Humans of Fintech

When fintech is used right, it can bring outsiders in from the cold. Meet Shruti Joshi, bringing humanity to financial planning.Welcome to season 2 of Humans of Fintech, where Nicole Casperson digs deeper into the humans behind the headlines.Kicking off episode 1, Nicole and Shruti discuss the importance of empowering people with financial knowledge, how money (wrongly) defines identity, and Shruti’s own feelings of feeling like an outsider. Shruti shares how Facet Wealth is turning traditional financial planning on its head, putting human wellness at the center.You’ll also hear why she jumped into Facet Wealth as an early investor, how she drives rapid growth in everything she touches, and how to change the narrative around wealth-building models into something affordable, fun and with accessibility at the heart.And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to find thousands of dollars worth of R&D Tax Credits. You only need to plug MainStreet into your payroll and let their team of experts do the heavy lifting, scanning hundreds of federal, state and local tax credits on your behalf. It’s going to save you so much time and your company so much money.Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.Follow Shruti:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shruti-joshi-282369aYou can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

For someone who never felt ready to become a founder, Flori Marquez has nailed that niche. Bringing crypto investing into the real world, find out BlockFi is redefining banking.When traditional marketing around crypto investing is aimed at one demographic, it’s tough to bring equity into that space. But Flori and Co-Founder Zac Prince are changing the mood by providing credit services to markets with limited access to simple financial products.Nicole and Flori get into what it’s like to stand out as a woman in the fintech space, how being a generalist was the best preparation for becoming a founder, and why successful career paths are rarely linear.You’ll hear Flori’s thoughts on how to scale your business without sacrificing culture, why you should stick close to the leaders who inspire you, and why the language we use around crypto and fintech matters, a lot.And if you’re looking for the next investment, why not explore alternative assets? Our episode sponsor Yieldstreet helps you create wealth beyond the stock market. Build a diversified portfolio with a minimum investment commitment of $500. Visit Yieldstreet.com for more information.Follow FloriLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/founderfloriYou can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.In this episode we’ll be covering: - Mastercard filing trademarks for Metaverse commerce- Neobank Winden’s recent fund raise- Apple launching its “break out” project Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

How did you find your way into Fintech? I bet it wasn’t a conventional path. Every single leader I interviewed last season fell into this industry because, one way or another, they didn’t fit traditional finance or tech norms. Every one had a unique story.    I’m Nicole Casperson, and on this season of Humans of Fintech we’re bringing you stories of diverse leaders who were once outsiders, and how they since found belonging in our industry.If you’ve ever felt on the outside of fintech, you’re no t alone. I want you to hear the human side of fintech: the no-holds-barred truth of what it’s like to find belonging in a space when you don’t feel like you fit in.The leaders I speak to took the path less traveled, and they embody what fintech is supposed to be: An alternative version of finance, powered by a new model that gives equal access to everyone.You’ll hear from leaders at companies like Nasdaq, Facet Wealth, and eToro on how they broke down barriers, learn about the people who helped them find belonging, and break down the step  s they took to go from outsider to insider.If you’ve ever felt isolated, or that your perspe ctive just hasn’t been heard before, Humans of Fintech is here to change that. The journey starts on Wednesday May 4th, with new episodes every Wednesday after that. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Twitter for investors? Stocktwits is what happens when content meets fintech, helping investors navigate the constant stream of information with its incredible community platform. Back in 2021 more than 10 million retail investors took to the stock market on the back of the Gamestop stock frenzy. But not all of them had the experience and confidence to cut through all the noise and make great choices.And that’s when Stocktwits comes in. Built like a social media platform, it allows investors to interact with financial media, investment/trading services, and the kinds of tools that genuinely add value.Nicole talks to Rishi about building a 5-million strong community and the truth about entrepreneurship in the fintech space.You’ll also hear how, in the ever evolving fintech landscape, creating content is a huge responsibility, and which Tupac song can help users on their investing journey.Follow Rishi:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rishikhannaTwitter: twitter.com/rkhannaYou can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.In this episode we’ll be covering: - Apple’s expansion into Crypto- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau taking on late fees- Real Estate Investment Trusts popularity growthBrought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

