Equity

Sheel Mohnot says the fintech market is ‘hot again’

Feb 12, 2025

Sheel Mohnot, a fintech investor and founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures, discusses the revitalization of the fintech market, highlighting a surge in funding and potential IPOs from major players like Chime and Klarna. He emphasizes the transformative role of AI in sectors like accounting, while also sharing amusing anecdotes about his journey, including a memorable Taco Bell wedding experience. With over 100 investments under his belt, Mohnot shares insights into the future of startup exits and innovative opportunities in fintech.

29:50

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Sheel Mohnot

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Sheel Mohnot believes the fintech market is rebounding strongly, with increased funding and potential IPOs on the horizon.

He emphasizes the crucial role of AI in fintech, particularly in areas like accounting, to address workforce shortages and enhance efficiency.

Deep dives

Investor Background and Strategy

The guest, Shil Manat, shares his journey as an investor following his entrepreneurial success with Fee Fighters, which he sold to Groupon. After transitioning into investing, he founded Better Tomorrow Ventures in late 2019 and has since invested in over 100 deals, primarily in fintech but also encompassing an expansive view of what fintech includes, such as vertical SaaS and B2B marketplaces. He highlights the importance of innovation in accounting and financial services, identifying the need for tech-driven solutions in response to a shrinking workforce of accountants. Better Tomorrow Ventures also operates an accelerator called The Mint, aimed at supporting early-stage fintech companies through programming and resources, with the goal of fostering innovative approaches within the industry.

Intro

2min

From Startups to Social Media Stardom

6min

A Taco Bell Wedding Adventure

2min

Unexpected Connections: From Taco Bell to Justin Bieber and Beyond

4min

Fintech Exits and the Innovation Landscape in Puerto Rico

2min

Revitalizing Fintech: Opportunities and Challenges

13min

“The fintech market is hot again,” said Sheel Mohnot, fintech investor and founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV). “And we are going to see some more exits in the near future.”

According to recent reports, fintech funding is on the rise, with global investment hitting $60 billion in the first half of the year alone, marking a significant rebound from the previous year’s dip.

Mohnot – whose X account you’ve likely come across if you follow fintech – has invested in over 100 deals throughout the years, primarily in fintech, and co-founded the accelerator program The Mint. On today’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Mary Ann Azevedo is catching up with Mohnot to discuss why he thinks fintech is “poised to have a lot of outcomes in the near future,” the potential of AI in fintech, particularly in accounting and underwriting, and highlights the impact of DeepSeek on the AI landscape.

Listen to the full episode to hear more about:

Mohnot’s journey from founder to investor after co-founding companies like FeeFighters, which sold to Groupon in 2012.
Who’s getting it right in 2025? Mohnot highlights players in the accounting automation space such as Basis, Layer, and InScope
The optimistic outlook for fintech, with potential IPOs from companies like Chime, Klarna, and Stripe.
How Sheel built his impressive online following, and what a Taco Bell metaverse wedding and Justin Bieber have to do with it.

Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here.

Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time.

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Equity

Sheel Mohnot says the fintech market is ‘hot again’

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Investor Background and Strategy

Impact of Social Media on Investments

The Future of Fintech and AI Integration

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts