Fintech Leaders

Alan Patricof, a legendary co-founder of multiple major VC firms, shares his incredible journey in venture capital. He reminisces about the vibrant NYC of the 1970s and the evolution of the tech landscape. At 90, he discusses his focus on investing in the needs of the elderly and reveals his secrets to staying fit and energized. With contagious optimism, he emphasizes the importance of reputation and personal relationships in business. Alan’s insights are as timeless as they are inspiring!

Nigel Morris, Co-founder of QED Investors and Capital One, shares his journey from helping build one of the largest banks in the US to becoming a fintech venture capitalist. He discusses the importance of a strong organizational culture and data-driven decisions in banking. Morris emphasizes the evolution of fintech from single products to super apps, the challenges of board dynamics, and his ambitious goal to cycle a million feet in a year. He envisions fintech positively impacting a billion lives across the globe.

Send us Fan MailMiguel Armaza interviews Howard Morgan, Chair at B Capital, and also co-founder of Renaissance Technologies and First Round Capital.Howard and Miguel sat down live on stage at Barclays Rise in NYC for the Gilgamesh Ventures Summit, an annual meeting with over 150 Limited Partners, Founders, and Investors for a series of events and discussions about the future of tech and financial services.In this inspiring conversation, Howard discussed:How B Capital is using AI to improve their operationsLaunching Renaissance Technologies and their quantitative trading strategiesThe evolution of venture capital from local to global investingQualities of great founders and investors, Howard’s work in philanthropy… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today’s global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join ~70,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

Jouk Pleiter, CEO & Founder of Backbase, shares insights from his journey of bootstrapping the fintech company to a remarkable €2.5 billion valuation. He discusses the challenges of building a tech firm focused on banking and the pivot from diverse industries to customer-centered financial services. Placing emphasis on leadership and company culture, Jouk reveals the significance of authentic communication in fostering collaboration. He also highlights the power of innovative technology in modernizing banking while navigating market dynamics.

Send us Fan MailMiguel Armaza interviews Benjamin Fernandes, CEO & Founder of NALA, a global, cross-border payments company that helps customers send money in and out of Africa.Founded in 2018, NALA today is profitable and has raised over $50 million from Accel, Acrew, Amplo, Bessemer, DST, and NYCA.We discuss:Why NALA built their own infrastructure and stopped relying on local African incumbentsChallenges of going through a company pivot from local to cross-border paymentsThe important role that VCs can have on founders, positively and negativelyHow Benjamin’s background as a TV host led him to payments… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today’s global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join ~70,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

Richie Serna, CEO and Co-Founder of Finix, shares his journey from Southern California to shaping payment processing for e-commerce. He discusses the complex landscape of payments, emphasizing the need for customer-centric product development. Richie shares valuable fundraising lessons and the significance of building trustworthy partnerships in fintech. He also highlights challenges faced by Latino entrepreneurs and the potential of stable coins in the payments environment, showcasing how diverse leadership can drive innovation.

Send us Fan MailMiguel Armaza interviews Pedro Arnt, CEO of dLocal (NASDAQ:DLO), a multi-billion dollar payments company that specializes in cross-border and local payments in emerging markets. Founded in Montevideo, Uruguay, dLocal today operates in 40 markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.Pedro has an impressive background and you’ll learn a lot from him. Prior to his appointment as dLocal CEO, he spent 24 years at MELI and was the CFO of the company from 2011 to 2023. During his tenure as CFO, MELI had an amazing run and went from a market cap of $4 Billion to $70 Billion. Today, MELI has a market cap of over $100 billion.In this episode, we discuss:Lessons from the early days of MELI and launching Mercado PagoStepping into the role of CEO as a non-founder, and avoiding Manager ModeHow to build beautiful productsExpanding globallyHow to hire amazing people… lots more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today’s global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join ~70,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

David Fortunato, CEO of Wealthfront, transformed the company from a software engineer in 2009 to leading a $70 billion asset management revolution. He dives into building a unique engineering culture that prioritizes automation and client feedback in product development. Fortunato discusses their SaaS-like business model, effective strategies for engaging millennials and Gen Z, and the importance of cultivating inquiry within teams. He also shares insights from impactful books on long-term life strategies and finance, providing a fresh perspective on modern wealth management.

Send us Fan MailMiguel Armaza interviews Abdon Nacif, Co-Founder of Nexu, the leading auto financing and dealership software platform in Mexico and one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in the Americas.Nexu is growing fast, approaching $50 million in net annual revenue, and has been profitable for nearly two years. They have raised just over $30 million in equity and over $150 million in debt from Altos Ventures, Valor, HSBC, Wollef, Y Combinator, Fintech Collective, Clocktower, FJ Labs, and Gilgamesh Ventures.I’m a big fan of Abdon and I love getting a shot of inspiration after every conversation with him. Not only have I known Abdon for over a decade, but at Gilgamesh Ventures we have been investors in Nexu for the past three years, with a front row seat into their incredible story.In this episode, we discuss:Developing mental toughness as an entrepreneurThe principles and discipline that led them to build a profitable business at a very early stageNear-death experiences and a pivotal decision that resulted in a shift in business modelAbdon's leadership philosophy and focus on authentic, selfless leadership… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today’s global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join ~70,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

In this conversation, Rujul Zaparde, CEO and Co-Founder of Zip, shares insights on building a $1.5 billion SaaS and fintech platform. He discusses the rigorous validation process for big business ideas and emphasizes the need for speed, learning, and iteration in entrepreneurship. Rujul also highlights the significance of nurturing talent within the company and effective strategies for navigating complex procurement challenges. The episode wraps up with a look at future-proofing tech businesses through continuous improvement and leveraging AI innovations.