenue with a small team of 90. He also addresses challenges in fintech, such as data access in the U.S. compared to Europe’s open banking regulations, and calls for more balanced regulation that encourages innovation while protecting consumers. The discussion concludes with Zuben advocating for greater access to bank data and better infrastructure for fintechs, highlighting the importance of innovation in improving customer outcomes in the financial space. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Brigit's Website: https://bit.ly/4d8tqoh Zuben's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3XvsEvT Topics: Fintech, neobank, overdraft, cash advance, subscription, financial wellbeing, PSD2, regulation Tags: Brigit, Deutsche Bank, Plaid, Chime, Revolut, Monzo, Yodlee, Synapse, Coastal Community Bank ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’36: From Deutsche Bank to Brigit: Zuben Mathews' Journey in Finance and Entrepreneurship 5’03: Bridging Silos at Deutsche Bank: Detailing Strategic Vendor Partnerships and Fintech Insights 9’06: From Startup Struggles to Success: Building Brigit and Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship 15’41: Solving America's Deepest Financial Pain Point: The Vision Behind Brigit's Differentiation in a Crowded Fintech Market 21’07: Leveraging Cashflow Data to Outperform Banks: How Brigit Built a Product to Tackle Overdraft Fees and Expand Financial Access 24’47: Beyond Overdraft Protection: How Brigit Uses Cashflow Data to Reduce Financial Stress and Drive User Engagement 29’01: Balancing Affordability and Financial Health: How Brigit's Subscription Model Empowers Users While Lowering Costs 33’25: Challenges of Data Access in US Fintech: Navigating Bank Transactional Data and the Push for Open APIs 40’36: Navigating US Banking Rails: The Role of Regulation, Innovation, and Customer-Centric Solutions in Fintech 45’24: The channels used to connect with Zuben & learn more about Brigit Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex , Laurence , Matt , Farhad , Mike , Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions .…
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