Episodes
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Lex 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
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👉 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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Lex 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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Episodes manquant?
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Lex 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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Lex 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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Lex chats with Sarah Levy, CEO of Betterment - the largest independent digital investment advisor. Levy kicks off the conversation by discussing her career journey from working in the media industry to leading a fintech company. Levy explains that she was attracted to Betterment's mission of making people's lives better and saw the potential for growth and scale in the company. She also highlights the importance of brand building and understanding the customer in creating a successful business. Levy discusses Betterment's core products, including its retail robo-advisory service and its 401(k) offering for small and medium-sized businesses. She explains that Betterment aims to be a holistic investing home for its customers, focusing on expanding access and offering more account types and asset classes. Levy also discusses the potential for Betterment to offer self-directed investing options in the future.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Betterment's Website: https://bit.ly/3Uq5gPK
Sarah's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4d5aGqJ
Topics: Fintech, embedded finance, banking, investment, RIA, Tax, roboadvisor, advisory, branding, 401k
Companies: Betterment, Nickelodeon, Disney, Viacom, Schwab, Fidelity
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 Nickelodeon to Betterment: Tracing Sarah Levy's Journey Through Media and FinTech
7’22: Brand Personification and Audience Engagement: Exploring Digital Transformation with a lens on the consumer
13’33: Mission and Brand Resonance: Transitioning Leadership at Betterment
16’50: Initial Impressions and Strategic Directions: Enhancing Betterment's Brand and Services
21’41: Refining FinTech: How Betterment Evolved to Meet the Needs of Modern Investors
24’58: Building Betterment's 401k Business: Strategic Growth and Market Opportunities
34’45: Revamping RIA Economics: Betterment's Innovative Approach to Advisor Services
39’41: Beyond the Super App: Betterment's Strategic Approach to FinTech Diversification
44’12: Focused Growth: Betterment's Strategic Decision to Prioritize Long-Term Investing Over Self-Directed Trading
47’09: The channels used to connect with Sarah & learn more about Betterment
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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Lex chats with Anthony Cimino, the head of policy at Carta - an equity management company that builds the infrastructure for innovators, supporting approximately 35,000 companies, over 2.2 million stakeholders, and more than 5,000 funds. Cimino discusses his background in government and policy in the financial services industry and how he got involved in finance and policy. He explains the role of policy in the fintech industry and the importance of engagement with policymakers. Cimino also talks about Carta's core business of cap table management and valuation services, as well as their fund administration business. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the private markets industry, including the barriers to entry for investors and the need for more access and standardization. Cimino also mentions Carta's focus on supporting founders and their plans to expand globally. He emphasizes the role of policy in unlocking capital and creating access to private markets.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Carta's Website: https://bit.ly/3U92K0w
Anthony's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3J6u5db
Topics: fintech, regulation, policy, private markets, fund administration
Companies: Carta, SEC, Committee on Financial Services
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
1’23: From Capitol Hill to Financial Crisis Management: Tracing Anthony's Journey through Finance and Policy
6’24: Building Trust in Turbulent Times: The Crucial Link Between Public Engagement and Policy Formation
10’50: Shaping the Future of Finance: The Essential Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Policy and Regulation
14’50: Digitizing Equity: Carta's Impact on Private Markets and the Future of Financial Infrastructure
20’07: Unlocking Private Markets: Navigating Complexity and Challenging Paternalistic Regulations
24’17: Expanding Economic Opportunity: The Imperative of Broadening Access to Private Markets
27’27: Beyond Data: Carta's Vision for Empowering Founders and Investors in the Private Market Ecosystem
31’50: Tailoring Growth: How Carta Supports Founders from Startup to Public Transition
