Not Fintech Investment Advice: Kontigo, Givefront, Beycome, & Cash App

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Jan 14, 2026

Explore groundbreaking fintech startups in this engaging discussion! Discover Kontigo, a blockchain-native bank with a wild ride of deplatforming and hacks. Unpack Givefront's unique spend management solutions tailored for nonprofits, diving into governing complexities. Beycome promises a smooth AI-driven home buying experience, reinventing real estate fees. Finally, learn about Cash App's invigorating new features and their rapid execution strategies, demonstrating how speed is key in fintech.

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INSIGHT

Stablecoin Neobanks Are High-Risk Rapid Plays

Contigo's rapid rise-and-fall exposed risks in stablecoin-native neobanks operating 'global by default.'
Regulatory, deplatforming, and hack risks can quickly amplify when founders ignore AML and sanctions realities.

ANECDOTE

Founder Funds Stolen In Contigo Hack

Contigo detected unauthorized access and promised to reimburse affected users after a hack.
The breach affected customer and founder funds, compounding earlier platform controversies.

INSIGHT

Global Reach Hides Risky Growth

Stablecoins enable cross-border growth but also tempt founders to serve risky jurisdictions.
That 'global by default' property can mask illegitimate growth and invite partner de-risking.

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Welcome back to Not Fintech Investment Advice, where Simon Taylor and I do what we do best: talk about fintech startups we’re absolutely not giving investment advice on.

First up is stablecoin banking startup Kontigo, whose founder declared: “Kontigo is not a bank. Banking services are provided by the freaking blockchain.” We unpack the very fast arc that followed: getting deplatformed through its partner stack, the Venezuela and sanctions questions that can come with being “global by default,” and then the hack (Kontigo promised to reimburse affected users).

Next up is Givefront, corporate card and spend management software built for nonprofits. We get specific about what “built for nonprofits” means in practice: IRS 990 reporting, grant restrictions, donor policies, and the go-to-market riddle of reaching over 1.5 million organizations that rarely rip and replace systems.

Then there’s Beycome, which promises an AI-assisted home buying journey. They charge sellers a flat fee to list their home and close (including a $399 package, marketed as saving sellers an average of $13,185 in fees). We talk about why real estate fees are such a durable profit pool, and why distribution’s the hardest part of this business.

Finally, we close with Cash App. Okay, not quite a startup at the same level, but there’s been a real vibe shift – as evidenced by a slew of new feature releases and capabilities inside Cash App (which we run through!).

Plus,closing manifestations (manifesting some good outcomes for Cash App, and more episodes of Not Fintech Investment Advice for 2026).

This episode is brought to you by Plaid.

Plaid helps lenders approve more creditworthy borrowers without taking on more risk, combining real-time cash flow data with behavioral insights. It’s a fast, familiar experience people trust, and that actually converts. Learn more at www.plaid.com/ftt

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And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page.

Follow Simon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sytaylor/

Substack: https://sytaylor.substack.com

Follow Alex:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

Companies featured:

https://www.kontigo.com/en

https://www.givefront.com/

https://www.beycome.com/

https://cash.app/