In partnership with

Hi, fintech fam! 💜

Happy February! I know what you’re thinking—January lasted an eternity.

Days felt like weeks, weeks felt like months, and the whole month felt like a year. But now, we’re stepping into a new month, and for February, I’m choosing hope and light.

On that note, this past weekend’s Grammy Awards reminded us of the power of diverse talent and women lifting each other.

Instead of the usual competition narrative, we saw Taylor Swift rooting for Beyoncé, Chappell Roan using her platform to advocate for pay equity, and Doechii making history as the third woman to win Best Rap Album in her category.

This is precisely what we’re doing at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit on April 23—using women's collective expertise and excellence to propel fintech forward.

Now, let’s dive into today’s column!

LEADERSHIP

The Trojan Horse Strategy: How Angel Rich Builds Her $1 Billion Fintech Empire

We all stand to gain so much from the success of Black women, and the truth of this is woven into every corner of society, particularly in the world of fintech. 

Yesterday, I stumbled across some brilliant research (thanks, Ellevest) by Janelle Jones, the former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, illuminating this truth beautifully. 

She coined the economic ideology “Black Women Best,” which is about how we should approach policymaking, business investment, and economic planning.

Her findings echo a critical insight: when we center Black women—when we reorient our thinking to place them at the forefront—every community, every sector, and everyone benefits. 

It’s not just about elevating one group but lifting all of us and propelling us toward collective success. 

“A ‘Black women best’ framework,” Jones wrote in her 2020 research, “would lead to enacting deliberate strategies of inclusion… creating a stronger economy so that our most marginalized can thrive.” 

Focusing on Black women—ensuring fair pay, better healthcare, financial security, and access to education—results in economic prosperity for everyone.

In fintech, we’ve seen this truth in action. 

Black female founders are defying the odds, raising capital, using it strategically, and delivering higher returns for investors. 

Take Angel Rich for example—a living testament to how the right vision, a strong sense of purpose, and the ability to see the gaps in a broken system can lead to groundbreaking success.

Redefining Financial Literacy and Access

Rich isn’t just a fintech entrepreneur; she’s a trailblazer and an innovator, and, as Forbes dubbed her, “the next Steve Jobs.” 

Her company, CreditRich, is a Black woman-owned neo-bank that raised $100 million in a Series B round, propping her startup’s valuation to $1 billion. 

But beyond the capital and numbers, there’s a deeper story here—about power, disruption, and redefining who gets to shape the future of finance.

Rich’s journey, like many great stories, starts with a struggle to change a system that wasn’t designed for her. 

As an African American woman in a field dominated by men, she faced countless barriers. Yet, instead of succumbing to those limitations, she created a new path. 

She founded CreditRich—a platform combining financial education and access—by allowing users to round up spare change, pay bills, and improve their credit scores while strengthening their financial literacy.

Building a Smarter Financial System

At its core, CreditRich isn’t just another fintech tool; it’s an instrument of access. It’s about leveling the playing field for those historically left out of traditional banking. 

Rich's goal has always been to shift the financial paradigm, making credit and financial health tools not just aspirational but achievable for everyone. 

By partnering with giants like Experian and Visa, she’s building bridges where there were none before, ensuring that those who need financial services the most are getting them.

What’s more, her success isn’t just about raising capital or building a fintech product. It’s about changing the game—and showing that when you build from the edges, you’re not just disrupting industries but reshaping them entirely. 

The $1 billion valuation of CreditRich doesn’t just validate her vision; it sends a loud message to the entire industry: the game is changing, and Black women are taking their seat at the table (or building their own). 

The Trojan Horse Strategy

Angel Rich’s rise in fintech is a lesson in strategic brilliance. As she pointed out in her 2018 TED Talk, she uses a tactic she calls the “Trojan Horse Strategy.” 

Inspired by icons like Beyoncé and Oprah, this concept is simple but powerful: let people underestimate you, let them dismiss you, and then use their egos against them to infiltrate the system from within. 

It’s exactly what she’s done with her entrepreneurial journey. When she first launched CreditStacker, a financial literacy game, people doubted her. 

But that didn’t stop her. Instead, she turned those doubts into fuel, growing the app to over 200,000 downloads within two weeks across 60 countries.

The lesson here: Being underestimated is the best thing that can happen to you. When others don’t see you coming, you get to play the long game. 

And Rich has done just that—quietly building a fintech empire from the inside out.

Never Backing Down

Rich began conceptualizing her financial education app CreditStacker in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2012 that she left her job at Prudential to pursue her dream full-time.

While at Prudential, she generated $6 billion in revenue but received an underwhelming $30,000 bonus and an offer to pay for an MBA at Wharton.

She turned down the MBA offer and said goodbye to the corporate world.

By 2013, she launched The Wealth Factory Inc., which designs financial literacy and workforce development education technology games.

She also authored History of the Black Dollar, a book detailing the financial gap between Black and white Americans.

In 2021, Rich made history by founding CreditRich and securing a groundbreaking partnership with Experian, becoming the first Black woman to establish an institutional tie with a major credit bureau.

CreditRich empowers users to round up spare change for bill payments and credit score improvement, truly reflecting her commitment to tech for the people.

The following year, Rich, alongside partner Courtney Keen, launched the CreditRich Visa debit card in collaboration with Visa. Digitally issued by FDIC member Sutton Bank, the card offers instant access to a bank account and digital card via the CreditRich app, making it the first Black woman-owned neobank.

This service specifically caters to women, millennials burdened with student debt, and people of color—groups often underserved in traditional financial systems.

The CreditRich app goes beyond simple payments.

Users can access their credit reports, connect accounts, make online payments, and link their paychecks. The app also offers tools like investment and spending tips to boost credit scores and encourages users to build savings by adding spare change from everyday purchases to their accounts.

With U.S. income inequality at a 50-year high, exacerbated by the pandemic, the launch of CreditRich comes at a critical moment, offering financial inclusion and education where it’s needed most.

Despite her success, Rich is candid about the systemic challenges she faces as a Black woman in fintech. 

While her competitors raised millions, she raised just $200K initially.

But rather than seeing that as a setback, she used it to build a lean, smart, and sustainable business.

The reality is that Black women founders receive less than 1% of venture capital funding, yet they are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs. 

Rich’s story is not just about breaking barriers; it’s about taking those barriers down altogether.

Her mission is to give people the tools and education they need to make sound financial decisions, particularly in underserved communities.

When you combine this mission with the innovation of gamification, think Candy Crush, but for financial literacy, Rich has found a powerful way to teach the next generation of investors how to build and sustain wealth.

What’s Next?

With CreditRich now valued at $1 billion, this is just the beginning for Angel Rich.

The funds raised will go toward expanding its user base, enhancing its financial products, and strengthening the AI that underpins its platform.

The idea is to offer more than just a bank account—Rich wants to optimize how people approach their finances, from budgeting to borrowing.

By allowing customers to set automatic payments and track their credit, CreditRich is doing something critical: making credit optimization not just an aspiration but a tangible goal.

Her focus remains clear: sustain a business model about scale and profitability while making a real, lasting impact on how people interact with finance. 

In 2023, Rich became the youngest African American HBCU graduate to receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, a testament to the lasting legacy she’s already building. 

Her and her company’s accolades, as documented by Forbes contributor Geri Stengel, include: 

• Being named the best financial literacy product in the country - Office of Michelle Obama The White House

• Being named the best Learning Game in the country by the Department of Education

• Winning $10,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase for being the best solution in the world for reducing poverty

• The Wealth Factory was named the ninth-best ed-tech company in 2015 by the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools.

• Winning $10,000 as the People’s Choice winner at the 43North business pitch competition.

• Winning the Black Women Talk Tech pitch competition

• Jeff Hoffman, the founder of Priceline, called Rich one of his inspirations for waking up in the morning.

• Being inducted into the 2016 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) 30 Under 30 and the inaugural Hampton 40 Under 40.

Rich’s journey shows us an important lesson: Innovation doesn’t always come from the top—it comes from the edges.

