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Discover how Victor “DIVINE” Lombard went from street hustler to fintech CEO, with guidance from Ben Horowitz, and a mission to transform how finance serves overlooked communities.

Fintech entrepreneur Victor “DIVINE” Lombard shares his journey from street hustler to CEO, revealing how mentorship, compliance, and purpose-driven startups can transform access to financial tools with Tedd Huff Voalyre CEO on Fintech Confidential. They to expose the blind spots in today’s financial system and why creators are locked out before they even get started.

With firsthand experience on both sides of the table, Victor reveals how he’s building purpose-driven fintech to empower independent artists with access to financial services, real mentorship, and education. This isn’t theory—it’s a blueprint, shaped by hard-earned lessons and grounded in reality.

Together, they unpack:

• Why traditional banking metrics fail creators

• How compliance, when mastered, can build trust—not block progress

• What it takes to design sustainable financial ecosystems from the ground up

• Why mentorship often matters more than a credit score

Whether you’re a startup founder, creative entrepreneur, or fintech builder—this conversation delivers rare, real insight.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Build Systems Before You Scale – Early structure avoids chaos later

2️⃣ Use Compliance To Build Credibility – Master regulation before you need it

3️⃣ Train Your Team Like Operators – Start onboarding with education

4️⃣ Pitch Value, Not Your Backstory – Focus on what you’re solving

5️⃣ Design Products For Real Use – Reflect real workflows, not trends

Links

Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE)

Instagram: www.instagram.com/divine4thletter

Notes

Website: www.notestechnology.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/notestechnology

Facebook: www.facebook.com/notestechnologyinc

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@notestechnology

Instagram: www.instagram.com/notestechnology

Fintech Confidential

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Supporters

Under.io – Streamline your underwriting and application process by digitizing PDFs and enabling secure, fast digital signatures. https://under.io/ftc

Dfns – Launch wallets across 50+ blockchains with API-first, MPC-secured tools trusted by top fintechs and custodians. https://fintechconfidential.com/dnfs

Skyflow – Secure, tokenize, and analyze personal data with a zero-trust privacy vault delivered via API. https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk:AI – Detect fraud in real time with ML transaction monitoring and advanced risk scoring. https://getHawkai.com

About

Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE): Fintech founder and hip hop artist empowering urban music creators with capital access and financial education.

Notes: Fintech platform helping artists build sustainable wealth through education, mentorship, and smarter financial tools.

Tedd Huff: Founder of Voalyre and executive producer of Fintech Confidential, helping fintechs scale with strategy and clear messaging.

DD3 Media: Production company powering high-impact media content globally.

Chapters

00:00 Highlights

01:02 Under.io (Sponsor)

01:46 The Intersection of Hip Hop and Banking

04:29 Falling into Fintech

06:05 The Importance of Financial Literacy

07:47 Creating Financial Platforms for Artists

09:01 The Role of Empathy in Financial Systems

09:55 Streets to Startups

12:29 The Power of Networking and Mentorship

13:24 Dfns (sponsor)

14:46 Challenges in Building FinTech Startups

17:28 Addressing Bias in Financial Systems

22:14 Leveraging Technology for Financial Empowerment

26:09 The Importance of Knowledge and Awareness

27:07 Pursuing Knowledge and Experience

27:37 Challenges of Independent Artists

28:27 Technology’s Role in Success

29:36 Building FinTech with a Criminal Record

30:08 Overcoming Barriers with Partnerships

30:35 Navigating Startup Challenges

32:45 Importance of Relationships in FinTech

34:18 High Compliance and Risk Management

35:56 Growth Challenges in FinTech

36:49 SkyFlow: (Sponsor)

38:41 Managing Multiple Financial Institutions

39:22 Complexity in FinTech Backend

40:01 Problem-Solving in FinTech

41:28 Learning and Adapting in FinTech

42:17 Regulatory Environment and Compliance

42:50 Cannabis and Cryptocurrency Banking Issues

43:36 Thinking Big but Starting Small

44:51 Building Relationships for Success

45:31 Soft Skills and Communication

46:09 Blind Spots in FinTech Startups

47:37 Future of Financial Technology

49:37 Advice for FinTech Founders

50:04 Final Thoughts

50:37 FinTech Isn’t Just About Tech and Finance

51:08 Creators Deserve Better Tools

52:01 Hawk:AI (Sponsor)

52:49 Disclaimer