The Fintech Blueprint

Lu Zhang, founder of Fusion Fund, discusses the potential of AI in enterprise applications, focusing on practical and cost-efficient solutions. She emphasizes the importance of reducing energy consumption and addressing sustainability challenges in AI infrastructure. Lu also highlights the growing awareness and adoption of AI in enterprises, encouraging startups to innovate in this space.

CEO Vishal Garg discusses the journey of founding Better Mortgage to streamline the mortgage approval process. He shares insights on scaling the company, going public through a SPAC, and navigating market conditions. Garg emphasizes the focus on efficiency, automation, and sustainable growth for Better Mortgage's future.

Founder and CEO of Origin, Matt Watson, discusses his entrepreneurial journey and the concept behind Origin, focusing on providing private banking for underserved populations. He explains the collapse of Mint and the role of generative AI in financial planning. Watson also addresses challenges in data ownership and accessing consumer financial data in the industry.

Jason Morton, CEO of EZKL, discusses zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) for verifying AI models on blockchain networks. EZKL offers tools for developers and aims to provide a complete solution. The demand for ZK proofs is expected from Web2 and Web3 companies, as well as enterprise clients.

Lex chats with Libor Michalek, the President of Affirm, a buy now, pay later (BNPL) company. Michalek discusses his early experiences with the internet and how it shaped his understanding of technology and its potential in the financial services industry. He explains how Affirm was founded with the goal of building honest financial products that improve people's lives, and how the convergence of e-commerce, mobile technology, machine learning, and access to consumer information enabled the company to create a credit product that aligned with consumer interests. Michalek also discusses the challenges of building a technology-driven finance company, the performance of Affirm's loans compared to credit cards and personal loans, and the company's approach to competition and future growth. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Affirm's Website: https://bit.ly/3Qo2DvILibor's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4bfsQVk Topics: fintech, buy now pay later, BNPL, e-commerce, machine learning, loans, credit,  credit cards, paymentsCompanies: Affirm, Thinking Machines Corporation, PayPal, Amazon ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’00: Internet Pioneers and Business Innovation: Libor Michalek touches on Early Web Experiences 4’56: Digital Transformation and Commerce: Unpacking the Consumer Insights and Technological Advances That Fuelled the E-commerce Explosion 9’18: Beyond Traditional Finance: How Affirm's Founding Insights and Technological Integration Redefined Fintech in the 2010s 13’14: Redefining Credit: Exploring the Consumer Demand for Transparency and Fairness in Financial Products with Affirm 19’04: Integrating Innovation: How Affirm's Unique Approach to E-commerce and Payments Shaped Its Market Strategy 23’47: Machine Learning and Financial Innovation: Launching Affirm's Transaction-Specific Underwriting Models 27’56: Assessing Investment Opportunities: The Risk and Return Profile of Affirm's Customer Loans from an Institutional Perspective 32’11: Empowering Customers: Affirm's Commitment to Transparency and Support in Financial Services 37’42: Leading the Charge: Navigating Competition and Innovation in the Buy Now, Pay Later Market 41’22: Defining Innovation in FinTech: Distinguishing Between Technology-Driven and Finance-First Companies 43’29: The channels used to connect with Libor & learn more about Affirm Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Sarah Levy, CEO of Betterment - the largest independent digital investment advisor. Levy kicks off the conversation by discussing her career journey from working in the media industry to leading a fintech company. Levy explains that she was attracted to Betterment's mission of making people's lives better and saw the potential for growth and scale in the company. She also highlights the importance of brand building and understanding the customer in creating a successful business. Levy discusses Betterment's core products, including its retail robo-advisory service and its 401(k) offering for small and medium-sized businesses. She explains that Betterment aims to be a holistic investing home for its customers, focusing on expanding access and offering more account types and asset classes. Levy also discusses the potential for Betterment to offer self-directed investing options in the future. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Betterment's Website: https://bit.ly/3Uq5gPKSarah's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4d5aGqJ Topics: Fintech, embedded finance, banking, investment, RIA, Tax, roboadvisor, advisory, branding, 401kCompanies: Betterment, Nickelodeon, Disney, Viacom, Schwab, Fidelity ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’10: From Nickelodeon to Betterment: Tracing Sarah Levy's Journey Through Media and FinTech 7’22: Brand Personification and Audience Engagement: Exploring Digital Transformation with a lens on the consumer 13’33: Mission and Brand Resonance: Transitioning Leadership at Betterment 16’50: Initial Impressions and Strategic Directions: Enhancing Betterment's Brand and Services 21’41: Refining FinTech: How Betterment Evolved to Meet the Needs of Modern Investors 24’58: Building Betterment's 401k Business: Strategic Growth and Market Opportunities 34’45: Revamping RIA Economics: Betterment's Innovative Approach to Advisor Services 39’41: Beyond the Super App: Betterment's Strategic Approach to FinTech Diversification 44’12: Focused Growth: Betterment's Strategic Decision to Prioritize Long-Term Investing Over Self-Directed Trading 47’09: The channels used to connect with Sarah & learn more about Betterment Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Anthony Cimino, the head of policy at Carta - an equity management company that builds the infrastructure for innovators, supporting approximately 35,000 companies, over 2.2 million stakeholders, and more than 5,000 funds. Cimino discusses his background in government and policy in the financial services industry and how he got involved in finance and policy. He explains the role of policy in the fintech industry and the importance of engagement with policymakers. Cimino also talks about Carta's core business of cap table management and valuation services, as well as their fund administration business. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the private markets industry, including the barriers to entry for investors and the need for more access and standardization. Cimino also mentions Carta's focus on supporting founders and their plans to expand globally. He emphasizes the role of policy in unlocking capital and creating access to private markets. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Carta's Website: https://bit.ly/3U92K0wAnthony's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3J6u5db Topics: fintech, regulation, policy, private markets, fund administrationCompanies: Carta, SEC,  Committee on Financial Services ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23: From Capitol Hill to Financial Crisis Management: Tracing Anthony's Journey through Finance and Policy 6’24: Building Trust in Turbulent Times: The Crucial Link Between Public Engagement and Policy Formation 10’50: Shaping the Future of Finance: The Essential Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Policy and Regulation 14’50: Digitizing Equity: Carta's Impact on Private Markets and the Future of Financial Infrastructure 20’07: Unlocking Private Markets: Navigating Complexity and Challenging Paternalistic Regulations 24’17: Expanding Economic Opportunity: The Imperative of Broadening Access to Private Markets 27’27: Beyond Data: Carta's Vision for Empowering Founders and Investors in the Private Market Ecosystem 31’50: Tailoring Growth: How Carta Supports Founders from Startup to Public Transition 34’39: Navigating the Terrain: The Dynamics of Private Fund Administration in Changing Economic Climates 38’56: Charting the Future: Carta's Vision for Empowering Founders, Revolutionizing Fund Administration, and Expanding Global Footprints 40’57: The channels used to connect with Anthony & learn more about Carta Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Nvidia's Global Head of Financial Services discusses AI, machine learning, and GPU computing in finance. Topics include fraud detection, sentiment analysis, generative AI, and collaboration for successful AI deployment. Open-source models and federated learning are highlighted for the future of AI in financial services.

Nelson Chu discusses building a private credit marketplace, challenges in fintech, alternative investment options, importance of infrastructure and technology, impact of macroeconomic factors, different types of investors and borrowers, AI in the industry, and the role of data in financial services.

Quantstamp CEO Richard Ma discusses the importance of security in blockchain, audits of blockchain projects, different adversaries in the space, the role of AI in security auditing, and exciting sectors to watch in the future like EigenLayer, ZK-rollups, and development on Solana.