"Tech Finance" with Sasha Orloff: B2B Fintech | AI | Finance Tech E57: Lessons from Brex, SVB, a16z: How Jason Mok Spots What Founders Need Before They Know It
Sep 25, 2025
In this discussion with Jason Mok, VP & GM of Startups at Brex, we dive into Brex's evolution from credit card services to a full-fledged financial platform. Jason shares insights on how Brex simplifies startup onboarding with innovative features like one-click accounting, seamlessly integrating with Puzzle for real-time bookkeeping. He reflects on his time at Silicon Valley Bank and how its culture shaped his approach to supporting founders. The conversation highlights the importance of proactive financial infrastructures in scaling startup success.
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From Bank To VC Operating Team
- Jason moved from SVB to Andreessen Horowitz after being recruited to lead corporate development operations.
- He joined A16Z in early 2020 to run a team advising portfolio companies on fundraising, M&A, and exits.
Platform Model Multiplies Founder Support
- A16Z's platform model scales founder support by hiring domain experts on an operating team.
- This lets GPs leverage specialists across HR, finance, and ops to deliver deep, practical help to founders.
Joining Brex After The SVB Run
- After SVB's collapse, Brex recruited Jason to help scale startup support during the influx of customers.
- He saw joining Brex as a way to help the ecosystem and gain operating experience at a startup-scale fintech.