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Hey, fintech fam! 💜

Big News! My book, Fintech Feminists, will officially be out by the time I write to you next! This is more than just a book launch—it’s a moment for us. Once it’s in your hands, it stops being my book and becomes yours.

I want you to make it your own: take notes, scribble in the margins, and highlight the parts that fire you up—whether it’s joy, frustration, or motivation. This book is about driving us all toward a more equitable financial future, starting with this community.

And if you want to celebrate this milestone IRL, we’ve got a few tickets left for our NYC Book Launch Celebration! If you can’t make it to the city, don’t worry—we have events in Las Vegas (hello, Money20/20!) and San Francisco. Details are below.

Now, let's move on to the news you need to know!

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#TRENDING

What’s Up In Fintech

Every Thursday, I deliver the hottest fintech news and trends, keeping you updated with the most essential insights impacting the industry.

#1 Tala Launches New Crypto Wallet

Tala just launched a non-custodial crypto wallet powered by the Stellar network designed to give financially underserved communities secure access to virtual assets. 

According to the company, this move deepens Tala’s commitment to financial inclusion by providing tools that make managing virtual currency easy and accessible.

CEO Shivani Siroya said that while crypto is often seen as a tool for the elite, its true potential lies in helping the world’s unbanked and underbanked populations achieve financial security.

The wallet will launch first in Peru, where, according to World Bank data, more than 50% of adults remain unbanked.

Why It Matters:

The global financial system has long failed to serve the needs of over 2.5 billion adults without access to traditional banking services.

In Peru alone, many people face barriers like lack of identification, prohibitive costs, and distance from financial institutions.

Tala’s crypto wallet—along with its existing alternative data approach to credit scoring—addresses these challenges directly.

For fintechs, this shows a powerful blueprint for expanding into underserved markets.

By leveraging new technologies like blockchain and AI, fintechs can fill the $2.5 trillion credit gap for small businesses in emerging economies, a market largely ignored by traditional banks.

Key Insights:

1. The Financial Inclusion Crisis: Globally, 1 in 3 adults without an I.D. face barriers to accessing financial services, and 46% of adults in low-income countries struggle with documentation requirements. Tala’s solution bypasses many of these hurdles by offering digital access through mobile devices.

2. The Power of Alternative Data: Siroya pioneered the use of alternative data, such as mobile phone activity, to develop credit scores for populations often ignored by traditional financial institutions. This data-driven approach has enabled Tala to lend over $5 billion in credit across emerging markets, helping 10 million customers access critical financial services.

3. Shivani’s Leadership Approach: Shivani’s leadership is rooted in empathy and trust. Her journey—from studying microcredit in sub-Saharan Africa to founding Tala—has been shaped by her commitment to understanding underserved populations from the ground up. Her “radical trust” philosophy, where Tala leads by telling its customers, “We trust you,” has built a community of repeat customers with a 90% repayment rate.

The Bottom Line: Tala’s new crypto wallet isn’t just another fintech innovation—it’s a lifeline for the billions of people excluded from the global financial system. For fintech companies, following Tala’s lead by focusing on underserved markets and leveraging alternative data isn’t just ethical—it’s a smart business strategy that taps into a largely untouched market with significant growth potential.

#2 Sheena Allen’s CapWay Shuts Down—What We Can Learn from Her Journey

Sheena Allen, the powerhouse behind CapWay, a fintech company that provides banking solutions to underserved communities in banking deserts, has announced that the company is shutting down.

In a heartfelt post on LinkedIn, Allen expressed her disappointment and acknowledged the challenges that led to this decision, including industry-wide setbacks and the difficulties Black founders face in raising capital.

But make no mistake—this isn’t the end of her fight for financial inclusion. Allen’s story, covered by TechCrunch, is a lesson in resilience, determination, and the reality of building in fintech.

Why It Matters:

CapWay’s shutdown isn’t a failure, it’s a learning opportunity for every woman looking to break barriers in a highly competitive, often exclusive industry. From dealing with investor biases to the hurdles of raising funds in a down market, Allen’s experience sheds light on what it takes to survive and thrive as a woman in fintech.

And the takeaway?

You may not be able to control the circumstances, but you can control how you navigate them.

CapWay’s closure also highlights a crucial reality for fintech founders: the stakes are high, especially in a highly regulated industry.

Allen pointed out that the fintech industry took a significant reputational hit after the hacking of Evolve Bank & Trust and the collapse of Synapse, which left hundreds of millions in consumer funds frozen.