34’39: Navigating the Terrain: The Dynamics of Private Fund Administration in Changing Economic Climates
38’56: Charting the Future: Carta's Vision for Empowering Founders, Revolutionizing Fund Administration, and Expanding Global Footprints
40’57: The channels used to connect with Anthony & learn more about Carta
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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Lex chats with Malcolm deMayo, Global Vice President for Financial Services at Nvidia. deMayo kicks off the discussion on how Nvidia has been working with financial services firms for over 15 years, providing accelerated compute platforms to help solve compute-intensive challenges in trading, banking, and insurance. DeMayo explains that Nvidia's hardware accelerators, such as GPUs, can execute thousands of instructions at a time, resulting in a significant speedup compared to traditional CPUs. He highlights the use of AI and machine learning in various financial services applications, including fraud detection, sentiment analysis in trading, and process automation in banking. DeMayo also discusses the emergence of Generative AI, which enables the generation of unique content and the potential for human-like engagement in customer service. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between business and AI teams for successful AI deployment and mentions the role of open-source models and federated learning in the future of AI.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Nvidia's Website: https://bit.ly/3TwEDXO
Malcom's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3xeimqa
Topics: AI, Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, accelerated compute, compute, generative AI, genAI, financial services, Neural networks
Companies: Nvidia, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, EvidentAI, AlexNet
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
1’35: Beyond Moore's Law: Nvidia's Pioneering Role in Financial Services Innovation
6’56: Revolutionizing Efficiency: The Transformative Impact of GPU-Accelerated Computing in Finance
14’12: Unlocking Efficiency: How Nvidia's Accelerated Compute Platform Revolutionizes Machine Learning in Finance
19’52: Transforming Finance: The Power of Machine Learning in Fraud Detection and Market Analysis
29’15: From Data Custodianship to AI Revolution: Nvidia's Pivotal Role in Transforming Finance with Generative AI
35’03: Beyond Classification: Nvidia's Role in Fueling Generative AI's Impact on Financial Services Innovation
42’04: Shaping the AI Landscape: The Dynamic Between Open Source Innovation and Proprietary Models in Financial Services
47’01: The channels used to connect with Malcom & learn more about Nvidia
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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Lex chats with Nelson Chu, founder and CEO of Percent - the modern credit marketplace. Nelson kicks off the discussion b by walking through his inspiration for building the private credit marketplace and the challenges of operating in the fintech industry. He explains that Percent aims to provide a better alternative investment platform for credit investors by offering shorter durations and lower minimum investments. Nelson also discusses the importance of infrastructure in the private credit market and the need for technology to streamline processes. He highlights the different types of investors and borrowers that use Percent's platform and the challenges of building a three-sided marketplace. Nelson also touches on the impact of macroeconomic factors, such as interest rates, on the private credit market and the role of data and AI in the industry.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Percent's Website: https://bit.ly/3x3w8Mg
Nelson's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4a5Nwym
Topics: Private credit, lending, borrowers, underwriting, AI, artificial intelligence, investment, alternative investment, fintech, marketplace
Companies: Percent, Lending Club, LendIt, Prosper, Blackstone
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
1’12: From FinTech Consulting to Revolutionizing Private Credit: The Genesis of Percent
4’33: Unveiling the Void: The Journey to Establishing Essential Infrastructure in Alternative Investments
6’55: Decoding Private Credit: Navigating Yields, Risk, and Investor Dynamics in Short-Duration Fixed Income
14’01: Investor Trends and Platform Evolution: The Shifting Terrain of Private Credit Investments
19’15: Building the Bridge: Crafting the Infrastructure to Power a Tripartite Financial Marketplace
26’15: Mastering Multi-Sided Markets: Strategies for Bootstrapping Borrowers, Investors, and Underwriters
31’26: Tech as the Catalyst: Navigating the Fusion of Traditional Finance and Innovative Infrastructure in Private Credit
36’49: Adapting to Shifts: The Impact of Changing Interest Rates on the Private Credit Landscape
40’16: Unlocking Potential with AI: How Proprietary Data Sets Are Shaping the Future of Finance
43’15: The channels used to connect with Nelson & learn more about Percent
