The Fintech Blueprint

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.

Lex chats with Sankaet Pathak, the founder and CEO of Synapse - the largest regulated banking-as-a-service platform that provides payment, card issuance, deposit, lending, compliance, credit and investment products as APIs to more than 18 million end users. In this episode, Sankaet delves into his journey that led him to fintech and the decision to build a robust financial infrastructure. Together, Lex and Sankaet explore the value of modular architecture in dissecting financial infrastructure and the role of middleware in distribution. Reflecting on the global demand for the US dollar in crypto markets, and assessing its implications. Sankaet shares key metrics for evaluating Synapse's scale and success and discusses revenue generation and cost alignment in the FinTech space. They analyze market dynamics, the impact of COVID, and navigating the regulatory landscape. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Synapse's Website: https://bit.ly/3DiUT6YSankaet's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Da8jCx Topics: BaaS, API, Open Banking, payments, banking, Fintech, Embedded Finance Companies: Synapse, SynapseFi, Stripe, Square 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 1’21”: Journey into fintech: Understanding the founder's background, skills, and motivation for building a banking infrastructure company 5’45”: From consumer play to financial infrastructure: The decision to build a foundational layer in the fintech landscape 10’31”: Dissecting financial infrastructure: The value of modular architecture and the challenges of integrating traditional banking services 15’45”: Envisioning the role of middleware: Banks as distribution mechanisms through third-party applications 20’52”: Examining the global demand for the dollar in crypto markets: Reflecting on the US role and implications for crypto companies 25’55”: Evaluating Synapse's scale and success: Key metrics for progress and growth 28’02”: Balancing Synapse’s business economics: Revenue generation, cost alignment, and pricing strategies in the FinTech space 31’30”: Analyzing market dynamics: Impact of COVID, growing demand, competitive landscape, and future outlook in embedded finance 37’37”: Navigating the regulatory landscape: Addressing challenges and fostering stability in a transforming financial industry 41’39”: The channels used to connect with Sanket & learn more about Synapse 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 Sandy Carter, COO at Unstoppable Domains - a company on a mission to create user-owned, digital identity for every person on the planet. Sandy opens up about her journey from big tech companies - IBM and Amazon, to the realm of Web3 and crypto. Together, Lex and Sandy discuss the challenges of navigating large tech companies and the innovative services offered by Unstoppable Domains. Sandy explains the concept of non-custodial data, the process of acquiring a blockchain identity, and the importance of digital truth in the age of AI. The conversation concludes with an exploration of metaverse economics, highlighting the underlying business activities in digital exchanges. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Unstoppable Domains' Website: https://bit.ly/3NHDzO7Sandy's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3O11p8P Topics: crypto, blockchain, web3, metaverse, identity, AI, deepfakes, generative AI Companies: Unstoppable Domains, IBM, Amazon, AWS, Ethereum, Venmo, Metamask, LinkedIn 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 1’31”: Exploring professional background: Key experiences and journey to Web3 and crypto 6’51”: Navigating large tech companies: Challenges and insights from senior roles in IBM and Amazon 12’17”: Discovering Web3 and journey to Unstoppable Domains: Understanding the product and service offering 19’28”: Unpacking non-custodial data and digital identity: How Unstoppable Domains facilitates access across multiple platforms 23’02”: Acquiring an Unstoppable Domain: Understanding the role of MetaMask, NFTs, and smart contracts in establishing a blockchain identity 31’12”: Confronting digital reality: The increasing importance of digital truth verification in an AI-driven world 36’17”: Balancing power: Navigating the intersection of AI giants and Web3's open source data authenticity mission 39’24”: Assessing metaverse economics: Unraveling the business sector and activity underlying digital exchanges and objects 44’53”: The channels used to connect with Sandy & learn more about Unstoppable Domains 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 Jeff Dorman, CIO at Arca -  an asset management firm that creates and manages institutional grade products using crypto and blockchain technology. Together they discuss key aspects of crypto finance, starting with Jeff's transition into crypto from investment banking, and then delving into the impact of the Fed on financial markets and institutional investment on digital asset trends. Jeff shares insights on the role of digital assets in the context of Ray Dalio's civilizational expansion and debt cycle model and the current macroeconomic landscape. The conversation shifts to the realm of Web3 and DeFi, examining investment challenges amidst market fluctuations. Jeff and Lex further explore token design and regulatory constraints, with a focus on GMX, and discuss the potential of DAO treasuries in the context of activist investing.   MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Arca's Website: https://bit.ly/3pv7iBDJeff's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3psSOlJ Topics: macroeconomics, The Fed, Ray Dalio, Web3, DeFi, Tokenomics, Inflation, DAO, Finance, Markets Companies: Arca, FTX, Alameda, BNB, Binance, GMX, Aragon, NASDAQ 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 1’14”: Transition into crypto: Reflecting on previous experiences and discussing the draw to Arca 6’12”: Dominance of the Fed in financial markets: Exploring the obsession with monetary policy and its impact on fundamental analysis 10’35”: Examining correlations in the digital asset space: The impact of institutional investment on portfolio management and market trends 16’26”: Assessing the role of digital assets amidst civilizational expansion and debt cycle: A discussion on Ray Dalio's model and its implications for the current macroeconomic environment 20’35”: Seeking a macro perspective: An insight into the current economic state, predictions for the upcoming year, and the potential impact of inflation 26’23”: Unraveling Web3 and DeFi: Investigating unemployment rates, assessing the performance of Defi protocols, and the challenge of investing amidst fluctuating market conditions 35’26”: Exploring token design and regulatory constraints: An insight into GMX and the implications of value accrual mechanisms 39’11”: Activist investing in Decentralized Autonomous Organizations: Unleashing the potential of DAO treasuries 45’05”: Broadening stakeholder reach in the new financial system: The power of token governance in protocol development 47’44”: The channels used to connect with Jeff & learn more about Arca 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 Sasha Orloff, CEO and Co-founder of Puzzle - “the first smart accounting software,” which combines a streaming financial data platform that’s connected to a general accounting ledger. Sasha starts the conversation detailing his journey from traditional banking to fintech entrepreneurship. Reflecting on the early days of fintech, contrasting the East and West Coast perspectives, and sharing his experiences from leading innovative fintech ventures like LendUp. The conversation dives into the future of fintech, discussing the transition into autonomous accounting, the rise and fall of Personal Financial Management (PFM) tools, and the integration of natural language processing into quantitative software. The duo also contemplates the nature of rules in language models, the dichotomy between deterministic and probabilistic models in AI, and the future of intelligent software. The episode concludes with Sasha sharing various channels to connect with him and learn more about Puzzle. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Puzzle's Website: https://bit.ly/3NKuO6YSasha's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Pt3pHX Topics: Fintech, AI, artificial intelligence, machine learning, GenAI, Accounting, Software, LLM, embedded finance Companies: Puzzle, Puzzle Financial, Mission Lane, LendUp, ChatGPT, Brex, Stripe, Plaid 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 1’43”: The evolution from traditional banking to fintech entrepreneurship: Exploring personal journey and the early days of fintech 7’10”: The East vs West Coast perspective in fintech's infancy: Analyzing venture investments, startup culture, and the birth of innovative fintech ventures like LendUp 12’36”: Deciphering the keys to fintech success: The role of mobile distribution, underwriting capabilities, and capital flow in shaping lending ventures 18’23”: Transitioning into the realm of autonomous accounting: The genesis of Puzzle and its inevitable emergence in the fintech landscape 22’41”: Reflecting on the evolution of fintech: Assessing the impact of financial data accessibility, manufacturing financial products, and mistakes in early accounting software ventures 28’23”: The rise and fall of Personal Financial Management (PFM) tools: Evaluating consumer adoption, value proposition, and the role of autonomous accounting in fintech's future 34’47”: Exploring the integration of natural language processing into quantitative software: The role of language models in user experience and backend operations 39’04”: Deciphering the nature of rules in language models: Deterministic vs. Probabilistic approaches in accounting software 41’59”: Speculating the future of AI: A dichotomy between deterministic structures and probabilistic