Coba - Say Goodbye to Payment Hassles! Discover The YC Startup for Cross-Border Transactions in Latin America | Episode 19

Are you a contractor working overseas? How do you navigate the complexities of cross-border payments?

In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson dives into the world of cross-border payments with Eduardo de Leon, co-founder and Head of Product at Coba, a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup. Eduardo shares his journey from a software development background to launching Coba, a platform designed to empower contractors in Latin America by providing access to the US banking system and simplifying financial transactions between the US and Mexico.

Eduardo reveals the origins of Coba, initially aimed at connecting talent with US companies. Through extensive user interviews, they uncovered a critical pain point: the need for financial services tailored to cross-border workers. This realization led to a pivotal shift in their business model, propelling them into the fintech industry and ultimately leading to their acceptance into Y Combinator. Eduardo talks about the challenges and opportunities of cross-border payments, the importance of understanding local markets, and how Coba is leveraging technology to bridge the gap between different economies. 

He also shares insights on the decision-making process as a co-founder, the role of crypto in cross-border transactions, and the valuable lessons learned from their Y Combinator experience.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

- Eduardo's Background and the Inspiration Behind Coba

- Coba's Platform and Services for Contractors in Latin America

- Pivoting the Business Model and Decision-Making as Co-Founders

- The Cross-Border Payments Landscape and Focusing on the US-Mexico Corridor

- Crypto's Role in Cross-Border Payments and Potential Integration with Coba

- Coba's Experience with Y Combinator and Lessons Learned

- Future Plans for Coba and Expanding Services

- Book Recommendations: 'Hackers & Painters' and 'The Mythical Man-Month'

ABOUT EDUARDO LOPEZ DE LEON

Co-founder & Head of Product @ Coba. Previously to founding Coba.ai, Eduardo started IcaliaLabs.com operating from LatAm and working with US clients. He had the opportunity to work with fast-growing startups, corporates such as IBM, and big software factories such as Infosys. CS professor of Monterrey Tech.

CONNECT WITH EDUARDO & COBA

Website → https://coba.ai/

Eduardo's Website → https://edolopez.ai

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/elopezdeleon/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobaremote

X/Twitter → https://x.com/edolopez

X/Twitter → https://x.com/cobaremote

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@cobaremote

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/edolopez.io

GRAB THE BOOKS EDUARDO RECOMMENDS:

-Paul Graham's Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age (https://a.co/d/3nccG3N) 

-Fred Brooks' The Mythical Man-Month (https://a.co/d/ewA2lFy)

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

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