In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Dana Warren, Venture Partner at Canaan Partners, to explore how decades of fintech experience and the power of pattern recognition are shaping the next generation of founders and investors.

Dana shares her journey from leading major partnerships at Stripe, PayPal, and American Express to joining one of Silicon Valley’s most storied venture firms. She discusses how her operating background gives her an edge in identifying great founders, building high-performing teams, and spotting the signals of scalable success.

They also dive into AI’s transformative role in fintech—from programmable money and stablecoins to agentic commerce and the evolving CFO stack—and how Canaan’s principled, founder-first approach has kept the firm thriving for 37 years.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Rory O’Reilly, Co-Founder and CEO of Knot, to explore how merchant connectivity is redefining the future of payments and digital commerce.

Rory shares how Knot helps fintechs seamlessly connect users’ cards to their favorite merchants; reducing churn, boosting engagement, and simplifying how people pay online.

They also discuss Rory’s entrepreneurial journey from building gifs.com and Millions to launching Knot, the rise of agentic shopping and API-driven checkouts, and why user permission and trust are at the heart of the next generation of fintech innovation.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Phil Goldfeder, CEO of American Fintech Council, to discuss how fintech innovation and policy are shaping the future of financial services.

Phil shares how AFC connects fintechs, banks, and regulators to drive responsible innovation, strengthen consumer protection, and build a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

They also talk about fintech’s growing bipartisan momentum in Washington, why collaboration is key to progress, and how Fintech Meetup helps foster the meaningful relationships that move the industry forward.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Sherry Wu, CTO of the University of Michigan Credit Union (UMCU), to discuss driving digital transformation in community banking and building a culture of curiosity and collaboration.

Sherry shares her journey from global tech roles to fintech, how UMCU blends personal service with digital-first experiences, and what it takes to choose the right technology partners. They also explore the value of Fintech Meetup for discovering solutions and why Sherry is excited about agentic AI for automation, fraud detection, and smarter member experiences.

If you’re interested in modernizing credit unions and the future of community-driven fintech, don’t miss this conversation.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Maik Wehmeyer, Co-Founder and CEO of Taktile, to talk about reimagining credit and fraud decisioning, the rise of AI in risk management, and why agility is the biggest challenge for today’s lenders.

Maik shares his journey from building credit models to founding Taktile. He explains how Taktile helps institutions harness AI and LLMs for smarter, faster decisions, why SMB underwriting is a prime use case, and what makes B2B adoption so compelling.

They also discuss balancing AI with business rules, scaling across markets with very different credit cultures, and why preparation is essential for getting the most out of Fintech Meetup.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Dan Kimerling, Founder and Managing Partner of Deciens Capital, to talk about zero-to-one investing, building fintech companies from scratch, and why the best venture partnerships are artisanal, not industrial.

Dan shares his journey from founding Standard Treasury (acquired by SVB) to launching Deciens, now investing out of its third fund. He explains why Deciens leads nearly every deal, what founders often misunderstand about VCs, and how regulation, from stablecoins to private credit, is reshaping the future of financial services.

They also discuss lessons Dan carried from being a founder into venture, what makes a capital-efficient lending business, and why pacing and prep are key to getting the most out of Fintech Meetup.

If you’re interested in early-stage fintech, founder-VC dynamics, and the next wave of innovation—don’t miss this conversation.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Julián Huertas, Relationship Manager at Zulu, to talk about building cross-border payment infrastructure, empowering SMBs in Latin America, and finding the right partners to scale globally.

Julián shares how Zulu pivoted from a B2C wallet to a B2B cross-border platform, why owning the rails is key to long-term success, and how compliance became a deliberate competitive advantage. He also highlights the unique challenges SMBs face in Latin America, what real-time payments could mean for the region, and how events like Fintech Meetup helped Zulu connect with top investors and industry leaders like Nigel Morris, ex-PayPal, and ex-Stripe.

If you’re interested in cross-border fintech, LATAM’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem, and the future of payments infrastructure—don’t miss this conversation.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Ryan Breslow, Founder and CEO of Bolt and Love.com, to talk about building for scale, disrupting payments, and launching a SuperApp for North America.

Ryan shares the decade-long journey of building Bolt into an 80-million-user checkout network, why ending guest checkout is just the beginning, and how the upcoming Bolt SuperApp aims to unify a fragmented U.S. fintech experience. He also dives into AI-powered personalization with Checkout 2.0, the company’s unconventional no-lock-in business model, and what it takes to form high-impact partnerships.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly, to explore how regulation, policy, and market dynamics shape the future of fintech.

