Fintech Thought Leaders

Bill Cilluffo, Partner and Head of Early Stage Investments, sits down with Chris Dean, Treasury Prime's co-founder and CEO, to discuss how Treasury Prime is revolutionizing banking. 

What if your big idea began as a scribble on a napkin? 

Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, co-founders of Hello Alice, saw this idea through. Hear the captivating journey of these two astonishing entrepreneurs as they build a business that now connects more than 1.3 million small-business owners to critical resources, including capital, connections and opportunities. 

Learn how they developed their company from a simple napkin sketch to a groundbreaking platform that counts enterprise companies, banks and government among its partners.

Their story is not just about business, but also about perseverance, partnership and the passion to serve traditionally underserved groups like women, people of color and veterans. They will share how they managed the trials of juggling childcare and long commutes, and how they steered through the challenges of leading a business during crises. They'll also share their candid experience on an unexpected challenge: a class action lawsuit. Find out how they're confronting this issue head-on, determined to continue providing underrepresented small business owners with access to capital. 

Finally, Carolyn and Elizabeth will share their lessons and advice for entrepreneurs. Their story exemplifies the importance of resilience, the power of making the ask and planning around passion. Listen in to hear the insights and experiences of these trailblazing entrepreneurs and their inspiring journey of building Hello Alice, a company determined to help small businesses thrive. 

Their story is a testament to the power of dreams, determination and the will to work for it.

In this episode of Fintech Thought Leaders, QED's Head of Early Stage Investments Bill Cilluffo speaks with Partner, Head of UK & Europe, Yusuf Özdalga.

What if the way you handle payroll could transform your business? That's the question Maya Dadoo, CEO of Worky, answers in today's episode. A trailblazer in the world of fintech, Maya's startup is shaking up the HR and payroll industry in Latin America.

Maya takes us on a captivating journey, starting from her formative years, shaped by her father's entrepreneurial pursuits and his investment banking experience, to her transition from corporate behemoths like BCG, Citi, and eBay to her own venture. She unveils how Worky saw a unique market opportunity, pivoted its product to cater to blue-collar workers, and the implications of the recent Mexican government regulations. Dadoo's innovative approach to time management and payroll, you'll come to realize, is just the start. 

We dive into the nitty-gritty of Worky's decision to serve the mid-market and enterprise sector, and the journey of developing their payroll engine. Maya paints a vivid picture of the rewards, challenges, and the tireless efforts that led to a successful launch. And remember, this growth story is only getting started with ambitious plans to make a dent in the benefits space – their biggest revenue contributor. Maya's insights on effective leadership, problem-solving, and how they've built Mexico's largest employee database are particular highlights. 

What happens when an Armenian woman, born in a collapsing Soviet Union, goes on to head the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and then takes a leap of faith into entrepreneurship? You get Naré Vardanyan, CEO of Ntropy, whose journey we  unravel in our latest  episode. 

Her fascinating trajectory, from her humble beginnings to learning AI on Coursera and launching her own company, is inspiring. 

Prepare to be swept away by Naré's bold move to decipher the encrypted world of data privacy and security, especially in the domain of financial services. As we navigate through the tumultuous aftermath of COVID-19, Naré decodes the new dynamics of institutional data usage. Hear her commentary on the need for quality data in the era of open banking and get a glimpse into how industry heavyweights are leveraging data to customize their offerings. Naré takes us through the evolution of language models that are enabling companies to access data more effectively and efficiently. 

Finally, Naré explains why she views distribution as an engineering problem and how she grapples with the challenge of prioritizing immediate needs versus future possibilities. Reflecting on her personal journey, she talks about how motherhood has influenced her leadership style and the role of risk-taking in her venture. From discussing her hobbies to the importance of therapy, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Imagine discovering that a family member, struggling with Alzheimer's, can no longer handle their own finances safely. That's the reality Kai Stinchcombe faced with his grandmother Ruth and what he used as fuel to create a fintech solution. In this episode, we journey with Kai as he reveals the personal origin story behind True Link's innovative mission. Hear how his commitment to empower those with Alzheimer's, addiction, special needs and mental health issues to make payments safely and independently, has shaped his path from Stanford-dropout to successful entrepreneur.

Navigating the complexities of True Link's customer base, Kai sheds light on the unique challenges of supporting individuals in residential care and the intricate balancing act of rigorous research methodologies and entrepreneurial decision-making. Hear how he grapples with setting limitations around transactions and the delicate task of handling issues like Medicare eligibility and closing bank accounts. Get an insider's view of the overlooked issue of financial competency and how True Link fills that gap, ensuring their product reaches those who need it most.

Kai opens up about the hard lessons learned on the startup journey, candidly sharing his realization of not being a natural-born manager and how he adapted. As we venture into our current reality of remote work, Kai discusses the challenges of maintaining True Link's mission-driven nature in a 100% remote environment. And to lighten the mood, enjoy a personal anecdote about the unconventional start to his romantic relationship with his wife, Julia. 

QED's Head of Early Stage Investing Bill Cilluffo sat down with Laura Bock, an alumna of Princeton and a former management consultant at Oliver Wyman, to hear her unique story and gain her insights into the financial services industry. 

Laura opens up the hood of startup culture and how it's changing the face of investment. She shares her thoughts on the agility of startups and the instrumental role of investors and advisors in this dynamic space.. Laura's insights on founder assessment shed light on the key qualities to look for, making this episode a treasure trove for any budding entrepreneur.

Wrapping up, we delve into Laura's experience in the fintech industry and the lessons she has learned since joining as a principal. From the regulatory risks involved in investing in highly regulated industries to the delicate balance between optimism and realism, Laura's advice is practical and grounded in reality. If you're fascinated by the world of fintech and venture capital, this episode promises to be an enlightening journey.