This Week in Fintech's Podcast

Join Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal, as he shares insights from his journey in tech leadership after two decades at Intuit. He discusses the 'customer back' approach that drives PayPal's evolution and strategic priorities. Alex dives into the concept of agentic commerce, highlighting trends in merchant data and AI innovations that revolutionize customer experiences. He also introduces PayPal's new stablecoin, PYUSD, and how creative marketing campaigns are revitalizing the brand. Expect a riveting blend of tech disruption and visionary leadership.

Welcome back to this week in FinTech and another episode of the FinTech OGs. This week I'm joined by two guests whose careers have helped shape. The evolution of modern wealth management. We have Charles Birnbaum partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, and Cynthia Loh, who is a senior vice president at Capital One.Charles and Cynthia first crossed paths in the early days of Betterment. This is back when robo-advisors were just starting to redefine how everyday consumers invest and have spent, over a decade building in, investing in and advising some of the most influential FinTech companies out there. It's a great conversation and I'm excited for you to dive in!I also want to take a moment to send out a special thanks to our sponsors this week. 100% of what we got in ads for this episode is going towards Texas Flood Relief. Those of you that know me know that I am based in Austin, Texas, and while thankfully my daughter is too young to go to a sleep away camp, it hits close to home with friends having kids that go to camps that were hit along the river. The two guests this week, Charles and Cynthia, also both have kids, and it's just unimaginable what these parents are going through. I ask all of you to keep these families in your prayers. With that, I'll also tell you a little bit more about our sponsors. I have a feeling you guys are very familiar with all of them but just in case you're not. First up is Lithic, who is a modern payments infrastructure provider that enables technically ambitious teams to build better payments products. Lithic's cutting edge technologies cover issuing and processing, end-to-end fraud prevention, dispute management, and cardholder support implemented as either fully managed offerings or self-service tools.Learn more at lithic.com.Next up we have Rho, which is the all-in-one banking platform for startups and the accountants who support them. Thousands of startups switching to Rho because they don't have time to wait days to open an account or the patience for email support queues when they just need real help.Rho is building a new standard for business banking. With Rho, you get fast banking setup, up to 2% cash back on cards and yield on idle cash. Everything you need all in one platform from day one. Every client gets real dedicated support from a team that goes to the end of the earth to help you win. Head to rho.co/startups to learn more. That's rho.co/startups. Rho is a FinTech company, not a bank or an FDIC. Insured depository institution checking account and card services are provided by Webster Bank NA member FDIC. See rewards terms for complete cash back details.Last but not least, we have Spade. It’s 2025 and fintechs can spin up cards in minutes and move money in real time. But we still can’t decipher the transactions on a bank statement. Most still show up as a jumble of letters and numbers — no clear name, no location. Just noise and guesswork. That’s why so many fintechs and banks are turning to Spade. Spade’s API maps messy transaction strings to verified businesses — returning real merchant names, categories, and store locations in real time. So if you want reliable transaction data across cards, ACH, and more, head to spade.com. 

Firdaus Bhathena, CTO of FIS, shares his journey from healthcare to fintech innovation. He discusses managing innovation at a colossal scale, emphasizing the balance between hiring industry veterans and fresh talent. The concept of 'The Harmony Gap' takes center stage, exploring AI's role in addressing financial operational challenges. Firdaus also tackles the legacy COBOL problem, demonstrating how generative AI can aid in modernization. His insights into prioritizing impactful ideas and staying adaptable provide a fascinating glimpse into the future of fintech.

You know you’ve found true fintech OGs when your guests were almost roommates before “fintech” was even a buzzword. That’s exactly the case with today’s guests, Sheel Mohnot and Amit Kumar—two longtime friends and collaborators who’ve not only seen the fintech industry evolve over the last decade-plus, but have helped shape it.In this episode, we dig into their early startup days—FeeFighters, CardSpring, and Twitter M&A tales—plus what it was like building before infrastructure existed, the bets they wish they’d made sooner, and why they believe fintech is still one of the most promising sectors to build in today.We also get into:What Apple Pay did accomplish—and what it still hasn’t replacedWhy a modern global Venmo still doesn’t existWhat Sheel looks for in the next 10 years of fintech innovationAnd why Amit advises CS students to do their “master’s degree at Stripe”Whether you’re a founder, investor, or just love hearing two friends go deep on the evolution of a category they’ve helped pioneer, this episode is packed with insights and reflections. 

Join David Marcus, CEO of Lightspark and former head of Libra at Facebook, alongside Dan Kimerling, founding partner at Deciens Capital, as they dive into the ever-evolving world of fintech. They discuss the rise and regulatory challenges of stablecoins, envisioning Bitcoin as the future's foundational currency. The conversation also touches on the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, the significance of support systems, and the ever-growing role of AI in shaping the industry. Perfect for anyone intrigued by the future of finance!

Junta Nakai, Global VP at Databricks, dives into how technology is reshaping global finance. He shares insights on the transformative power of AI and cloud services for major financial institutions, emphasizing Databricks' vital role in managing complex data. Junta discusses his journey from Wall Street to tech, highlighting the importance of adaptability and soft skills in an evolving workforce. He predicts a thriving decade for banks and an even more rewarding experience for bank customers, illustrating the shift toward data-driven personalization in finance.

Alex Hagerup is the CEO and co-founder of Vic.ai, focusing on AI innovations in accounting, while Chris Sluty co-founded FloQast to transform compliance reporting in finance. They discuss how AI is reshaping accounting, tackling challenges like ERP integration and the evolving role of the CFO. The duo highlights the need for tailored tech solutions, the importance of real-time data, and the cultural shift toward AI in finance. They also share personal anecdotes and insights on lesser-known AI innovations that could revolutionize the fintech landscape.

Christina Cacioppo, Co-Founder & CEO of Vanta, shares her inspiring journey from tech enthusiasm to leading a compliance-focused startup that skyrocketed to $100M ARR. She dives into how Vanta helps companies streamline compliance while also enhancing security and revenue growth. Christina emphasizes the importance of rapid shipping in tech, the friendly collaboration with auditors, and the unique company culture symbolized by a llama. Along the way, she offers advice for founders navigating hypergrowth and discusses the impact of AI on their operations.

Sumant Shringari, CEO of Pontus, and Sandeep Sood, CEO of Kunai, share their expertise on automating back-office operations for large enterprises. They discuss the complexities banks face in automating regulated workflows and breaking down data silos. Hear how Pontus offers solutions like Automated Account Reconciliation and Predictive Budget Forecasting, aimed at reducing reliance on large teams. The conversation highlights the productivity paradox and advocates for pragmatic, agile approaches to automation that focus on real-world problems, enhancing efficiency and driving business value.

Join Will Lawrence, CEO of Greenlite, who specializes in AI for financial crime compliance, and Kurt Ruppel, CTO of Middesk, rethinking business customer identification. They discuss the evolution from manual checks to AI-driven solutions in fintech. The pair dives into the critical differences between KYB and KYC and the need for ongoing business monitoring. They also explore how AI is transforming compliance, navigating regulatory challenges, and uncovering new opportunities for innovation in fraud prevention.