By Lex Sokolin
5
1616 ratings
The podcast currently has 168 episodes available.
Lex 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.
Lex chats with Till Wendler, Founder of Peaq Network - a leading DePIN Layer 1 in the blockchain space. In this episode, Till discusses his journey into entrepreneurship and the blockchain space. He talks about his early involvement with Ethereum and building a business around e-commerce payments using cryptocurrencies. Till also explains the concept of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs) and their role in the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Economy of Things (EOT). He highlights the limitations of current IoT systems and the potential for value exchange between devices. Till discusses the success of Peaq in attracting over 800,000 devices onto the network and the challenges of building demand for data-driven projects. He emphasizes Peaq's role in catalyzing the sector by providing support on product optimization, go-to-market strategies, and financial assistance.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Peaq's Website: https://bit.ly/3XjsaKo
Till's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4cGvSSJ
Topics: Blockchain, web3, decentralized applications, dapps, economy of things, EOT, depin, iot, decentralized physical infrastructure networks
Tags: Peaq, IOTA, Exonum, DMG MORI, Silencio, MapMetrics, Helium
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: From the Valley to Blockchain: Till’s Journey into Entrepreneurship and Crypto
4’59: Building Peaq: From Berlin's Blockchain Scene to IoT Innovation
8’26: Connecting Machines to Blockchain: The Use Case Discovery and Peaq's Evolution
13’31: From IoT to the Economy of Things: The Evolution of Connected Devices
17’53: Unlocking the Machine Economy: The Role of Web3 and DePINs in Decentralized Infrastructure
20’50: Scaling the Machine Economy: Successful Use Cases Built on Peaq's Decentralized Network
23’34: Driving Network Growth: How Peaq Reached 800,000 Connected Devices Through Strategic Go-to-Market and Product Market Fit
29’15: Streamlining DePIN Success: How Peaq Simplifies Tokenomics and Focuses on User Demand
32’56: Empowering Ecosystem Growth: Peaq's Role in Supporting Projects from Integration to Funding
34’45: The channels used to connect with Till & learn more about Peaq
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.
Lex chats with Luke Voiles, the CEO of Pipe - a modern capital platform built to connect business owners to fast, frictionless, dilution-free funding. Luke kicks off discussing his experience in the FinTech industry. He talks about his transition from being an investor to working in FinTech. Luke shares his background in distressed credit investing and how it led him to focus on lending money to other lenders. He then discusses his role at Intuit, where he helped build QuickBooks Capital and gained valuable experience in tech, leadership, and product development. Luke also talks about his time at Square and Square Banking, where he learned about being a true CEO and P&L owner. He then joined Pipe and discusses the stage at which the company was when he joined and the core concept of revenue-based financing. Luke explains the differences between revenue-based financing, invoice factoring, and other fixed income instruments. He also talks about the pivot that Pipe made and the focus on Pipe Capital as a service. Luke discusses the importance of platforms and embedded finance in reaching small businesses and explains how Pipe works with SaaS vertical software providers. He emphasizes the value of giving small businesses access to credit and criticizes other FinTechs that have made mistakes in scaling their businesses. Luke concludes by providing contact information for himself and Pipe.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Pipe's Website: https://bit.ly/3WGQrJN
Luke's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4dpDh9P
Topics: Fintech, revenue-based finance, embedded finance, unicorn, SaaS, entrepreneur, lending, capital
Tags: Pipe, Square, Stripe, PayPal, Intuit, OnDeck, Alloy, Increase
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
1’07: From Distressed Credit to FinTech Leadership: Luke's Journey from Sixth Street Partners to Intuit and Beyond
7’17: Square Banking and the Evolution of Leadership: Navigating Single-Threaded and Functional Structures
14’53: Pipe's Transformation: Joining and Steering one of the Fastest Unicorns in History
18’46: Understanding Revenue-Based Financing: Defining Factoring, Merchant Cash Advances, and More
26’39: The Power of Storytelling: How Pipe's Vision and Innovation Led to Unicorn Status
28’39: Pivoting Pipe: Adapting Strategy and Overcoming Growth Challenges
37’25: The Future of Small Business Banking: Embedded Finance and SaaS Vertical Platforms
41’35: Navigating Regulatory Challenges: Pipe's Embedded Finance and Compliance Strategy
46’23: The channels used to connect with Luke & learn more about Pipe
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.