With the right data at your fingertips, you can change the world. Without it, you’ll fail. When you’re launching a startup, having the right data is the deciding factor. FinTech Sandbox gives founders free access to the data they need, leading to sustainable and inclusive financial systems.Nicole gets into conversation with Kelly Fryer, Executive Director of the Sandbox and talks through her role leading the organization’s strategy, operations and community. Kelly discusses her experience as Director of the Techstars’ FinTech accelerator program, partnering with major financial services companies, and cultivating Fintech startups.You’ll also hear how her passion for films led her to the Fintech space, how data access leads to more equitable fintech, and what the “fintech ripple effect” is.Let’s dive in.Follow Kelly:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kfryerYou can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

When your mission becomes your work, businesses like Facet Wealth are born. Anders Jones is democratizing wealth management, one subscription at a time.Facet Wealth embodies everything fintech should be. This platform provides highly personalized and unbiased financial advice at an affordable subscription price. In a world where financial planning often comes with a hefty price tag, Anders Jones is leveling the playing field.Nicole and Anders talk about how his mother’s job “helping millions of Americans save for retirement” was a huge influence on his career, why the client/advisor relationship is broken, and Anders’ background as an early stage tech investor.You’ll also hear how fintech is changing the way financial planning is perceived, and the future growth of Facet Wealth after its $100M raise.And as founders know, when you’re laser-focused on growing your business it’s great to have the advice of a company like YieldStreet. Helping you make alternative investments in assets like art and real estate, usually only reserved for the very wealthy, building your portfolio and generating long-term wealth. Get started today.Follow Anders:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anders-jonesYou can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Home ownership has the power to make or break financial health. Meet Nora, a fintech trailblazer and founder at the forefront of the mortgage revolution.Mortgages account for two-thirds of household debt. Owning your own home can go one of two ways: It can set you up for life or start a steep decline into financial problems that quickly spiral. That’s where Nora and Morty come in. When you’re looking to take on the biggest debt of your life, you need to do it the smart way. Morty helps buyers find exactly what they need, all online and with the greatest amount of choice.Nicole and Nora talk about her background as an engineer, crunch the numbers around women in IT and engineering, and discuss why applying fintech to financial services is a catalyst for positive change.You’ll hear Nora’s thoughts on why mortgages and homebuying have fallen behind other financial services like credit cards, why the complexities of homebuying hold up innovation, and how she has grown more comfortable in her role as a first time CEO and founder.All fintech founders accept that with growth comes risk, but Sift offers end-to-end protection against fraud risks that can slow your business down. You can find out more here: www.sift.comFollow Nora:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/noraapselYou can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

When Adriana Saman invests, she’s looking for more than just market size. Find out how this VC big hitter is shaping financial inclusion in her day-to-day.Just 1% of the $70 trillion wealth management industry is controlled by women or minority fund managers. The impact? Female and underrepresented founders receive far less investment.But one woman making waves in the venture capital space is Adriana, with a resume that includes positions at Chase’s Digital Payments team and time spent as an Investment Banking Analysist at J.P. Morgan.Nicole and Adriana discuss how Clocktower is investing in fintech companies from pre-seed to series B, in Europe and Latin America, including Alloy, Chime and MoneyLion. Adriana shares how her past experience as an international student from Ecuador has shaped the way she approaches VC, and the power of female leadership in this space.You’ll also learn why Clocktower prioritizes funding founders with a passion and focus on financial inclusion, and not just market size potential. And like many founders, focused on growth it’s vital to stay ahead of fraud risks that can slow your fintech business. That’s where Sift steps in. With end-to-end protection and forensic approach to security, you can find out more here: www.sift.comFollow Adriana:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adriana-saman-302ab95aTwitter: twitter.com/adrisamanYou can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider