The Fintech Blueprint

Till Wendler, founder of Peaq Network and a pioneer in blockchain, shares his entrepreneurial journey from e-commerce payments to decentralizing machine leasing. He delves into the transformative concept of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) and their role in the Economy of Things. Wendler reveals how Peaq successfully onboarded over 800,000 devices while tackling challenges in data-driven projects. He emphasizes the importance of real-time data exchanges and innovative use cases, such as using blockchain to mitigate noise pollution.

In this discussion, Luke Voiles, the CEO of Pipe, shares his journey from distressed credit investing to leading a modern capital platform. He elaborates on revenue-based financing, clarifying its benefits over traditional methods. Luke recalls his impactful experiences at Intuit and Square, revealing insights on organizational change and leadership. He emphasizes the significance of embedded finance in supporting small businesses and critiques common scaling missteps in the FinTech landscape. His focus on providing access to credit is both refreshing and vital for entrepreneurs.

Lex chats with  Danielle Sesko about insurance and innovation in the fintech sector. They discuss the purpose of insurance and why it exists, the structure of insurance companies, the challenges of insurance innovation, and the integration of insurance into digital lending platforms. Sesko explains that insurance is necessary because most people cannot sustain a total loss of their assets, such as their homes or businesses. She also discusses the regulatory structure of insurance in the US, which is regulated on a state-by-state basis. Sesko describes the product she is working on at TruStage, which provides insurance coverage for loans in the digital lending space. The insurance is designed to protect both the borrower and the lender in case of unexpected events, such as job loss or disability. Sesko explains the technology integrations between insurance and digital lending platforms and the economics of the product. She also discusses the challenges and opportunities in the insurtech industry. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION TruStage's Website: https://bit.ly/3WibyC1Danielle's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3XUZNmp Topics: InsurTech, Insurance, Digital Lending, Lending, embedded finance, embedded insurance, API, fintech Tags: TruStage, Payment Guard, Lending Club, FDIC 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 1’27: From Financial Consulting to Insurance Innovation: Danielle Sesko’s Journey in Financial Services 4’58: The Role and Necessity of Insurance: Insights on Financial Resiliency and Industry Structure 9’52: Innovation in Insurance: Creating Relevant Products and Navigating Regulations 13’39: Navigating US Insurance Regulations: Engaging State Regulators and Structuring Underwriting for New Products 17’59: Adapting to FinTech: How Established Underwriters Leverage Experience for Digital Lending Innovation 20’48: Assessing the Rise of Digital Lending: Timing, Consumer Preferences, and Regulatory Challenges in FinTech and InsurTech 27’39: Bridging the Gap in Digital Lending: Ideal Customers for PaymentGuard and Their Unique Needs 31’21: Defining Digital Lending Coverage: Target Workflows and Payment Flows for Embedded Insurance Solutions 34’36: Understanding PaymentGuard's Economics: Coverage Duration, Cost Structure, and Value for Digital Lenders 37’42: Integrating InsurTech and Digital Lending: The Technology and Processes Behind Embedding Insurance Solutions 40’11: The channels used to connect with Danielle & learn more about TruStage 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.

Anthony Moro, CEO of Provenance Foundation, discusses how Provenance blockchain offers a more efficient and secure alternative for securities ownership. He highlights the technology stack built on the Cosmos network and emphasizes the future vision of tokenizing trillions of dollars of financial assets.

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.