Lex chats with Danielle Sesko about insurance and innovation in the fintech sector. They discuss the purpose of insurance and why it exists, the structure of insurance companies, the challenges of insurance innovation, and the integration of insurance into digital lending platforms. Sesko explains that insurance is necessary because most people cannot sustain a total loss of their assets, such as their homes or businesses. She also discusses the regulatory structure of insurance in the US, which is regulated on a state-by-state basis. Sesko describes the product she is working on at TruStage, which provides insurance coverage for loans in the digital lending space. The insurance is designed to protect both the borrower and the lender in case of unexpected events, such as job loss or disability. Sesko explains the technology integrations between insurance and digital lending platforms and the economics of the product. She also discusses the challenges and opportunities in the insurtech industry.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
TruStage's Website: https://bit.ly/3WibyC1
Danielle's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3XUZNmp
Topics: InsurTech, Insurance, Digital Lending, Lending, embedded finance, embedded insurance, API, fintech
Tags: TruStage, Payment Guard, Lending Club, 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
1’27: From Financial Consulting to Insurance Innovation: Danielle Sesko’s Journey in Financial Services
4’58: The Role and Necessity of Insurance: Insights on Financial Resiliency and Industry Structure
9’52: Innovation in Insurance: Creating Relevant Products and Navigating Regulations
13’39: Navigating US Insurance Regulations: Engaging State Regulators and Structuring Underwriting for New Products
17’59: Adapting to FinTech: How Established Underwriters Leverage Experience for Digital Lending Innovation
20’48: Assessing the Rise of Digital Lending: Timing, Consumer Preferences, and Regulatory Challenges in FinTech and InsurTech
27’39: Bridging the Gap in Digital Lending: Ideal Customers for PaymentGuard and Their Unique Needs
31’21: Defining Digital Lending Coverage: Target Workflows and Payment Flows for Embedded Insurance Solutions
34’36: Understanding PaymentGuard's Economics: Coverage Duration, Cost Structure, and Value for Digital Lenders
37’42: Integrating InsurTech and Digital Lending: The Technology and Processes Behind Embedding Insurance Solutions
40’11: The channels used to connect with Danielle & learn more about TruStage
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.
Lex chats with Anthony Moro, CEO of Provenance Foundation. Provenance is a blockchain platform for real-world assets and has a focus on financial services. Moro discusses his background in the traditional financial industry, particularly in security servicing, and explains how Provenance is positioning itself as a good control location for ownership of securities. He highlights the inefficiencies and high costs associated with intermediated securities transactions and explains how Provenance aims to provide a more efficient and secure alternative. Moro also discusses the technology stack of Provenance, which is built on the Cosmos network, and explains the importance of purpose-built blockchain networks for financial services. He also touches on the topics of noncustodial networks, ledgering, and the importance of network uptime in financial services. Moro concludes by discussing the future vision for Provenance, including the tokenization of trillions of dollars of financial assets and the role of Provenance in enabling asset issuers and service providers to transact efficiently on the platform.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Provenance's Website: https://bit.ly/3xLpXx6
Anthony's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3VIl3Jn
Companies: Provenance, Sofi, Provenance Blockchain Labs, ProvLabs, Ethereum, Cosmos, Merrill Lynch, Figure Technologies, Figure Markets
Topics: Blockchain, tokenisation, capital markets, DeFi, TradFi, NFT, Financial Services, Governance, crypto
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
1’28: From Traditional Finance to DeFi: Insights on Provenance and Financial Services
4’48: The Complexities of ADRs: Insights on Traditional and Decentralized Financial Systems
8’54: Provenance and Blockchain Innovation: From SoFi Founders to Cosmos Network Integration
13’17: Transforming Capital Markets: The Evolution of Figure's HELOC Business and Blockchain Integration
17’28: Revolutionizing Mortgages with Blockchain: The Impact of NFT Mortgages and Disinflationary Technology
21’20: Exploring Alternative Investments: The Value of Pork Bellies and the Unexpected Tale of Uranium
26’39: Bridging Provenance and Ethereum: Open Source Development and Financial Services Security
30’01: Revolutionizing Governance in Financial Services: Provenance's Approach and Future Directions
32’56: Navigating Centralized Exchanges: Bringing an Institutional Network to Retail Markets
39’20: Regulatory Shifts in Crypto and FinTech: Navigating the Evolving Landscape Ahead of US Elections
42’49: Embracing the Future of Tokenization: Provenance's Vision for Retail Inclusion and Financial Services
46’31: The channels used to connect with Anthony & learn more about Provenance
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.
