Laura Spiekerman, Co-Founder of Alloy, shares her journey from microfinance to fintech founder. Alloy helps banks with identity decisioning. They discuss early struggles, closing big customers like Ally Bank, and global expansion. Insights on fintech founder advice and navigating entrepreneurship in turbulent times.
Laura Spiekerman transitioned from law to Fintech, founding Alloy for global identity decisioning solutions.
Alloy's journey showcases challenges in early-stage Fintech, adapting products for market needs and global expansion.
Deep dives
Lars Speakman's Journey in Fintech Infrastructure
Lars Speakerman, co-founder of Alloy, shares her diverse career path from interning at the Brooklyn DA's office to working in Nairobi at a payment startup. She initially considered a career in law but transitioned to Fintech, where Alloy provides global identity decisioning solutions. The challenges faced in building Infrastructural Fintech resonate with the complexities of the industry.
Enabling Fintech Innovation with Global Identity Decisions
Alloy's platform serves over 300 customers, offering solutions for onboarding and transaction monitoring. Through real-time fraud detection and compliance, Alloy assists Fintech and banking customers in navigating the dynamic landscape of digital finance. As industry needs evolve, Alloy adapts to provide crucial infrastructure for growth.
Navigating Challenges in Fintech Growth and Expansion
Alloy's story reflects the trials of early-stage companies in the Fintech sector, facing hurdles like fraud, pivoting strategies to cater to bank and Fintech clients. The transition from consumer Fintech to business solutions, and expanding internationally into Europe and Australia highlight Alloy's adaptive approach in a competitive market.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in Fintech
Lars' insights offer valuable advice for budding entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of customer-centric focus, resilience in facing industry challenges, and leveraging available resources like AWS and AI tools. The narrative underscores the significance of pre-seed and seed funding opportunities amidst market dynamics, urging a relentless pursuit of customer engagement and product validation from inception.
Today’s guest is Laura Speakman, Co-Founder of Alloy. We cover her journey from interning in microfinance to narrowly avoiding becoming a career lawyer to then becoming a fintech founder building crucial infrastructure.
Alloy is a global identity decisioning platform that helps banks and fintechs with onboarding, transaction monitoring and credit decisioning. They have 300+ customers and 300+ employees. Their last round value to them at over a billion dollars.
But, getting there was by no means easy–building infrastructure in FinTech almost never is. We cover both the successes, but also the bumps in the road. Enjoy!
We discuss:
1. Her early career from Brooklyn DA’s office => Microfinance in Nairobi => Payments in the US
2. Why she started Alloy in 2015 and how she met her Co-Founder, Tommy Nichols
3. How they closed their early customers (small fintechs) and eventually their first large customer (Ally Bank!)
4. How their GTM & Product has changed over time
5. Alloy’s global expansion, starting w/ a London office
6. Advice for new fintech founders
If you prefer video, find our interviews on YouTube: