Tearsheet Podcast: The Business Of Finance

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jameson Troutman, Head of Product at Chase for Business. With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Jameson shared valuable insights into the current state of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the U.S. and the innovative solutions Chase is offering to support them. As Jameson puts it, “Small businesses in general are optimistic. They love supporting their customers and have a strong belief in their ability to power through any challenges.” This optimism is crucial, especially as SMBs navigate macroeconomic challenges such as inflation and cash flow management. The current state of SMBs in the U.S. Jameson emphasizes that despite economic challenges, the overall sentiment among small businesses remains positive. “We survey about 500 small businesses on a regular basis every month,” he explains. The data reveals that while 63% of SMBs are feeling the impact of macroeconomic forces like inflation and cash flow issues, they remain confident about their

On our exploratory journey of what it takes to build world-class products in financial service, today we have a conversation with Herman Man, the Chief Product Officer at Bluevine. We sat down with him to discuss how the fintech company is revolutionizing small business banking. He shares how Bluevine aims to serve as a comprehensive financial OS for small businesses, providing a suite of solutions that includes business checking accounts, accounts payable solutions, and lending and credit services. "Our goal always was to really be the financial OS, if so to speak, for these small businesses," Herman explains. The conversation delves into Bluevine's origins, the evolving needs of small businesses, and the innovative approaches they are taking to meet those needs. This narrative weaves together Mann's insights, providing valuable guidance for industry professionals and stakeholders. Herman Mann is my guest today on the Tearsheet Podcast.

In this episode of the Tearsheet Podcast, I am joined by Irana Wasti, Chief Product Officer at BILL. Irana has a background in product management and a strong passion for serving SMBs worldwide. Throughout her career, Irana has focused on developing tools to assist SMBs in starting, growing, and thriving. She emphasizes the importance of scalable and user-friendly technology solutions that cater to the evolving needs of SMBs. As the fintech industry continues to grow and adapt, Bill.com stands at the forefront of providing integrated financial operations solutions for SMBs. In this episode, discover more about how Irana Wasti and the team at Bill are impacting financial management for SMBs through software and payment solutions. Learn about the impact of AI on decision-making processes, the evolution of SMB tech stacks, and the strategies employed by BILL to empower SMB owners in optimizing their cash flow.

Earlier this year, we first heard news from Revolut and then Nubank launching mobile services. At the time, it just seemed like a story about cross marketing and selling. Both neobanks have large audiences, and selling a mobile plan would likely make some ancillary money. A few years ago, things were happening in the reverse direction – it seemed the big US telephony companies were all interested in getting into banking. A few offerings were launched but not much really came of it. But it feels like something is different now. Both Revolut and Nubank partnered with Gigs, which has been referred to as the Stripe of mobile. As co-founder and CEO Hermann Frank said in TechCrunch, these firms are working to “create an ecosystem where banking acts as a hub for multiple value-added services.” “Bundling mobile plans represents a powerful lever for neobanks to turn irregular users into monthly paying subscribers, encourage upgrades to premium features, and create an ecosystem where banking acts as a hub for mu

We’re continuing on this exploration of what it takes to build world-class products in financial services. Today, we have a fascinating conversation with Melissa Douros, the Chief Product Officer at Green Dot. Green Dot is an interesting amalgamation – it’s one of the first banking as a service companies. But it’s also a bank. With a configurable platform, Green Dot has carved out a kind of a unique space in the industry, as an OG fintech/bank. In this episode, Melissa shares her insights on digital transformation, product development strategies, and the role of emerging technologies in the fintech space. With over 20 years of experience in financial services, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a forward-thinking approach to her role at Green Dot. We delve into topics such as what it takes to build the best banking experience, accelerating partner onboarding, leveraging data for strategic insights, and exploring cutting-edge technologies like AI and biometrics. Melissa's passion for delivering exceptiona

Joining us today is Cory Kampfer, President of Small Business Lending at Enova, which operates the leading small business lending brands OnDeck and Headway Capital. Cory has been immersed in the small business lending space since 2011 when he joined OnDeck. Over his tenure, he's witnessed the evolution of fintech lending and how it has transformed access to capital for Main Street businesses like retailers, contractors, accountants and more. In this episode, Cory provides his unique perspective on the key financial needs and challenges facing small businesses today based on data insights from Enova's $18 billion in originated loans. He discusses how fintech lenders like OnDeck are able to better service this market compared to traditional banks and other financing sources. Cory also shares how the borrower experience and application process has progressed over the years to become quicker and more digital-friendly. We'll learn what metrics and approaches Enova uses to continually improve that journey. Whet