models in building intelligent software 46’10”: The channels used to connect with Sasha & learn more about Puzzle 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 interviews seasoned fintech expert Teana Baker-Taylor - Circle VP of Policy and Regulatory Strategy EMEA. Circle began as a peer-to-peer payments technology company that now manages stablecoin USDC, a cryptocurrency the value of which is pegged to the U.S. dollar. Teana discusses her journey from traditional finance to the frontier of blockchain and crypto exchanges. Together Lex and Teana explore the tangible economic impacts of banking and navigate the complex digital asset landscape, focusing on the unique role of USDC as a leading stablecoin. Additionally, they touch on the underlying mechanics of USDC and the intrinsic investment risks in the stablecoin space. Concluding by pondering the potential of stablecoins like USDC in the emerging metaverse, a new digital realm with endless possibilities. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Circle's Website: https://bit.ly/3CwWfL5Teana's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Nw8yxF Topics: crypto, blockchain, tokenization, web3, defi, stablecoins, metaverse, AR/VR Companies: Circle, USDC, Eurocoin, Terra Luna, Metamask, Apple 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 2’38”: Tracing Teana’s professional journey: From traditional finance to innovative blockchain and crypto exchange operations 5’14”: Exploring the true purpose of banks: Bridging the gap between abstract finance and tangible economic activity 9’48”: Decoding the digital asset space: A deep dive into the function, philosophy and criticisms of crypto exchanges 15’58”: Unraveling USDC: Understanding its creation, uses, and its novel role as a cash equivalent and unit of account on a payment rail 20’10”: Differentiating stablecoins: Examining redemption processes, collateralization practices, and the existence of investment risk 21’11”: Exploring the underlying mechanics of USDC: The role of bank-held dollars in stablecoin operations 24’47”: Envisioning the role of money in the metaverse: The use cases and potential dominance of stablecoins in emerging digital spaces 28’11”: The channels used to connect with Teana & learn more about Circle and USDC 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 interviews Ashwin Kumar - Stripe's Head of Startups for Banking-as-a-Service. Stripe is a financial technology (FinTech) company based in San Francisco, CA, whose software allows individuals and businesses to make and receive payments online. In this episode, Lex and Ashwin explore Stripe's strategic positioning in the transformative world of fintech. From unraveling Stripe's core mission and approach, Ashwin and Lex provide an enlightening comparison with Amazon's strategy, shedding light on Stripe's unique ability to integrate across platforms for exponential reach. Additionally, Ashwin and Lex touch on the rich understanding of embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service, key insights into the pivotal role of banking partnerships, and the evolving dynamics of fintech startups in the market landscape.   MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Stripe's Website: https://bit.ly/3NvD9LXAshwin's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3X1bNjW Topics: Payments, Banking-as-a-service, banking, fintech, embedded finance, BaaS Companies: Stripe, Chime, Karat, Ramp, Apple 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 1’18”: Understanding Stripe: Deciphering the core bet,  its mission, and defining the concept of a digital company 3’18”: Defining the landscape of fintech: The role of stripe in niche user group services, embedding financial services in SaaS companies, and the evolution towards becoming a financial services arm 6’43”: Exploring Stripe's unique position in the industry: The exponential reach through platform integrations, a comparative study with Amazon's strategy, and the unfolding of Stripe's architectural framework for third party utilization 12’14”: Distribution to the long tail and solving the last mile problem: Differentiating between embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service, and understanding the relationship with underlying regulated financial entities 17’15”: Expanding the role of Banks in embedded finance: Regulatory perspectives, compliance work, and the impact of the shrinking U.S. banking sector 18’17”: Stripe's vision for Bank partnerships: Diversifying distribution and empowering financial institutions in the era of centralizing forces 21’04”: Observing the evolution of fintech: Changes in quality, screening, and focus of emerging tech companies seeking cutting-edge fintech solutions 22’08”: Strategies for fintech startups: Considering distribution, value addition and comprehensive business models for sustainable growth and success in the financial technology landscape 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.