In this episode, we dive into fintech and commerce enablement with Jay Ganatra, one of the founders of Infinity Ventures. Learn how this former PayPal Ventures team brings expertise in payments, lending, risk, and financial infrastructure to back the next generation of startups. We explore the backstory of PayPal Ventures, the challenges and opportunities in fintech investments, and why corporate venture arms play a unique role. Hear insights on the current fintech M&A landscape and how strategic partnerships shape success for founders. Jay also shares his journey in founding Infinity Ventures and their approach to identifying and supporting high-potential fintech companies.

If you're a founder or investor looking to better understand the fintech ecosystem, this conversation is packed with valuable advice!

 I / jayganatra  

00:00:00 – Introduction to Infinity Ventures and PayPal’s Legacy

00:01:30 – Infinity Ventures Investment Focus

00:03:00 – PayPal Ventures: Impact and Acquisitions

00:05:00 – PayPal's Global Reach and Market Expansion

00:07:00 – Challenges and Lessons from Corporate Ventures

00:08:30 – Success Stories: Plaid and TRM Labs

00:11:00 – Infinity Ventures Founding Journey

00:12:30 – Fundraising and Building Infinity Ventures

00:15:00 – Key Investments: Vinyl and Transfer Agent Disruption

00:18:00 – Navigating Regulation and Market Entry for Vinyl

00:24:30 - Exploring Simple Closure: Shutting Down Businesses

00:30:15 - Addressing Market Misconceptions

Last week, I had an insightful podcast interview with Hamel Kothari, the co-founder and CTO of Brigit.

We discussed how they've grown to over $100M in revenue, 1 million paying subscribers, and stayed profitable for more than two years. Brigit has built one of the top financial apps, ranking above companies like Barclays and Robinhood in the App Store.

In the episode, we explore how they thrived in a space many investors were skeptical about.

If you're interested in fintech or scaling a business, this podcast offers some valuable lessons on building a successful consumer fintech company.

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Connect with Rex on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexsalisbury/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rexsalisbury

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rex.salisbury

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rexsalisbury/

In this episode, I sit down with Avlok Kohli, CEO of AngelList, at their San Francisco headquarters. Avlok shares how AngelList responded to the 2022 market crash, shifting from a heavy reliance on SPVs to diversifying their product offerings, including rolling funds and venture fund management tools. He discusses the strategic decisions that led to AngelList's current success, insights on launching new products in competitive markets, and the evolution of AngelList into a comprehensive financial platform. Avlok also reflects on his journey from founder to CEO, providing an insider's view on the future of venture capital and the startup ecosystem.

In this episode, I sit down with James Dyett, head of platform at OpenAI. James discusses how AI is revolutionizing finance, with insights from clients like Morgan Stanley and Klarna.

Learn how Morgan Stanley uses AI to improve wealth management and how Klarna has automated two-thirds of its customer service tasks.

We also touch on Oscar Health and Nubank, exploring how AI enhances their operations. James shares his strategies for implementing AI solutions and the future of AI in the industry.

In this episode, I sit down with Renaud Laplanche, founder and CEO of Upgrade. Renaud talks about his move from Lending Club to starting Upgrade, focusing on innovation in consumer fintech. He shares insights on the unique features of the Upgrade Card, the strategic partnerships with credit unions, and the future of consumer finance. We dive into his strategies for building successful fintech companies and what sets Upgrade apart in the industry.

Keith Rabois is back at Khosla after leaving Founders Fund. In this episode, Keith discusses his return, why he focuses on seed investing, his most courageous bet, his biggest mistakes (deciding which meetings to take) and more. He also shares insights on evaluating founders, the intricacies of startup success, and his approach to investing.

Find out why Itai Damti (the founder and CEO of Unit) hates the word BAAS. We take a deep dive into his mindset and what got him to where he is today.

Join us for a captivating chat with Zach, Plaid's visionary founder and CEO. Plaid stands at the forefront of fintech innovation, linking financial institutions with apps to revolutionize banking and finance. From its early days in San Francisco to becoming a key player in fintech, Plaid's journey reflects the sector's rapid evolution.

Zach guides us through Plaid's milestones—from filling a vital niche, scaling its impact, to navigating the fintech landscape's ups and downs, including the COVID-19 pandemic and banking crises. These moments highlight Plaid's crucial role in stabilizing the fintech ecosystem.

Diving into the heart of fintech innovation, Zach discusses the challenges and achievements of building Plaid, a platform essential to fintech's fabric, and shares insights on the future of finance.

This conversation sheds light on the innovation and determination driving fintech forward. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in technology's role in reshaping financial services.

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Connect with Rex on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexsalisbury/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rexsalisbury

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rex.salisbury

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rexsalisbury/

Pete Flint is a prominent figure in the technology and real estate industries, best known for his co-founding role at Trulia and his involvement with NFX, a venture capital firm. As one of the co-founders of Trulia, a real estate platform that gained widespread popularity, Flint played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the way people search for homes online. His entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach have made him a respected leader in the prop-tech space. Beyond Trulia, Flint has continued to contribute to the startup ecosystem through his association with NFX, a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in seed-stage companies.

Jimmy Chen founded Propel in 2014 with the ambitious vision of improving America’s safety net.  $65 Billion of government benefits go unclaimed because of cumbersome and opaque processes.  Even when those benefits are claimed, the user experience is frustrating. 

Propel started by making one of America's most important social benefit programs, SNAPs, formerly known as food stamps more user friendly.  Propel makes it possible for any of the 42 million Americans on SNAPs to check their balance from their phone instead of having to call a 1-800 number and wade through a cumbersome phone tree.   

Today, Propel serves over 5 million people in all 50 states

To share how Propel vision expanded beyond SNAPs to become an all-in-one money app to include mobile banking, benefits info with the goal of patching America’s broken safety net, I’m excited to have Jimmy Chen here to share his story.  

https://www.joinpropel.com/