How Leif Abraham Scaled Public.com to $1.2B+

Interviews with Leaders in Fintech & Web3

Interviews with Leaders in Fintech & Web3
How Leif Abraham Scaled Public.com to $1.2B+
May 13, 2025
Work in Fintech

In this episode, we’re joined by Leif Abraham, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Public.com, the social investing platform that raised nearly $400 million last year and doubled its revenue.

Leif has a bold hiring philosophy: he intentionally avoids candidates from elite schools like Harvard or Stanford. Why? Because he believes street smarts are better than book smarts.

In this conversation, we unpack:

  • How Leif started and sold his first startup
  • Key Moments & Challenges While Scaling Public.com
  • Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts & Hiring Philosophy
  • The next big opportunity in the tech world


ABOUT US:

At Work in Fintech, our mission is to inspire and guide the next generation of Fintech talent.

Founded by Matt Cheung, we bring you exclusive interviews with Fintech founders, CEOs, and industry leaders.

Together, we explore how to break into Fintech, what it takes to succeed, and how you can gain an edge.

Packed with real-world insights and practical advice, our content helps students, grads, and young pros stand out in Fintech and Finance.

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