Jason shares lessons from building Marcus at Goldman Sachs, why banking-as-a-service is at a turning point, and how global differences in regulation impact innovation. He also explains how Fintech Meetup helps surface off-the-record insights that rarely make headlines.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita sits down with Jay Levy, Partner at Zelkova Ventures, to talk about early-stage investing, founder-market fit, and how AI is reshaping the venture landscape.

Jay reflects on nearly two decades in VC, why backing the right people matters more than the perfect product, and how today’s founders can build more with less. He breaks down how AI is lowering the cost of entry, why capital efficiency matters more than ever, and what that means for the future of venture itself.

Jay also shares his experience at Fintech Meetup, including why the structured meetings stood out—and how founders can maximize results with the right prep.

If you're building, investing, or navigating early-stage fintech—don’t miss this conversation.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita sits down with Liza Landsman, CEO of The Points Guy, to talk about scaling trusted consumer platforms, leading through innovation, and navigating the next wave of AI and loyalty.

Liza shares how her background in consumer finance, high-growth tech startups, and venture capital shapes her approach to building mission-driven businesses. She discusses how The Points Guy is evolving from a travel content brand into a broader platform helping consumers find clarity—and value—at the intersection of credit, rewards, and loyalty.

We also hear why Liza sees AI as an enhancer of human potential, how tools like generative content and code copilots are already reshaping creative and technical workflows, and why Fintech Meetup stands out as a must-attend: “It’s an incredibly target-rich environment… the partners, the tech, the clients—everyone you want to meet is there.”

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita sits down with Marty Ringlein, Co-founder and CEO of Agree.com, to talk about the evolution of digital agreements, the future of embedded finance, and building products that shape behavior at scale.

Marty shares his journey from computer science and design to co-founding multiple startups acquired by Twitter, Eventbrite, and Brex—and now launching Agree.com, a platform that connects e-signature, invoicing, and payments into one seamless flow. He explains how Agree is rethinking the contract-to-cash process, enabling businesses to move faster and smarter by eliminating fragmented workflows.

We also hear why Marty believes everything is fintech, how natural network effects are accelerating Agree’s growth, and why he’s designing for a world where AI, connectivity, and user expectations evolve simultaneously.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita sits down with Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures, to talk about AI, financial wellness, and why technology isn’t always the answer.

Theo shares her unconventional journey—from chemical engineering and telco to podcasting, venture building, and writing her third book, "Banking on Artificial Intelligence." She reflects on a pivotal field study that reshaped her views on tech and caregiving—and led her to reimagine how we create more financially inclusive systems for the underserved, overlooked, and “sandwich generations.”

We also dive into why the future of banking needs more human-centered innovation, what the global trust divide in AI really means, and how she brought her children into the writing process (yes, the illustrations too).

Plus: Why launching her book at Fintech Meetup felt like a Christmas party in Vegas—and how it created serendipitous, career-defining moments.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita sits down with Rocky Motwani, Co-founder and CEO of Cyphlens, to talk about fintech, cybersecurity, and building businesses at the edge of innovation.

Rocky shares his journey from JP Morgan MD to co-founding the only fintech to acquire a Federal Reserve bank charter—and now launching Cyphlens, a next-gen cybersecurity platform bringing encryption to the “last mile.” He breaks down how Cyphlens is changing the game by putting powerful, user-friendly cyber tools directly in the hands of end users.

We also hear why Fintech Meetup is the only financial services conference Rocky attends—and how 23 out of 25 meetings led to real momentum (including a surprise VC check).

If you care about cybersecurity, fintech infrastructure, or scaling responsibly—don’t miss this one.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita chats with Daniel Webber, Founder & CEO of FXC Intelligence, about building the definitive data platform for the cross-border payments industry.

Daniel shares his path from global consulting to launching FXC, after realizing that while fintechs were solving how to move money, no one was solving how to measure it. He unpacks how FXC’s insights now power strategy, pricing, and product decisions for top-tier banks, remittance companies, and global marketplaces.

Daniel also breaks down why cross-border is outpacing domestic payments, the complexity of 40,000+ payment corridors, and the growing demand for interoperability across the ecosystem.

Plus, Daniel reflects on his five-year streak at Fintech Meetup, and why he sees it as the most efficient and impactful networking event in the industry.

If you're building in payments or data—or just want a front-row view into the $60T global opportunity—this one's a must-watch.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita chats with John Beccia, Co-founder & CEO of FS Vector, about helping fintechs navigate the fast-moving intersection of innovation and regulation.

