Fintech Layer Cake

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young sits down with Scott Johnson, President of the Card Division at LoanPro. Scott shares his deep expertise from over two decades in fintech, including his time at Galileo and his current work at LoanPro, where they are pioneering transactional-level credit. Together, they discuss the core pillars of launching a credit card, common mistakes fin...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young chats with Penny Lee, President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association (FTA). Penny shares insights on key federal fintech policy developments, the implications of open banking, and how fintech companies can navigate the evolving regulatory landscape. They discuss recent court filings related to CFPB’s final open banking rule, regul...

Fintech Layer Cake officially kicks off its third season as Reggie Young and Alli Nilsen dive into an insightful conversation with Erica Khalili, Chief Legal Risk Officer and Co-founder of Lead. Erica shares the transformative journey of Lead, from its legacy as a century-old institution to becoming a cutting-edge fintech sponsor bank. She discusses the critical pillars of success—technical excell...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Reggie Young sits down with Ashwin Vasan and Peter Freeman, partners at FS Vector, to discuss the evolving regulatory landscape and its implications for fintech and banking innovation. From personnel changes in Washington to the future of digital assets and data privacy, Ashwin and Peter provide actionable insights on what’s shaping the fintech industry in th...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Reggie Young is joined by Matthew Goldman, founder of Totavi, to dive into the latest card trends of 2024 and look ahead at what's in store for 2025. As the first return guest, Matthew shares his insights on the evolving fintech landscape, including the rise of secured cards, the impact of AI in payments, the potential of stablecoins, and predictions for...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Reggie Young speaks with Tal Schwartz, founder of the Canadian Fintech Newsletter and Exit North Ventures. Together, they explore the Canadian fintech ecosystem, comparing it with the U.S., discussing unique market dynamics, and highlighting opportunities in embedded finance and regulatory innovation. Tal also shares insights on building a Fintech fund and wh...

In this episode, Reggie Young unpacks the latest insights from Money 20/20 in Las Vegas. From the rise of AI in compliance and cross-border payments to the evolving challenges in sponsor banking, Reggie dives into key trends shaping fintech. Tune in to hear his reflections and predictions on the future of financial technology and how companies are adapting in a tough regulatory landscape.

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Reggie Young presents a crash course on Sponsor Bank MSAs (Master Services Agreements) with Andrew Grant, co-founder of The Runway Group.  They unpack the complexities of these critical agreements, discuss the latest trends in regulatory expectations, and highlight key strategies for founders and operators to navigate sponsor-bank relationships effectively.

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young speaks with Zarik Khan, Head of Compliance Testing at Flex, about the critical role of compliance in fintech companies and how it impacts long-term sustainability and growth. Zarik shares his unique insights gained from his extensive career at major organizations like Discover and Google, and now a compliance leader at Flex. They delve into...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young talks with Saira Rahman, VP of New Investor Initiatives at Fundrise, about the intricate world of net interest margins, the importance of strategic bank partnerships, and the evolving landscape of fintech. Saira shares her unique insights from her experiences at both traditional banks and fintech startups, offering practical advice for navig...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young sits down with Simon Taylor, Head of Strategy and Content at Sardine, renowned author of the Fintech Brainfood newsletter, and host of the Fintech Brainfood podcast. Dubbed the "Ghost of Fintech Future," Simon shares his insights on the evolving landscape of fintech, lessons learned from the UK's fintech scene, and the growing...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young is joined by Ravi Mikkelsen, co-founder and CEO of Atmos. Ravi shares his journey from engineering in the climate and clean energy sector to founding Atmos, a company that blends climate tech with fintech to create sustainable banking solutions. Delve into Atmos' unique dual-product strategy, which empowers consumers and banks alike to...

In this episode of FinTech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young chats with Faraz Rana, founder and CEO of Affinity. Faraz shares his journey from being an M&A lawyer to becoming the Chief Legal Officer at Bread and eventually founding Affinity. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from big law to a startup environment, the nuances of the BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) space, and the importance of c...

In this special 10th-anniversary episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young is joined by Lithic's co-founders Bo Jiang, Jason Kruse, and David Nichols. Celebrate a decade of fintech innovation as they dive into the transformative journey from their early days at Privacy.com to becoming a leading name in payments infrastructure. The founders share behind-the-scenes challenges, pivotal de...

Dive into a world of contrarian insights on "Fintech Layer Cake" as host Reggie Young engages with Nikil Konduru of Lithic. This episode unpacks Nikil’s unconventional perspectives on critical fintech topics like Visa Flex, fintech venture capital, and why payments shouldn't be free. Nikil, known for his deep understanding and sharp critiques, discusses the hidden costs of payment e...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young, joined by co-host Alli Nilsen, sits down with Nick Rasines from Column to explore the intricacies of building and maintaining successful partnerships in the fintech industry. Nick shares his expertise on the fundamentals of partnerships, the importance of trust, and the unique challenges and opportunities within the fintech space. From regu...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Reggie Young dives deep into the intricacies of earned wage access  (EWA) and its regulatory landscape with Ben LaRocco from EarnIn.  They explore what a policy function within a fintech company entails, the role of government relations in shaping how products are perceived and regulated, and the current state and future of earned wage access in the fintech s...

This episode of Fintech Layer Cake features host Reggie Young in conversation with Polo Rocha, a reporter at American Banker. They dive into the current bank earnings season, discussing the financial health of regional banks post-Silicon Valley Bank collapse, key metrics in bank earnings, and overarching trends in the banking industry. Polo offers expert insights into how public bank disclosures r...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Reggie Young interviews Daniel Simon, Founder of Coast, a modern financial services platform revolutionizing the fleet card industry. They delve into the complexities of fleet payments and discuss Coast's innovative approach, combining modern technology and customer-centric products to disrupt the traditional fleet card market. Key topics include the tec...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young is joined by Natasha Vernier, CEO and co-founder of Cable, to discuss the future of compliance in the fintech industry, known as "Compliance 3.0." Natasha shares valuable lessons from her time leading the financial crimes team at Monzo during its hypergrowth phase and provides her perspective on the evolving landscape of bank-finte...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young dives deep into the world of payments and e-commerce with Sairam Rangachari, the co-founder and CTO of Tandym. They discuss the cyclical trends in banking, the evolution of online payments, and how Tandym is helping e-commerce companies offer branded cards to enhance customer experience and reduce processing fees. Sai shares insights from hi...

In this episode, host Reggie Young converses with Jas Randhawa, founder of StrategyBRIX, a fintech risk and compliance consultancy. They delve into Jas' experiences at Stripe and Airwallex, the intricacies of fintech risk and compliance, and how fintechs can safeguard themselves against regulatory scrutiny. The discussion also covers the evolving landscape of fintech-bank partnerships and the...

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, host Reggie Young engages with Chris Rigoni from Coastal Community Bank, exploring the evolving landscape of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and embedded finance. Chris, with his extensive experience in various financial institutions, delves into the complexities and future potential of fintech partnerships, discussing how these collaborations shape customer expe...

Reggie Young sits down with fintech expert Matthew Goldman in a deep dive into the world of card payments, real-time payment systems, and the latest trends in credit cards. With his extensive background in the card space and as the leader of Totavi, a boutique fintech consulting firm, Matthew shares his invaluable insights on the evolution of card products, the impact of regulatory changes, and th...

Reggie Young sits down with Stephen Sikes, COO of Public, as they explore the fintech landscape's evolving dynamics. They discuss the significant effects of rising interest rates on retail investor behavior and delve into Public's innovative product strategy, including the launch of a mobile-first retail bond trading platform.  Stephen shares thought-provoking perspectives on regulatory...