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.
Lex chats with Vishal Garg, the CEO of Better Mortgage. Better is an all-in-one digital homeownership company. From finding a real estate agent and getting a mortgage, to shopping for homeowners insurance and title services, Better and its affiliates take customers through the entire homebuying process online. Garg shares the story of how he founded Better Mortgage after experiencing the difficulties of getting a mortgage online. He explains how he saw an opportunity to reimagine the mortgage industry and create a more efficient and consumer-friendly process. Garg discusses the challenges of scaling the company, going public through a SPAC, and navigating the changing market conditions. He also shares his optimism for the future of Better Mortgage, highlighting the company's focus on efficiency, automation, and sustainable growth.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Better's Website: https://bit.ly/456T3Ub
Vishal's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4e52szk
Topics: fintech, mortgage, digital lending, digital mortgage, SPAC, interest rates
Companies: Better.com, Better mortgage, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Goldman Sachs, SoftBank
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
1’33: Revolutionizing Mortgages: Vishal's Journey from Frustration to Fintech Innovation
6’41: Cracking the Mortgage Code: Leveraging Fintech Experience to Disrupt a Stagnant Industry
11’11: Overcoming Startup Challenges: Innovating in the Mortgage Industry and Securing Early-Stage Financing
15’25: Recruiting Top Talent: How to Attract High-Caliber Professionals to Revolutionize the Mortgage Industry
20’32: Scaling to Success: The Rapid Growth, Economics and Strategic Milestones of Better Mortgage
24’48: Balancing Growth and Profitability: Navigating Blitz Scaling and Cultural Shifts at Better Mortgage
28’17: Understanding the SPAC Process: The Market Conditions, Expectations, and Challenges of Going Public
34’20: Facing Macro Headwinds: The Declining Efficiency and Financial Challenges in a Changing Market
36’50: Balancing External Stressors and Internal Efficiency: Navigating Market Changes and Organizational Challenges
39’04: From Private to Public: Better Mortgage's Evolution, Current State, and Optimistic Future
43’11: Overcoming Market Shifts: Vishal Garg on Better Mortgage's Resilience and Path to Profitability
45’30: The channels used to connect with Vishal & learn more about Better Mortgages
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.
Lex chats with Matt Watson, the founder and CEO of Origin, a comprehensive money management platform for the modern workforce. Watson discusses his background as an entrepreneur and his first fintech experience working on Wall Street. He also talks about his previous business in the commercial insurance space and the challenges of building out the go-to-market function for that company. Watson then explains the concept behind Origin and its focus on providing a mass-market private banking experience for the underserved segment of the population with investable assets below $500,000. He discusses the company's go-to-market strategy, its target market, and its monetization strategy. Watson also touches on the collapse of Mint and the opportunity it created for Origin, as well as the role of generative AI in financial planning and guidance. He concludes by discussing the ownership of data and the challenges of accessing and utilizing consumer financial data in the industry.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Origin's Website: https://bit.ly/4bJcMvc
Matthew's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3ym8mMa
Topics: fintech, AI, artificial intelligence, PFM, personal financial management, embedded finance
Companies: Origin, Origin Finance, Mint, Mint.com, Plaid, LearnVest, Column Tax, Intuit, Yodlee, ChatGPT
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
1’07: The Entrepreneurial Journey: From Family Influence to Fintech Ventures
3’55: Building the Go-to-Market Function: Penetrating and Innovating in the Insurance Agency Software Market
7’55: Challenges in Financial Vertical Software: Entrenched Systems and High Switching Costs
10’08: Exploring Origin: Addressing the Financial Services Gap for the Mass Affluent
18’16: Evolving Data Aggregation in Fintech: Addressing Costs and Open Banking Trends
22’30: Origin’s Business Model and Market Dynamics in Mass Affluent Financial Services: Lessons from Lead Generation Giants
26’01: Building Financial Solutions In-House: Origin's Approach to Planning, Investing, and Tax
29’24: The Collapse of Mint: Catalyzing Opportunities for Origin in B2B and B2C Markets
31’26: Leveraging Generative AI in Financial Planning: Enhancing Guidance and Managing Challenges
35’47: Understanding the Demand for AI Financial Planning: Challenges and Consumer Behavior
40’22: The Future of Financial Data Control: Consumer-Driven Analysis and Insights in a Tokenized World
41’07: The channels used to connect with Matthew & learn more about Origin
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.