John shares his journey from lawyer and banker to early crypto adopter at Circle, and how that experience led him to launch FS Vector. He dives into critical topics like the future of banking-as-a-service, the regulatory complexities of AI, and why fintechs need more than just legal advice—they need practical, scalable strategies.

He also reflects on his experience at Fintech Meetup, where the power of structured networking and high-impact meetings delivered real ROI.

If you’re building in fintech or curious about the regulatory side of innovation, don’t miss this one.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib interviews Leif Abraham, Co-founder of Public, an investing platform aimed at the next generation of long-term investors. Leif shares his entrepreneurial journey, from selling a freelancing payments software to Fiverr to creating Public. He explains how Public differentiates itself by focusing on building a trustworthy platform for significant investments, in anticipation of the great wealth transfer.

Leif discusses how Public appeals to self-directed investors by providing valuable insights and a robust platform that supports informed decision-making. He also highlights the importance of strategic domain acquisition, customer-centric growth, and maintaining trust through transparency and reliability in service.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita talks with Shivi Sharma, Co-Founder of Kaaj, about her journey from traditional financial services to launching a fintech startup. Shivi shares her background in credit and fraud risk at American Express, Uber Payments, and Varo Bank, and how it led her to create Kaaj, which streamlines the small business lending process using advanced data analysis.

They also discuss the role of Fintech Meetup in Kaaj’s early stages, helping secure funding and valuable connections. Shivi outlines her vision for Kaaj to revolutionize small business lending by enabling quicker, more efficient loan processing, opening up more opportunities for small businesses to access capital.

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, former CEO of Bank Leumi and current Managing Partner at Team8, to discuss her journey from banking to fintech and the transformative potential of technology in financial services.

Rakefet shares insights from her leadership in driving Bank Leumi’s digital transformation and leading Team8 Fintech, a unique venture group focused on co-founding and supporting startups. They explore the power of leveraging incumbents as hubs for fintech innovation, the critical role of talent in building successful startups, and the value of ecosystem collaboration.

The conversation also delves into the game-changing potential of large language models (LLMs) in credit services, where Rakefet envisions a future with reduced risk, lower interest rates, and radically improved financial processes.

In this (first ever remote!) episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib Kalita sits down with Kareem Saleh, founder and CEO of FairPlay, to discuss the evolution of AI-driven underwriting and the importance of fairness in financial decision-making. Kareem shares his journey from applying machine learning in emerging markets to launching "Fairness-as-a-Service," enabling lenders to increase approvals, profitability, and equity for underserved groups.

They explore how transparency, regulatory compliance, and fairness can transform high-stakes decisions like underwriting, pricing, and collections, setting a new standard for financial inclusion in the age of AI.

This conversation is packed with insights on the future of responsible fintech innovation—don’t miss it!

In this episode of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Amias Gerety, a partner at QED Investors, for an engaging conversation that spans Amias's career from his days in the U.S. Treasury during the Obama administration to his current role in venture capital. Amias reflects on his time as the acting assistant secretary for financial institutions, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the financial crisis of 2008-2009, the birth of Dodd-Frank, and the role of policy in shaping today's financial landscape.

They explore the evolution of fintech, the opportunities that arose from market disruptions, and the unique, impactful role that venture capital can play in shaping the future of financial services. Amias also shares his thoughts on the critical intersections between fintech and AI, introducing his concept of "inverted AI" and how fintech firms must adapt to an AI-driven economy.

Tune in to gain valuable insights on venture capital, fintech innovation, and the future of finance from one of the industry's most experienced voices!

In this installment of FintechTalks, Sanjib sits down with Simon Taylor to discuss market trends and banking innovation.

Simon addresses the need for empathy in understanding industry challenges, the importance of agility, and the transformative power of emerging technologies like AI and tokenization.

Don’t miss these insights on staying competitive in a fast-evolving financial landscape!

Our first official episode is live! In this discussion, Sanjib sits down with Jason Henrichs, CEO of Alloy Labs, to discuss the New Era of Banking. Jason explains how digital transformation, AI, and shifting customer behaviors are driving fundamental changes in the industry.

Jason also emphasizes the need for community banks to innovate and form new partnerships in order to thrive, and how Fintech Meetup has been crucial to this strategy.

It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss if you’re looking to stay ahead in financial services.

Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EZvB_vBjHk&list=PLgnMUgtdWszqK-Y7WuowckSE9pY5hfyvs&index=13

Sanjib Kalita sits down to interview Nikolas Ioannou and Marc Baghadjian, the Co-Founders of Hypercard.

Watch the video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjzLNCzgJXs