Sponsored by

Hi, fintech fam! 💜

The community is buzzing! We’re thrilled to be putting the final touches on the Fintech Is Femme Founders Summit, making it the ultimate kickoff to summer with fintech friends and insights!

There’s still time to invite your founder, investor, and innovator friends to join us on June 3. Check out the agenda here.

Come network, learn, and grow as leaders in fintech. Think of this event as your career accelerator, where you'll get everything you need to kick off and sharpen your founder journey. Grab your ticket here.

As soon as the event wraps up, I’ll be catching the midnight flight to Amsterdam for one of my favorite events of the year: Money 20/20 Europe!

I'll cover some of the best sessions and share those stories in the newsletter. If you can’t make it to Amsterdam, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered!

Now, let's dive into the latest insights.

SPONSORED BY

Invest before this company becomes a household name

What if you had the opportunity to invest in the biggest electronics products before they launched into big box retail, would you?

Ring changed doorbells and Nest changed thermostats. Early investors in these companies earned massive returns, but the opportunity to invest was limited to a select, wealthy few. Not anymore. RYSE has just launched in 100+ Best Buy stores, and you're in luck — you can still invest at only $1.50/share before their name becomes known nationwide.

They have patented the only mass market shade automation device, and their exclusive deal with Best Buy resembles that which led Ring and Nest to their billion-dollar buyouts.

Learn how you can become a shareholder.

#TRENDING

What’s Up In Fintech

Every Thursday, I share news stories and insightful pieces I follow. Think of it as a way to quickly find the most important news in the fintech world.

For this week, I’m highlighting three trailblazers who are also gracing the stage during the Fintech Is Femme Founders Summit on June 3.

#1 Future of Female-Led Innovation With Lisa Carmen Wang

The latest fintech innovations—from blockchain to AI—share a glaring similarity: women are often left out of the leadership narrative.

A 2021 report from Findexable revealed that globally, only 1.3% of venture capital goes to female fintech founders.

Female-led fintechs raise just 54 cents for every dollar raised by their male counterparts, and women hold less than six percent of CEO and less than four percent of chief innovation or technology officer positions.

This digital twist on traditional finance patterns is a missed opportunity.

Fintech could drive economic change, promote equitable financial services, and boost financial inclusion for the global majority, many of whom are women.

By overlooking the female market, firms are missing out on $700 billion, according to Oliver Wyman. The potential for female entrepreneurship to add $5 trillion to the global GDP is immense.

Enter Lisa Carmen Wang, a USA Champion and Hall of Fame athlete turned powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, author, and speaker.

Wang is on a mission to drive the future of female-led innovation by investing directly in female founders.

Her journey started in an unexpected place. Before she became a business mogul, she was an Olympic-level gymnast. The discipline, early mornings, and endless training instilled a strong work ethic and perseverance that would serve her well in her future endeavors.

After her gymnastics career, Wang attended Yale University, earning a degree in Literature. Post-graduation, Wang made a name for herself in the financial sector, gaining invaluable experience at prestigious firms.

However, climbing the corporate ladder wasn't enough—she wanted to make a real impact.

This desire led her to found the Bad Bitch Empire, an initiative empowering women to take control of their financial futures and embrace their inner strength.

Through this bold move, Wang created a community offering resources, mentorship, and opportunities for women to thrive in business and investment.

Why It Matters

The Bad Bitch Empire is more than a catchy name—it's a movement.

Wang’s initiative challenges the status quo, advocating for greater inclusion and diversity for female founders. Through workshops, networking events, and online resources, the Bad Bitch Empire equips women with the tools they need to succeed.

Wang believes that paying women starts with women. Angel investing—where successful entrepreneurs or high-net-worth individuals invest directly in emerging businesses—allows investors to seek higher returns than traditional investments.

Historically, women made up a small percentage of active U.S. angels, but this is changing. The number of women angels has increased to 37%, indicating a positive shift in the industry.

The rise of angel investing among women is transforming the business landscape.

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened national consciousness around startups and investing. Social media platforms and shows like Shark Tank have demystified the process, making it more accessible. Universities have also stepped up with entrepreneurship programs.

Throughout history, networks have been the backbone of various asset classes, including startups. Initially, angel investing was dominated by male networks. However, formal syndicates emerged in the 1990s, making it easier for anyone with the means to invest, though participation remained predominantly male.

Women like Wang are changing this dynamic by investing in diverse founders and companies. For example, she is an investor in Ohai.ai, the latest startup by Care.com founder Sheila Lirio Marcelo.

Wang’s vision is to create a ripple effect, transforming industries and empowering future generations of women leaders.

Tackling systemic challenges head-on, she offers practical solutions for a more inclusive and equitable business environment. Through the Bad Bitch Empire, Wang continues to inspire and drive change, demonstrating that angel investing isn't just about writing checks; it's about rewriting the rules of the game.

Wang is sharing her insights for building an authentic brand during the opening fireside chat at the Fintech Is Femme Founders Summit.

#2 Power of Female Investors: A Game-Changer in Fundraising Strategies

Fintech startup Ansa, led by co-founder and CEO Sophia Goldberg, made headlines in April with its announcement of a $14 million Series A funding round. Founded in 2022, Ansa helps merchants create branded virtual wallets, offering a white-labeled digital wallet infrastructure that streamlines small payments and avoids high credit card fees for smaller transactions.

What truly sets this funding round apart is that 95.6% of the capital came from female investors, signaling a promising shift in the fintech ecosystem.

Female founders and investors are increasingly supporting each other, with notable investors in Ansa including:

• Renata Quintini from Renegade Partners

• Nichole Wischoff from Wischoff Ventures

• Christina Melas-Kyriazi from Bain Capital

• Nimi Katragadda from BoxGroup

• Silvija Martincevic, former Affirm executive

The fintech funding landscape has been turbulent recently, marked by macroeconomic fluctuations and investor uncertainty. Since the boom and subsequent decline in 2021, venture capitalists have been cautious with their capital.

Despite these challenges, the fintech industry has shown resilience. According to CB Insights' Q1 2024 State of Venture Report, global fintech funding totaled $7.3 billion across 904 deals, a 54.4% decrease compared to the previous year. However, the first quarter of this year saw a 15% increase compared to the preceding quarter, hinting at a rebound.

Insights from the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit on April 8 highlighted encouraging trends, with industry leaders like Asya Bradley (an investor in Ansa) emphasizing the growing influence of female founders and investors in fintech.

Why It Matters

For Bradley, angel investing started with a simple question: why wait for someone else to fund female founders when she could do it herself?

After successfully building and selling Kinly, a neobank for Black Americans, she decided to take action. Bradley’s message is clear: women supporting each other is crucial for driving meaningful change in the fintech world.

Another perfect example is Alinea Invest, a fintech app targeting Gen Z women with AI-powered wealth management. In January, they announced a $3.4 million seed funding round led by F7 Ventures and GFR, highlighting the pivotal role of female investors in empowering female founders. Alinea's impressive growth, with 225,000 app downloads and a $1.8 million revenue run rate, underscores the impact of these investments.

It's not just about the numbers; it's about the narrative. Kelly Graziadei, general partner at F7, emphasized the importance of financial literacy and investing for women and Gen Z, noting that investing in Alinea is an investment in an inclusive and accessible future for wealth creation.

Sallie Krawcheck's experience with Ellevest’s $53 million Series B funding further illustrates the power of collective action. Despite Ellevest's success, securing investors for its 2022 round was challenging.

However, a community of women investors rallied together through special-purpose vehicles, bringing in hundreds of new investors, mostly from underrepresented groups.

The takeaway is clear: our collective strength as women is our superpower, capable of reshaping fintech.

Sophia Goldberg is joining the Fintech Is Femme Founders Summit for a panel discussion covering fundraising strategies.

#3 Orum’s Founder Rewrites Financial Infrastructure

Meet Stephany Kirkpatrick, a seasoned digital executive and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in a variety of business sectors.

As the CEO and founder of Orum, Kirkpatrick is revolutionizing the way money moves by providing instant access to all major payment rails without the need for costly bank integrations or prolonged compliance processes.

Kirkpatrick founded Orum in 2019 based on a simple yet powerful belief: consumers should have immediate access to their money.

With Orum, she has created the simplest API integration for instant payouts, helping businesses rethink money movement. Kirkpatrick’s commitment to financial accessibility is deeply personal. As the daughter of an immigrant and a Certified Financial Planner, she has dedicated her career to helping those with less gain more.

Last summer marked a significant milestone for the government's payment system with the launch of FedNow, its first major update since the disco era.

Kirkpatrick seized this opportunity to make Orum a key player in this transformation. Orum is a New York-based account-to-account payments company with a mission to revolutionize how financial institutions use the Federal Reserve's FedNow instant payments rail.

