The Fintech Blueprint

Lex chats with Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner, CMO at MoneyLion - a mobile banking and financial membership platform that integrates spending, saving, borrowing, and investing tools to empower consumers towards better financial wellness. Kincking off the conversation, Cynthia delves into the intricacies of charting a career in the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation, sharing her transition from brand marketing to holistic marketing. As they navigate through industry insights, Cynthia provides a closer look at the challenges and strategies of targeting different sectors and personas, as well as marketing at scale across various business verticals. A significant portion of the discussion revolves around MoneyLion's journey. Cynthia charts the evolution of the platform, highlighting its transformation from its early days to a renowned digital banking platform, underscoring its core value proposition. This leads to an insightful conversation on the growth, valuation, and shifting fintech market trends that have shaped MoneyLion's trajectory. Cynthia goes on to detail the importance of financial literacy within the app, focusing on content evolution and user value. She further discusses the nuances of content discovery, the company's revenue model, and the balance between engagement and profitability. Navigating the tricky waters of financial influencers, Cynthia stresses the importance of balancing content quality with regulatory compliance. The podcast culminates with a forward-looking view, as Cynthia sheds light on MoneyLion's strategic priorities in the upcoming years. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION MoneyLion's Website: https://bit.ly/45YHQVlCynthia's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/460jn1S Topics: Fintech, marketing, brand, e-commerce, customer lifecycle, embedded finance, brand, Marketplace Companies: MoneyLion, Walmart, Bonobos, Nestle, Gilt Groupe, Even Financial, Malka, ZenDrive 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 1’16”: Charting a Career Journey: From Brand Marketing to Digital Transformation 8’49”: Industry Insights: Navigating Diverse Sectors and Targeting Personas 13’47”: Marketing at Scale: Strategies for Diverse Business Verticals 17’00”: The Evolution of MoneyLion: From Inception to Digital Banking, touching on its core value proposition 25’09”: The Unfolding Story of MoneyLion: Deciphering the Growth and Valuation journey Amidst evolving Fintech Market Trends 28’14”: Financial Literacy Engagement in the App: Content, Evolution, and User Value 31’30”: Content Discovery and Revenue Mix: Driving Engagement and the Core Economic Model 35’12”: Financial Influencers and Regulatory Considerations: Balancing Content Quality and Compliance 40’09”: The Future of MoneyLion: Company's Strategic Focus in the Coming Years 41’30”: The channels used to connect with Cynthia & learn more about MoneyLion 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.

Pete Townsend, Managing Director of Techstars Web3 Accelerator, discusses his career journey in finance and the evolution of finance. They also cover successful go-to-market strategies, Pete's role at Techstars, the ever-evolving Web3 landscape, and positioning for the future amid consumer discretionary spending. The podcast explores topics such as Web3, finance, crypto, blockchain, tokenomics, and VR. They also touch upon Techstars' program, the metaverse, and the importance of tokenomics and composability in Web3.

Lex chats with Caitlin Long, CEO of Custodia Bank (formerly Avanti Financial Group) - a Wyoming payment system provider and a custodian of digital assets required to fully comply with Know Your Customer, Anti-Money Laundering, and related laws and regulations. Together they delve into the fascinating world of fintech, US banking history, and the evolution of banking and payment networks. Starting with Caitlin's early experiences in finance and the unique dynamics of the US banking industry, they explore the controversies and historical context surrounding the US Central Bank. They touch upon centralization in banking, the unintended consequences of regulatory compliance, and how technology trends have shaped the industry. The conversation then shifts to the founding principles of Custodia Bank and its mission. Caitlin also discusses the evolving role of card networks in payment rail integration and how Custodia Bank fits into the open macro economy, emphasizing client focus and ecosystem integration. This podcast provides valuable insights into the past, present, and future of the US financial industry. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Custodia Bank's Website: https://bit.ly/3Z6ZALrCaitlin's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/44KwXVD Topics: Bitcoin, crypto, blockchain, finance, banking, Wyoming, macroeconomics, treasury management, fintech, monetary policy Companies: Custodia Bank, The Fed, Salomon Brothers, FTX 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 1’25”: Early lessons in finance: A journey into financial services and understanding industry stressors 5’05”: Unraveling the uniqueness of the US banking industry: A historical perspective and future trends 10’38”: A glimpse into the history of the US Central Bank: Controversies and evolution 22’25”: Centralization in banking: Unintended consequences of regulatory compliance and technology trends 30’38”: The inception of Custodia: Mission and ideation 36’02”: Heralding a new era: Card networks' evolution in payment rail integration 41’10”: Custodia's role in the open macro economy: Client focus and ecosystem integration 47’13”: The channels used to connect with Caitlin & learn more