Today, we're diving into the modern CFO stack, including corporate spend management and financial tech with our guest - Ben Gammell, the CFO of Brex. Brex has been shaking up how companies large and small approach spending, providing an integrated platform for everything from corporate cards to spend analytics. It's been quite a journey for Ben, who started at Brex just as the firm was getting off the ground with 15 employees. Ben gives us an inside look at Brex's evolution from scrappy startup to serving over 120 public companies today. We'll learn how the CFO role has transformed, expanding well beyond just finance into true cross-functional business partnership. Ben doesn't hold back - offering refreshing insights about navigating the IPO journey for Brex clients – but also for Brex itself, managing finances through turbulent times, and the key transitions every CFO faces as their company goes public. You'll want to take notes! But don't worry, we'll keep it fun too by tapping into Ben's lead generatio

Welcome to the Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. What's up FinTech fam? On today's episode, we're going deep on an innovative new way to tap into your home's equity - without taking on more debt. Our guest is John Green, co-founder and CEO of Nada, the first SEC-qualified platform allowing homeowners to access their home equity in exchange for a share of the future appreciated value. John breaks down how Nada's unique "home equity investment agreements" provide much-needed liquidity for owners while offering investors access to the $30 trillion residential real estate market. We learn about the multi-year journey John and his team undertook to navigate the regulatory minefields of consumer finance and securities laws. John pulls back the curtain on Nada's business model, including their creative distribution partnerships and their plans to take these

On today's episode, we're going behind the scenes at one of the most successful money apps out there - Cash App. Our special guest is Ryan Budd, the head of financial products at Cash App, and he's giving us an inside look at Cash App's evolution into a financial powerhouse. Cash App started as a simple way to send money to friends, but as Ryan explains, it has become so much more. We're talking full-service banking, investing, crypto trading, tax services - the works! Ryan opens up about Cash App's bold vision to be a "one-stop shop" for all your money needs. But how has this ambitious fintech company maintained its startup hustle and breakneck innovation pace even as it has exploded to over 57 million monthly users? Ryan pulls back the curtain on Cash App's unique team structure filled with "mini CEOs" laser-focused on different product verticals. He also shares insights into Cash App's drive to bank the underbanked and economically empower communities that have been overlooked by traditional finance. Fr

Welcome to the Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. Today I'm joined by Luke Voiles, CEO of Pipe, a high profile revenue-based lender that’s evolving into a platform – we’ll talk a lot about this evolution. Luke has had an extensive career journey that has prepared him for his role at Pipe. After starting in private equity, he joined Intuit where he helped build and lead the QuickBooks Capital team, providing capital to small businesses during the PPP loan program. He then went to Square to run their banking division before being recruited to join Pipe as CEO. I’ve actually interviewed Luke in each one of these roles and it’s been fascinating for me to watch his own growth as a product-driven leader. In our conversation, Luke shares insights from his experience at companies like Intuit and Square that have shaped his leadership approach and methodology f

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller Banks and other FIs continue to look for higher engagement with their customers. Logging into an account and refreshing a balance doesn’t create relationships. So, what’s an FI to do to drive real engagement. Michigan State University Federal Credit Union has rolled out a loyalty program that delivers gift cards directly to customers inside their accounts by merchants trying to acquire new customers. The program uses customer data to target offers that matter. And this is just the beginning as banks and credit unions find ways to extend their value proposition, building and strengthening relationships with their customers. I’m joined by Ben Maxim, Chief Innovation Officer at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, and Brendan Grove, CTO of PrizeOut, who are to share their insi

We recently held a LinkedIn Live event, entitled "Card Launch 101," where we dove deep into the strategies, insights, and best practices for launching and growing successful card products in the fintech and banking industries. Featuring industry experts: Scott Johnson, Vice President of Revenue at Galileo Financial Technologies Marc Butterfield, SVP of Innovation and Disruption at FNBO  Jack Rubin, SVP of Consumer Financial Solutions at DailyPay Listen is as these professionals share their wealth of knowledge and experience in scaling partnerships, driving innovation, and navigating the complexities of launching card products in today's dynamic landscape. Here's what we discussed: Understanding Card Launches: Gain insights into the key components of a successful card launch strategy, including strategic planning, market research, and product development. Identifying Your Audience: Learn how to identify and understand your target audience through effective market research and data analysis. Creating You

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. In this episode, we'll be diving deep into the world of customer experience (CX) transformation with Vanguard, one of the leading names in investment management. Joining us are Aaron Taylor, Chief Information Officer, and Marco De Freitas, Head of CX and Digital, two seasoned professionals who have been instrumental in Vanguard's CX modernization journey. Throughout our conversation, we'll explore Vanguard's approach to modernizing its digital channels, client journeys, and service platforms. From laying down the foundational pillars to unlocking the potential of ‘CX Alpha’, Aaron and Marco share invaluable insights into how Vanguard is improving the way clients interact with their services. We'll delve into the parallel advancements made by Vanguard, the impact of fintech innovation