Orum recently announced its live status with FedACH and plans to add FedNow and FedWire services. This achievement is no small feat; it involves exceeding the Federal Reserve's rigorous diligence, contracting, and IT testing requirements, as well as meeting the demands of financial institutions.

Orum is poised to shake up the payments world, having raised an impressive $82 million since its inception. The female-founded fintech is on a mission to conquer the B2B payment world, offering a new money movement API, Deliver, which orchestrates money's seamless movement through the Fed’s payment rails.

During the Fintech Is Femme Founders Summit, Kirkpatrick will show us how she raised funding, built and scaled her startup in a fireside chat.

Why It Matters

Many payment platforms and fintechs struggle with gaining access to various payment rails, dealing with technical issues, and avoiding downtime. According to the Ponemon Institute, downtime can cost a business up to $500,000 per hour. Orum’s innovations are crucial in avoiding these costly interruptions.

In October, Orum launched an account verification tool that leverages the FedNow network, allowing for bank account verification in just 15 seconds. This is a significant improvement over the days-long wait times traditionally required for bank account verification.

The Federal Reserve’s FedNow Service, launched in July, enables financial institutions of all sizes to offer safe, instant payments 24/7. Orum acts as the matchmaker, connecting these institutions to the FedNow Service, which operates without weekends, bank holidays, or downtime.

Kirkpatrick's journey is just getting started. She remains dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for financial inclusivity.

Her work with Orum is not just about moving money; it's about making financial systems more efficient, inclusive, and innovative.

_{MARK YOUR CALENDARS}

Join us every Thursday for top fintech events! Network, learn, and connect with our community.

_{MONDAY 6/3}

[NYC] Fintech Is Femme Founders Summit: New York Tech Week 

Female leaders in fintech are not just serving communities—they’re driving significant economic activity and reshaping the industry with their innovative approaches.

What’s more powerful than that?

The Fintech Is Femme Founders Summit is centered around a key theme: Building A Resilient Future. Women are the key to unlocking our industry's innovation and success.

Come listen to how they work, build, fundraise, and market. Building businesses from a female perspective benefits everyone.

Join us on June 3. Grab your ticket here.

_{TUESDAY 6/4}

[VIRTUAL] BBE Iconic Personal Brand Challenge

Learn to Unleash Your Most Iconic Bad Bitch Brand with weekly trainings on how to craft a bold, unforgettable personal brand to establish yourself as an industry leader and launch your Bad Bitch Empire.

Hosted by Lisa Carmen Wang, the month-long personal branding challenge starts June 4. Secure your spot here, and use code FEMME for 50% off! W

_{WEDNESDAY 6/5}

[AMSTERDAM] The Dinner Club: A Private Dinner With the City of Milano

One event I'm particularly excited about during Money20/20 Europe is my latest partnership with Milano & Partners, the official promotion agency of the City of Milano.

We're teaming up to host an exclusive dinner on June 5 with some of the brightest minds in fintech from around the world.

Our goal is to tackle pressing issues, find ways to improve inclusion and reduce the gender gap in our industry.

During the dinner, I'll be hosting a fireside chat with Clelia Tosi, Head of Fintech District Milan.

We'll dive into how fintechs, banks, financial experts, investors, technologists, futurists, and innovators are shaping the future of fintech in Europe and driving financial inclusion worldwide by recognizing and nurturing talent.

These are the rooms where change happens!

_{WEDNESDAY 6/5}

[NYC] BBE Investor Soiree: NY Tech Week 

Looking for more female-centric events during NY Tech Week?

Join Lisa Carmen Wang for an exclusive evening of celebration and conversation at the Bad Bitch Empire Investor Soirée, hosted by Cogni.

Connect with the BBE community of mission-oriented investors, limited partners, and male allies. Enjoy an evening of inspiration, impact, and collaboration as we come together to uplift the next generation of female leaders.

Secure your seat here.

SPONSORED BY

Keep up with AI

How do you keep up with the insane pace of AI? Join The Rundown — the world’s largest AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date with everything happening in AI, and why it actually matters in just a 5-minute read per day.

Sign up with one click

_FINTUNES

🎵 Maeta - DJ Got Me

New drop! Perfect vibes heading into this weekend.

That’s all for now! Stay safe, everyone. Hug your loved ones. See you Tuesday!

Love,

Nicole

📰 Newsletter | 🔗 LinkedIn | 🤝 Partnerships | 🎤 Speaking |📱 @fintechisfemme | Get in front of 50,000 readers