about Custodia Bank 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 Farouk Ferchichi, the President of Data and Analytics at Envestnet - supplies financial and wealth management technology and services to financial institutions. Farouk starts off by delving into the journey of understanding data and analytics. The conversation explores the challenges and dynamics of embracing quantitative decision-making across industries, emphasizing the transformative power of Yodlee in financial data aggregation. Farouk explains how Yodlee's scope has evolved from Personal Financial Management (PFM) to encompassing brokerage, spending, and credit data. Lex and Farouk also discuss the diversification of distribution by integrating payments and banking data beyond the advisory experience. Farouk provides valuable insights into navigating fintech market dynamics, striking a balance between payment trends and asset-based stories. The discussion culminates in a vision for revolutionizing financial identity through unifying data and enabling personalized decisions with AI. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Envestnet's Website: https://bit.ly/3r03h95Yodlee's Website: https://bit.ly/45ucdT8Farouk's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3L75W7A Topics: Data, analytics, AI, embedded finance, aggregation, machine learning, AI, deep learning, neural networks, PFM, Wealth management Companies: Envestnet, Yodlee, 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 1’40”: Journey to understanding data and analytics: Definitional experiences and core insights 10’12”: Embracing quantitative decision-making: Challenges and dynamics across industries 15’15”: The power of Yodlee: Evolution and impact in financial data aggregation 23’16”: Expanding Yodlee’s scope: Evolution from PFM to aggregating brokerage, spending, and credit data 26’12”: Diversifying distribution: Integrating payments and banking data beyond the advisory experience 27’54”: Navigating fintech market dynamics: Balancing payment trends and asset-based stories34’23”: Revolutionizing financial identity: Unifying data and enabling Personalized decisions with AI 36’36”: The channels used to connect with Farouk & learn more about Envestnet and Yodlee 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 Aman Behzad, Managing Partner of Royal Park Partners - A group of Corporate Finance advisors focused on Fintech. Amas kicks off the conversation talking about his early experiences in banking and his strategic focus on financial institutions, the discussion covers the dynamics of investment banking, the success vectors in fintech at Financial Technology Partners and Royal Park Partners, and the ongoing innovations shaping capital markets. Together, they analyze fintech's performance, addressing its volatility, beta, and unique factors. The conversation shifts to the changing landscape of valuation dynamics in fintech, transitioning from rapid blitzscaling to a more rational approach in multiples. The discussion concludes by unraveling exit strategies, encompassing M&A, IPOs, and the intricate world of SPACs, highlighting their dynamics, performance, and underlying influencing factors. This podcast offers a condensed exploration of the multifaceted fintech realm through Aman Behzad's expertise. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Royal Park Partner's Website: https://bit.ly/3svb5A7Aman's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/45n80Rd Topics: fintech, corporate advisory, crypto, SPAC, IPO, Investment banking, capital markets, M&A, venture capital, private equity Companies: Royal Park Partners, Marco Polo Partners 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 1’19”: Exploring the banking journey: Early experiences and focus on financial institutions 4’11”: Deconstructing investment banking: Balance of financial analysis, strategy, and sales 6’09”: Fintech investment banking: Success vectors at Financial Technology Partners and Founding Royal Park 11’35”: Reimagining Fintech: The Evolution of Capital Markets and Ongoing Innovations 18’39”: Analyzing Fintech's Performance: Volatility, Beta, and Idiosyncratic Factors 23’25”: Shifting Valuation Dynamics: From Blitzscaling to Rationality in Fintech Multiples 28’58”: Navigating Exit Strategies: M&A, IPOs, and SPACs in Fintech 34’41”: Unraveling the SPAC Market: Dynamics, Performance, and Factors Influencing Value 37’09”: The channels used to connect with Aman & learn more about Royal Park Partners 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 Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex (one of the largest crypto exchanges) and Tether (a US-dollar pegged stablecoin). Paolo kicks off reflecting on his journey into the crypto space and the pivotal role of technology, community, and opensource in his learning. The discussion navigates through Bitcoin's diverse potentials, Bitfinex's growth, and the intricate challenges of crypto exchanges. Paolo emphasizes the importance of learning from past industry mistakes to guide future strategies. Tether's origin story is explored, shedding light on its initial architecture, on-ramp process, and strategies to manage banking counterparty risk. A significant aspect discussed is stablecoin usage dynamics, where Paolo delves into the primary customers—ranging from institutional demand to market makers and retail onboarding. The episode concludes with insights into Bitfinex and Tether's future directions. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Bitfinex's Website: https://bit.ly/3QFgzCoTether's Website: https://bit.ly/3ElM90NPaolo's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/45zFBak Topics: crypto, web3, stablecoins, crypto exchanges, custody, banking, T-Bills Companies: BitFinex, Tether, USDT, Poloniex, Bittrex, Binance, Bitcoin, Omni Layer, Copper 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 1’37”: Laying the foundation: Early experiences and technological DNA in the crypto sphere 11’35”: The motivating forces: Tech's role in building, exploration, and human progress 14’49”: Embracing Bitcoin's multifaceted potential: From asset class to economic infrastructure 18’35”: The complexity of crypto exchanges: Grasping the scale of trading activity on Bitfinex and vertically integrated challenges 26’02”: Learning from exchanges' mistakes: Industry evolution and future strategies 30’01”: Tether's inception and early architecture: Addressing volatility in crypto transactions 35’02”: Tether's on-ramp process: Early days and acquiring Tether, banking counterparty risk, and risk mitigation strategies 42’36”: Stablecoin usage dynamics: Institutional demand, market makers, and retail onboarding 46’26”: The channels used to connect with Paolo & learn more about Bitfinex and Tether 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 Asaf Horesh - General Partner at Vintage Investment Partners - who invest in the leading venture funds and growth-stage technology companies that are spearheading disruptive innovation. Asaf shares insights into his venture journey, highlighting core lessons in becoming a successful investor. Emphasizing the significance of people and recognizing signals of success, Asaf delves into the essence of venture investing. He unveils a key strategy flywheel that drives venture success and further examines the venture asset class, including returns, cycles, and strategic positioning. Additionally, he sheds light on identifying hidden gems in investments beyond conventional metrics. Asaf discusses the impact of industry-specific funds on venture performance and dives into the challenges and dynamics of the current venture landscape, particularly addressing issues related to valuation storms, overhang, and the evolution of the DPI metric. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Vintage Investment Partners' Website: https://bit.ly/444yNAqAsaf's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/4456T75 Topics: Investment, Venture Capital, fintech, growth equity, private equity, crypto, Web3 Companies: VintageIP, Vintage Investment Partners, Softbank, Andreessen, iZettle, Creandum 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 1’26”: Asaf’s venture journey: From early engagements to core lessons, and what makes a good investor 6’14”: The essence of venture investing: People and signals of success 12’40”: Driving venture success: A core strategy flywheel 16’17”: Understanding the venture asset class: Returns, cycles, and positioning 21’27”: Identifying hidden gems: Uncovering factors beyond access and past performance 25’56”: Navigating industry focus: Impact of industry-specific funds on venture performance 35’03”: Venture landscape and challenges: Overcoming valuation storms and overhang, and breaking down DPI 41’17”: The channels used to connect with Asaf & learn more about Vintage Investment Partners 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 Aron Alexander - CEO, and Founder of Runa - a digital value infrastructure and network that enables people to pay and get paid by anyone, anywhere, instantly. The discussion delves into the founding story of Runa, which was inspired by insights from commerce experiences. Together Lex and Aron explore the significance of payment networks and loyalty programs in aligning incentives for merchants and providers. Runa's integration, impact, and impressive numbers in simplifying payments for merchants are unveiled. The conversation also covers the industry structure of third-party gift card providers, considering concentration, diversity, and geographic impact. The decision-making process behind building a global API layer and the mechanism of cross-border money movement are discussed. Aron dives into international transactions, scale, and the best customer use case—an embedded finance layer for business-to-consumer payouts. The growth strategy and revenue model are explored, focusing on incentives for success. The episode concludes with an insightful discussion about alternative forms of value, including equity shares, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs, and how Runa embraces alternative assets to mitigate volatility and facilitate seamless transactions. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Runa's Website: https://bit.ly/45coLOsAron's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3QrdAgF Topics: payments, paytech, infrastructure, cryptocurrency, digitalization, embedded finance Companies: Runa, WeGift, PayPal, TransferWise, CoinBase, Twilio 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 1’19”: Unveiling the founding story: How commerce insights led to startup ideation 7’36”: Understanding the role of payment networks and loyalty programs: Aligning incentives for merchants and providers 12’34”: Introducing Runa: Integration, impact, and numbers in simplifying payments for merchants 17’52”: Decoding the industry structure of third-party gift card providers: Concentration, diversity, and geographic impact 20’16”: Building a global API layer: Navigating the choice of wide coverage vs. deep focus 24’20”: Mechanisms of cross-border money movement: Understanding infrastructure, risk, and partnerships 27’16”: Handling international transactions and scale: Bank accounts, volumes, and consumer impact 30’17”: Exploring the best customer use case: An embedded finance layer for business-to-consumer payouts 33’01”: Understanding the growth strategy and revenue model: Structuring incentives for success 36’14”: