Wharton FinTech Podcast

In today’s episode, Jackson Ellis hosts Shensi Ding, the co-founder of Merge, a unified API platform that simplifies B2B integrations across categories like HR, accounting, and CRM. Shensi shares her journey, the playbook behind scaling a developer-first GTM motion, and how the best founders balance product intensity with storytelling. Tune in to hear about: - How Merge built a category-defining product by focusing on the "plumbing" behind software - Why developer empathy and real documentation became their biggest competitive moat - The challenges and wins of fundraising while scaling in a crowded API ecosystem

Catherine Porter, Chief Business Officer at Prove, a leader in digital identity verification, shares her innovative journey from Silicon Valley. She discusses how AI is revolutionizing fraud prevention and the evolving concept of portable identity. Catherine emphasizes the critical balance between user experience and security, advocating for simpler, trust-building solutions. Her insights on adapting to tech trends and overcoming skepticism towards authentication methods provide a roadmap for navigating the fintech landscape.

Melissa Wasser, Partner and Head of the Fintech Capital Network at Andreessen Horowitz, shares her impressive career journey from Goldman Sachs to venture capital. She discusses how the Fintech Capital Network empowers founders in fundraising and strategic partnerships. The conversation dives into the trade-offs between equity and debt financing, revealing smarter capital strategies for fintech startups. Melissa emphasizes the importance of a curated network for business growth and the emotional challenges of securing funding in today’s competitive market.

In today’s episode, Zoey Tang speaks with Marc Andrusko, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), where he focuses on fintech and B2B software investments. Marc’s current investment interests span capital markets, AI applications, payments infrastructure, and companies operating at the intersection of fintech and other sectors. Marc shares how his journey—from working in interest rate sales and trading at Goldman Sachs to leading personal financial management at Plaid—influenced his perspective on fintech and broader B2B applications. In addition to his work at a16z, Marc is known for hosting what some may call "the Met Ball of finance"—a gathering that bridges executives and startups within New York City’s vibrant financial services ecosystem. Tune in to hear about: -Marc’s path from Goldman Sachs to Plaid and eventually a16z -Opportunities in Capital Markets -AI and Finance -AI x Accounting (read more about Marc's latest perspectives here: https://a16z.com/generative-ai-in-accounting/) For more FinTech insights, follow us on: Medium: medium.com/wharton-fintech Twitter: twitter.com/whartonfintech Instagram: instagram.com/whartonfintech

In this episode, Ezra Kebrab, Founder and CEO of Caliza, shares his journey from Visa to revolutionizing cross-border payments with stablecoins. He discusses how Caliza addresses payment inefficiencies in Brazil and its expansion to Mexico and Asia. Ezra highlights the advantages of stablecoins over traditional systems like SWIFT and their potential for economic opportunities in Latin America. Additionally, he reflects on fundraising efforts and the importance of maintaining personal convictions as a founder while navigating diverse advice.

In this episode of the Wharton Fintech Podcast, Sabrina Fathi sits down with Tom DeBow, CTO of Schonfeld Strategic Advisors, to explore how AI and advanced technology are reshaping modern hedge funds. Tom shares insights from his journey through top-tier firms like SAC Capital and Alphadyne, and dives into Schonfeld’s pragmatic yet forward-thinking approach to AI adoption. From developing the firm’s in-house AI tool to enhancing talent workflows and unifying data systems, Tom discusses how AI is driving smarter, faster decision-making across the organization without replacing the human edge.

In today’s episode, Kimberly Zhang sits down with David Fortunato, CEO of Wealthfront, for an in-depth conversation on how technology is transforming wealth management, and what it takes to build a truly digital-first financial advisor. David shares his journey from early software engineer to CEO, reflecting on how an engineering mindset helped shape Wealthfront’s product-led culture and commitment to automation. Tune in to hear about: • How Wealthfront is navigating the shifting landscape of wealth management • The company’s approach to making institutional-grade financial strategies accessible through innovative products • David’s thoughts on the future of WealthTech and leading a company that’s reshaping how a generation grows their money

In this episode of the Wharton Fintech Podcast, host Sabrina Fathi sits down with Marshall Hayner, Co-Founder and CEO of Metallicus. A true pioneer in the blockchain space, Marshall shares his journey from the early days of Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Stellar to building a compliance-first digital asset infrastructure that bridges blockchain and traditional finance. Marshall reflects on how his background in cryptography, early product innovation, and respect for the banking system led him to reimagine how blockchain can serve as secure, regulated infrastructure. He also unpacks why compliance isn’t a roadblock to innovation — but rather the unlock that will shape the future of digital finance.

In today’s episode, Kimberly Zhang sits down with David Blumberg, Founder and Managing Partner of Blumberg Capital. David shares his journey from his early days in venture capital to building a leading early-stage investment firm, with a deep dive into his rules of thumb in identifying and supporting groundbreaking technologies from inception through exit. Tune in to hear about: - The impacts of technological evolution on early-stage venture investing - The expectations for funds to provide value beyond capital and to foster strong ecosystems to drive success - David’s long-term vision for Blumberg Capital and how to stay ahead of the curve in identifying and nurturing the next wave of innovation

In today's episode, Ben Newman sits down with Sam Gaynor, managing director at Altamont Capital Partners, for an insightful conversation on investing across the insurance landscape. Sam shares his path to private equity, how Altamont navigates the complexity of investing in insurance businesses, and his perspective on when it makes sense to build vs. buy a company. Tune in to hear about: - Why private equity has traditionally shied away from insurance—and why Altamont is leaning in - Altamont’s investment in Accelerant, a risk exchange transforming the specialty insurance value chain through advanced data ingestion, transparency, and analytics - Altamont’s approach to de novo financial services investments