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. Today, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Dee Choubey, CEO of MoneyLion. In our chat, Dee takes us on a journey through MoneyLion's evolution, from its early days as a venture-backed neobank to its current position as a headline fintech stock. With a blend of insight and humor, he shares the company's shift from a growth-at-all-costs mindset to a more sustainable position focused on distribution, strategy, and morale. Through market ups and downs, Dee underscores the vital role of staying mission-driven and the focused dedication of MoneyLion's team to empower Americans with better financial tools and literacy. Looking ahead, Dee paints a vibrant picture of MoneyLion's future, where AI-driven search capabilities impact how consumers interact with their finances. MoneyLion isn

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. I'm thrilled to bring you a special episode today. After doing this for over 10 years, it’s not often I’m on the other side of the mic, being interviewed. But that’s exactly what we have in store for you. What you're about to hear is a recording from my recent appearance on Gusto's SMB Tech Innovators Podcast, hosted by Brian Busch. In this conversation, Brian and I explore the intriguing intersections of traditional financial institutions, technology, and innovation. Throughout our discussion, I share insights drawn from over 15 years of experience in the industry, including my role in reporting financial services news and producing over 650 podcast episodes. Together, we unravel the complexities of the financial services landscape and shed light on the evolving role of technology

Tearsheet Editor-in-Chief Zack Miller hosted a LinkedIn Live session featuring two of our top reporters, Rabab Ahsan and Sara Khairi. It was a chance to go behind the scenes of our reporting and go deeper into what's happening at the intersection of financial services, new models, rising expectations, and evolving technology. We explored the fascinating intersection of finance, Gen Z trends, and influencer culture, discussing how unconventional strategies like budgeting coloring books are reshaping financial literacy. We'll also dove into how some incumbent firms, like Bank of America and Capital One, are exploring unconventional methods to capture consumers’ interest in financial education as a starting point.

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. Today, I invite you to join us as we uncover the story of Curve, a creative fintech that's a sort of operating system for money, impacting the way people spend, send, see and save money Step into the world of Shachar Bialick, founder and CEO at Curve, as we traverse the company's path from its humble beginnings in 2016 to its strategic expansion into international markets. It's a tale of resilience, grit, and determination, as Curve works to carve out its place in a competitive fintech space. Along the way, we'll uncover five pivotal insights that shed light on Curve's approach to finance. From offering customers a real-time, panoramic view of their finances to navigating the complexities of international expansion with precision and foresight, Curve is reworking the way people inte

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. For the past 18 months, we’ve been exploring what it will take to really deliver financial services and products that resonate with Gen Z. As the biggest generation in history, getting this right can be an existential problem for certain types of FIs It won’t be easy. But according to Mahesh Raghavan, Associate Managing Director of Strategy at Publicis Sapient, it can be done using some untapped strategies used elsewhere in financial services and tech. Fresh from his session at the Tearsheet Gen Z Symposium in NYC, Mahesh is here to unveil some hidden gems of what it would take to build Gen Z-friendly financial products. Mahesh uncovers the often-overlooked strategies that could hold the key to captivating this discerning demographic. From personalized offerings to holistic loyalty

Welcome, everyone, to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. Today, we're joined by Don Relyea, the Chief Innovation Officer at U.S. Bank, and Todder Moning, who leads the bank's applied foresights practice. They've recently returned from scouring the halls of CES, the annual consumer electronics show, on a mission to uncover the latest trends and emerging technologies that could disrupt - or benefit - the financial services industry. From the rise of edge AI and machine vision capabilities that could enable personalized, privacy-preserving experiences, to sustainable innovations like water generation devices that challenge traditional infrastructure, Don and Todder share the diverse insights they gathered at this year's CES. You'll hear how the U.S. Bank innovation team is working to transform these market signals into strategic adv

Welcome, everyone, to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller. As we explore how financial services is attempting to cater to younger customers, it’s clear – some neobanks and fintechs resonate with Gen Z much more than traditional FIs. That may be because they have identified niche consumer groups and are thinking out of the box when it comes to designing products for them, according to Josh Stephens, SVP of Product at Current and Tony Tran, CEO and co-founder of Lumanu. Both these professionals – and the companies they’ve helped build – stand out among just a handful of financial services firms building their products and their services, designing their infrastructure, and establishing the channels to foster relationships with their clients today and into the future. Stephens and Tran joined me on stage for a fireside chat in M