As she prepares to take the stage at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit, Rich will share her strategies for success, revealing how she’s navigated the complexities of the fintech world, partnered with major institutions, and used the “Trojan Horse” approach to not just enter the room—but take it over.

Her advice?

“I encourage you to go forth and be Trojan horses. Oh, don’t worry if they’re still underestimating us. We want them to underestimate us because they don’t realize they’re already surrounded.”

And as she continues to disrupt the traditional financial system, her legacy is just beginning.

If you want to learn from a true pioneer, catch Angel live at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit, where she’ll share: 

• How to strategically partner with industry giants (like Experian and Visa) 

• Diverse forms of fundraising

• Building smart with limited resources 

• Taking advantage of timing and cultural shifts

• Embracing the power of being underestimated 

• Building for profit and impact 

• How to stay true to your vision and build a legacy of inclusion 

​Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit 2025

​This year’s theme is Fintech Redefined.

​Fintech is stepping up in a big way. Startups, investors, and banking partners have never been more crucial in solving some of the most pressing challenges facing our economy today.

​At this year’s summit, you’ll hear from fintech’s most influential leaders, engage in high-energy networking sessions with powerhouse professionals, and walk away with actionable insights that will propel your career forward.

​Expect a day filled with inspiring fireside chats, expert-led panels, and networking opportunities that will fuel your ambition.

​And don’t miss our fan-favorite Evening of Storytelling—it’s going to be an unforgettable night!

​These powerhouse women will show you exactly what it takes to rise to the top of the fintech world.

​So, What Are You Waiting For?

​Get inspired, make connections, and prepare for a life-changing day. This is your chance to step up and be a part of something big.

​Want to sponsor? Click here to get involved.

_{WTF ELSE?}

• How Big Tech Failed DEI

• Trump Administration Fires Consumer Bureau Chief

• US Bancorp President Gunjan Kedia to Become its First Female CEO

• Visa Foundation Launches Initiative to Empower UK Women-Led SMBs

• Stop Worshiping the American Tech Giants by Lina Khan

SPONSORED BY

There’s a reason 400,000 professionals read this daily.

Join The AI Report, trusted by 400,000+ professionals at Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Get daily insights, tools, and strategies to master practical AI skills that drive results.

Sign up now for free and work smarter, not harder.

_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 📰 Today’s Read: Margaret O’Mara's research (extensively cited in my book) Why Can’t Tech Fix Its Gender Problem? The piece thoroughly debunks the myth of meritocracy and reveals the longstanding reality of women leading in the tech industry for generations.

• 🍿 Today’s Food: I'm writing to you from CDMX, and the food here is always incredible! If you ever travel to Mexico City, experience Cantón Mexicali, where you'll find an exceptional blend of Chinese and Mexican flavors. You know we love a mix mix!

• 🌍 Today’s Listen: If I’m not listening to tech and economic-based podcasts like Pivot, then I love shows like NPR’s This American Life. The latest episode tackles Groundhog Day: People stuck in a loop, trying to find their way out.

_FINTUNES

🎵 Beyoncé - YA YA

A well-deserved recognition was finally bestowed upon the queen with her Album of the Year win at the Grammys on Sunday. Witness her inspiring acceptance speech here. This achievement is a testament to 25 years of relentless dedication. She embodies the essence of an artist and businesswoman who resonates with us all.

And, of course, she used her time on stage to dedicate her win to another woman artist, Linda Martell. A reminder that we stand on the shoulders of the trailblazers who opened doors before us.

We love you, B!

_{LET’S CONNECT}

📰 Share this newsletter with a friend and start growing your network.

🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn for daily insights on female leadership.

🤝 Grow your business through content & community by partnering with me.

📣 Promote yourself to 50,000 subscribers by sponsoring this newsletter.

🎤 Host an epic event by booking me as a speaker, moderator, or emcee.

📚 Increase your expertise by ordering your copy of my book, Fintech Feminists: Increasing Inclusion, Redefining Innovation, and Changing the Future for Women Around the World.

That’s all for now! See you Thursday!

Love,

Nicole 💜