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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Lex chats with Richard Ma, CEO of Quantstamp -a leading blockchain security company. Richard kicks off by discussing the origins of the company and the importance of security in the blockchain space. He explains that the idea for Quantstamp came after he invested in Ethereum and witnessed the hack of the DAO, which prompted him to focus on the security side of Ethereum. Richard describes how Quantstamp conducts audits of blockchain projects, identifying vulnerabilities and providing recommendations for improvement. He emphasizes the importance of reading audit reports and understanding the risks associated with projects. Richard also discusses different types of adversaries in the blockchain space, including nation-state actors, developers seeking recognition, and financially motivated hackers. He believes that while established projects will become more secure over time, new experimental projects will always carry some level of risk. Richard suggests that AI-based debuggers could help improve security auditing in the future. He highlights EigenLayer, ZK-rollups, and the development on Solana as exciting sectors to watch in the coming years.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Quantstamps's Website: https://bit.ly/3Iv6zX4
Richard's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3IvaxyO
Topics: blockchain, security, audit, hacking, hacks, crypto, cryptocurrency, digital assets, Web3, DeFi
Companies: Quantstamp, Ethereum, MakerDAO, Compound, EigenLayer
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 High-Frequency Trading to Fintech Innovator: The Journey to Creating Quantstamp
9’26: Demystifying the Audit Process: Inside Quantstamp's Approach to Securing Blockchain Projects
15’04: The Art and Challenge of Blockchain Audits: Navigating the Complex World of Code Review
19’37: The Nomad Hack: A Case Study in Preventability and the Importance of Diligence in Code Auditing
24’39: Web3's Adversarial Landscape: Unpacking the Motivations Behind Crypto Hacks and Security Breaches
29’13: The Ethical Dilemma of Crypto Hacking: Navigating the Fine Line Between Exploitation and Market Manipulation
34’59: Exploring the Frontier: Key Innovations Shaping the Future of Blockchain in 2024 and Beyond
36’34: The channels used to connect with Richard & learn more about Quantstamp
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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Lex chats with Christian Catalini, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Lightspark - a company aiming to break down global payment barriers, throwing its weight behind a new standard intended to make payments as easy as sending an email. Christian kicks off by discussing his career in blockchain and academia, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the fintech industry. He explains how he became interested in crypto through his research on crowdfunding and how he later focused on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Catalini also discusses the importance of decentralized governance and the potential of Bitcoin as a global payment network. He introduces Lightspark's products, including Lightspark Predict and Universal Money Addresses (UMA), which aim to make Lightning Network more efficient and user-friendly for cross-border money movement. He emphasizes the need for compliance and regulatory clarity in the crypto industry and highlights the role of various partners in facilitating on and off-ramps between digital assets and traditional payment systems.
MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION
Lightspark's Website: https://bit.ly/3uQ0Nw1
Christian's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3UVwBu3
Topics: blockchain, crypto, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Digital Assets, AI, cross border, payments, lightning network
Companies: Lightspark, Diem, Libra, Meta Fintech, MIT, MIT Cryptoeconomics Lab
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
1’22: Bridging Worlds: From Academic Inquiry to Entrepreneurial Action in the Crypto and Crowdfunding Era
7’12: Innovating at the Intersection: From the Creative Destruction Lab to the Cryptoeconomics Lab at MIT
13’00: Designing Stability: The Economic Architecture and Vision Behind the Diem Experiment
18’37: Governance and Trust in Crypto: Navigating the Complex Landscape from Diem to Bitcoin
25’42: Money as a Public Good: The Evolutionary Path of Bitcoin and Digital Assets in the Global Economy
31’57: Unleashing Potential: Crypto and AI's Complementary Forces in Shaping the Future of Open Source Technology
37’02: Universal Money Addresses: Revolutionizing Global Transactions with Seamless, Compliant, and Real-Time Payments
41’31: UMA and Bitcoin: Simplifying Cross-Border Payments with a Global, Liquidity-Driven Settlement Layer
46’49: Integrating Innovations: How UMA Partners Enable Smooth Cross-Border Payments Through Bitcoin Liquidity and Local Infrastructure
50’14: The channels used to connect with Chris & learn more about Lightspark
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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