Lex chats with Jason Morton, CEO of EZKL - EZKL is a technology that helps people build around artificial intelligence using zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) and the latest in technology. Jason explains that ZK proofs are a way to prove that a computation has been executed correctly without revealing any sensitive information. The proofs can be used to verify the execution of AI models, statistical models, and other computations on blockchain networks. EZKL provides a command line tool, a backend proving service, and a Python library for developers to use. The company's economic model involves licensing the components of the system and running backend services. In the future, EZKL aims to provide a more complete solution for interacting with the technology. The demand for verifiable AI and ZK proofs is expected to come from both Web2 and Web3 companies, as well as enterprise clients
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
EZKL's Website: https://bit.ly/4dx1wUb
Jason's Twitter: https://bit.ly/4boqumY
Topics: fintech, machine learning, ai, artificial intelligence, llm, zk-proofs, zero-knowledge proofs, blockchain, web3
Companies: EZKL, Ethereum, Bitcoin, DARPA
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: From Mathematics to Machine Learning: Tracing the Journey of an AI Researcher"
3’47: Putting Theory Into Practice: Navigating the Evolution of Neural Networks and Blockchain
7’18: Understanding Zero-Knowledge Proofs: The Evolution and Impact of Cryptographic Privacy
11’02: Digital Trust and Privacy: How Zero-Knowledge Proofs Enhance Security and Authentication Online
16’15: From Consensus to Cryptography: Exploring the Transformative Impact of Zero-Knowledge Proofs on Blockchain Technology
22’30: Revolutionizing AI with Blockchain: The Strategic Focus of EZKL on Verifiable and Secure Machine Learning
28’18: Connecting Worlds: Bridging Advanced AI and Blockchain Technology for Economic and Computational Efficiency
31’21: Strategic Transparency: Integrating Proofs in Smart Contracts for Trustworthy Investment Strategies
35’44: EZKL Defined: Navigating the Blend of Product, Library, and Framework in Blockchain Proofs
38’48: Blurring Lines: Will Web3 Innovations or Traditional Web2 Enterprises Drive the Future Demand for EZKL?
40’28: The channels used to connect with Jason & learn more about EZKL
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.
Lex chats with Libor Michalek, the President of Affirm, a buy now, pay later (BNPL) company. Michalek discusses his early experiences with the internet and how it shaped his understanding of technology and its potential in the financial services industry. He explains how Affirm was founded with the goal of building honest financial products that improve people's lives, and how the convergence of e-commerce, mobile technology, machine learning, and access to consumer information enabled the company to create a credit product that aligned with consumer interests. Michalek also discusses the challenges of building a technology-driven finance company, the performance of Affirm's loans compared to credit cards and personal loans, and the company's approach to competition and future growth.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Affirm's Website: https://bit.ly/3Qo2DvI
Libor's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4bfsQVk
Topics: fintech, buy now pay later, BNPL, e-commerce, machine learning, loans, credit, credit cards, payments
Companies: Affirm, Thinking Machines Corporation, PayPal, Amazon
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
1’00: Internet Pioneers and Business Innovation: Libor Michalek touches on Early Web Experiences
4’56: Digital Transformation and Commerce: Unpacking the Consumer Insights and Technological Advances That Fuelled the E-commerce Explosion
9’18: Beyond Traditional Finance: How Affirm's Founding Insights and Technological Integration Redefined Fintech in the 2010s
13’14: Redefining Credit: Exploring the Consumer Demand for Transparency and Fairness in Financial Products with Affirm
19’04: Integrating Innovation: How Affirm's Unique Approach to E-commerce and Payments Shaped Its Market Strategy
23’47: Machine Learning and Financial Innovation: Launching Affirm's Transaction-Specific Underwriting Models
27’56: Assessing Investment Opportunities: The Risk and Return Profile of Affirm's Customer Loans from an Institutional Perspective
32’11: Empowering Customers: Affirm's Commitment to Transparency and Support in Financial Services
37’42: Leading the Charge: Navigating Competition and Innovation in the Buy Now, Pay Later Market
41’22: Defining Innovation in FinTech: Distinguishing Between Technology-Driven and Finance-First Companies
43’29: The channels used to connect with Libor & learn more about Affirm
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.
The podcast currently has 168 episodes available.
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