Exploring alternative forms of value: Role of equity shares, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs in the business 39’13”: Embracing alternative assets: Mitigating volatility and facilitating seamless transactions 40’59”: The channels used to connect with Aron & learn more about Runa 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  Emma Kerr - Senior Vice President, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Europe at Visa - one of the world's largest payment networks. In this episode, Emma unravels Visa's comprehensive definition of commerce and the nuances of being a merchant. She shares her remarkable journey within Visa and the evolution of payment networks over time. The discussion delves into the intriguing concept of the "network-of-networks," exploring Visa's strategic position amidst the ever-changing landscape of payments, including the emergence of crypto and Web3. Emma sheds light on the exciting world of Web3 commerce, where utility, value, and digital objects converge. They discuss the significant value of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital object wrappers, and how they shape the future of the crypto industry. As they look ahead, they predict the evolution of digital objects and crypto payments, envisioning a shift from primitives to highly interactive software and the seamless integration of crypto into payment rails. The episode concludes with Emma offering insights into Visa's forward-thinking strategy to navigate the multi-rail payments landscape and maintain hyper-relevance in this dynamic and complex space. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Visa's Website: https://bit.ly/3Owc5MOEmma's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Kjr3DD Topics: Payments, crypto, paytech, NFT, web3, commerce, network, payment network, payment rail, E-commerce Companies: Visa, USDC, VisaNet, Visa B2B Connect 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 1’12”: Unpacking Visa's definition of commerce and merchant: Understanding the scope and qualifications 5’14”: Unveiling Emma’s journey within Visa: Exploring her career progression and during the evolution of payment networks 11’36”: Navigating the network of networks: Visa's position in the evolving landscape of payments and the categorization of crypto and Web3 16’09”: Exploring Web3 commerce: The intersection of utility, value, and digital objects 20’15”: Unraveling the value of NFTs: Why non-fungible tokens and digital object wrappers matter 22’44”: Breaking down the future of NFTs and crypto: Scaling, interoperability, and evolving value propositions 25’56”: Predicting the future of digital objects and crypto payments: From primitives to interactive software & integrating crypto into payment rails 29’25”: Constructing the future of crypto infrastructure: USDC integration and layer 2 solutions 31’55”: Navigating the multi-rail payments landscape: Visa's strategy for staying hyper relevant 33’29”: The channels used to connect with Emma & learn more about Visa 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 Leif Abraham, Co-CEO and Founder of Public - Public.com is an investing platform that helps people be better investors. Members can build a diverse portfolio of stocks, funds, and crypto within a single platform. In this episode, Leif delves into his journey through design, creativity, and venture, including early career insights in video game web development. Together, Lex and Leif discuss the prescience of "Pay with a Tweet" and its connections to attention, payments, and Web3. Leif navigates his career path from community and advertising to FinTech, leading to investments and the connection to Public. They explore scaling in the digital brokerage market amidst fierce competition and tailwinds. Balancing engagement and financial health, Leif shares how Public crafts the optimal user experience. The conversation covers integrating diverse financial instruments, Public's commission-free trading model, and the revolutionary "Alpha" AI feature. They also touch on how Public's financial bot handles unusual queries. The podcast concludes with a discussion about connecting with Leif and learning more about Public. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Public's Website: https://bit.ly/43CUNSHLeif's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/44VfGtm Topics: Fintech, banking, investments, artificial intelligence, AI, trading Companies: Public, Fiverr, AND CO, ChatGPT, Alpha, Morningstar, Coinbase 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 1’38”: Journey through design, creativity, and venture: Early career insights & video game web development 5’31”: The prescience of Pay with a Tweet: Early connections between attention, payments, and web3 9’28”: Navigating the career path from community and advertising to FinTech: The journey to investments and the connection to Public 13’57”: Entering the digital brokerage market in 2019: Scaling in a landscape of fierce competition and tailwinds 19’18”: Navigating the challenges of building for the "active-ish" persona: Understanding the market shape and crafting the right experience 22’41”: Constructing the optimal user experience: Balancing engagement and financial health 24’54”: Navigating the product journey: Integrating diverse financial instruments & market infrastructure 29’18”: Exploring business model differentiation: Public's approach to commission-free trading 33’52”: Revolutionizing financial insights: Unveiling Alpha, Public's AI feature 38’07”: Interpreting emotional boundaries: How Public's financial bot handles unusual queries 45’33”: The channels used to connect with Leif & learn more about Public 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.