Cambrian Fintech with Rex Salisbury

In this episode, I sit down with Avlok Kohli, CEO of AngelList, at their San Francisco headquarters. Avlok shares how AngelList responded to the 2022 market crash, shifting from a heavy reliance on SPVs to diversifying their product offerings, including rolling funds and venture fund management tools. He discusses the strategic decisions that led to AngelList's current success, insights on launching new products in competitive markets, and the evolution of AngelList into a comprehensive financial platform. Avlok also reflects on his journey from founder to CEO, providing an insider's view on the future of venture capital and the startup ecosystem.

In this podcast, James Dyett from OpenAI talks about AI revolutionizing finance. Learn how Morgan Stanley and Klarna use AI in wealth management and customer service. Explore AI's impact on Oscar Health and Nubank. Discover the future of AI in enhancing operations and the challenges of AI adoption in the finance industry.

In this episode, I sit down with Renaud Laplanche, founder and CEO of Upgrade. Renaud talks about his move from Lending Club to starting Upgrade, focusing on innovation in consumer fintech. He shares insights on the unique features of the Upgrade Card, the strategic partnerships with credit unions, and the future of consumer finance. We dive into his strategies for building successful fintech companies and what sets Upgrade apart in the industry.

Experienced investor Keith Rabois discusses seed investing, evaluating founders, and his courageous bets. He explores the importance of venture capital fund size, strategies for successful seed investing, and the significance of 'barrels' in driving company initiatives. Additionally, he touches on Twitter as a platform for debate, real estate agent commissions, and optimizing health and performance through sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

Find out why Itai Damti (the founder and CEO of Unit) hates the word BAAS. We take a deep dive into his mindset and what got him to where he is today.

Join us for a captivating chat with Zach, Plaid's visionary founder and CEO. Plaid stands at the forefront of fintech innovation, linking financial institutions with apps to revolutionize banking and finance. From its early days in San Francisco to becoming a key player in fintech, Plaid's journey reflects the sector's rapid evolution.Zach guides us through Plaid's milestones—from filling a vital niche, scaling its impact, to navigating the fintech landscape's ups and downs, including the COVID-19 pandemic and banking crises. These moments highlight Plaid's crucial role in stabilizing the fintech ecosystem.Diving into the heart of fintech innovation, Zach discusses the challenges and achievements of building Plaid, a platform essential to fintech's fabric, and shares insights on the future of finance.This conversation sheds light on the innovation and determination driving fintech forward. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in technology's role in reshaping financial services.___Connect with Rex on social media:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexsalisbury/Twitter: https://twitter.com/rexsalisburyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rex.salisburyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rexsalisbury/

The podcast delves into Pete Flint's journey from co-founding Trulia to his role at NFX, exploring his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach. It discusses the challenges faced during the dot com era, the establishment of Trulia's company culture, and the strategic evolution during the recession. The negotiation process for a merger proposal from Zillow's CEO, determining the right time to sell a successful company, and exploring innovative AI solutions in personal injury settlements are also highlighted.

Propel, founded by Jimmy Chen, aims to improve America's safety net by making government benefits more accessible. They started with SNAPs, now offer a full money app. Propel serves over 5 million people in all 50 states. The podcast explores the challenges faced by low-income individuals and the company's evolution into a mobile banking and benefits info provider. It also discusses the impact of the platform's cash transfer program and partnerships with nonprofits.

Fintech pioneer Shamir Karkal, founder and CEO of Simple, talks about building the neobank model and pioneering banking as a service. He shares challenges in scaling, funding, and improving user engagement. Karkal discusses the birth of Sila, their aim to simplify financial application development, and the slow transformation of the financial services industry. The chapter also explores the future of fintech, the availability of capital, and the importance of timing for entrepreneurs.

Immad Akhund, Founder of Mercury, discusses the journey of building a business bank for startups, including the challenges and rewards. They talk about the recent failure of SVB, their primary competitor, which accelerated their business. The podcast covers topics such as integrating features like wire transfers and supporting immigrants, finding banking partners, launching a credit card program, building a vault, and targeting the middle class with innovative approaches.