In the aftermath, banks that once partnered with fintechs began imposing stricter requirements, including demanding that fintech companies have large amounts of cash before considering collaboration.

Key Insights:

1. Fintech Requires Deep Resources—But Don’t Let That Stop You: The fintech industry is one of the toughest to crack, and as Allen learned, you need both funding and flexibility to survive. While securing that funding can feel like an uphill battle, the lesson here is to be prepared—strategize, build relationships, and stay ready for the challenges that come your way.

2. Overcoming Bias in Fundraising: Allen’s story highlights the harsh reality of competing for limited funding, but it also reminds us of the importance of pushing forward. The fact that only 0.3% of U.S. startup funding went to Black founders in the first half of this year should light a fire under all of us to demand more—and build anyway.

3. Setbacks Are Part of the Journey—Keep Going: CapWay may be winding down, but Sheena Allen’s journey is far from over. She’s already planning her next move and is determined to continue her work in financial inclusion. Her resilience is a powerful reminder that every setback is just a stepping stone to something greater. Failure is part of the process, not the end of the road.

The Bottom Line: CapWay may have come to a close, but Allen’s fight for financial inclusion continues—and so should ours. For every woman founder in fintech, this story isn’t a cautionary tale; it’s motivation. It’s a reminder that setbacks, whether it’s funding challenges or industry hurdles, don’t define us. They fuel us. Allen’s journey proves perseverance, purpose, and vision can carry you through the toughest times.

So take this as inspiration: when things seem impossible, dig deeper, stay focused, and keep building.

#3 Remembering Lilly Ledbetter—A Legacy of Equal Pay and Equal Opportunity

Lilly Ledbetter, a tireless leader in the fight for equal rights, died at 86, leaving behind a legacy that transformed the fight for pay equality.

After discovering that she had been underpaid compared to her male colleagues for nearly two decades, Ledbetter became an outspoken advocate for equal pay. Her efforts helped pave the way for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was the first bill signed into law by the Obama-Biden Administration.

This landmark legislation strengthened protections against pay discrimination, ensuring that women could fight for what they deserved.

Her passing comes in a significant year for women’s financial rights: the Equal Credit Opportunity Act—which opened the doors for women to access credit without male co-signers—celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Together, these milestones serve as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come, and how much further we still need to go.

Why It Matters:

Lilly’s legacy is a call to action for fintech companies and women entrepreneurs alike.

The battle for equal pay and financial inclusion is far from over. In fintech, we have a unique opportunity to drive systemic change by designing products that serve women better and pushing for more equitable access to capital.

The next frontier? Breaking down the barriers women face in accessing funding—only 2% of venture capital still goes to women-led startups.

For fintech founders and leaders, the lesson is clear: build for women, fund women, and lead with purpose. Just as Lilly rewrote the rules for equal pay, we can rewrite the rules for equal opportunity in fintech.

Key Insights:

1. Financial Independence = More Female Entrepreneurs: The fight for equal pay and access to credit isn’t just about fairness—it’s about unlocking opportunities. When women achieve financial independence, they open doors for themselves and for future generations of female entrepreneurs.

2. Serve Underserved Markets = Growth: Like Sallie Krawcheck’s $2B+ fintech platform, Ellevest, built by women for women, serving ignored markets isn’t just ethical—it’s profitable. Fintech founders should follow this lead.

3. Failure Fuels Success: Sallie Krawcheck didn’t get a smooth ride when launching Ellevest, but she turned failure into a stepping stone, raising $53M through community-driven funding after hearing “no” from countless investors.

The Bottom Line: Lilly Ledbetter’s fight for equal pay forever changed the conversation around women’s rights in the workplace, and her legacy lives on in today’s fight for financial equity. For fintech, it’s about more than just tech—it’s about creating systems that finally work for everyone.

And that’s exactly what leaders like Sallie Krawcheck is doing. In my upcoming book Fintech Feminists, I dive into Sallie’s journey, where she shares her blueprint for breaking barriers and building financial products that empower women.

And speaking of Sallie, I’m thrilled to share that my interview with her kicks off the first episode of the new and improved Humans of Fintech (Nicole’s Version) podcast!

You won’t want to miss the lessons she’s learned—and the lessons every woman in fintech should embrace. Tune in here, or wherever you get podcasts!

_{MARK YOUR CALENDARS}

Come join us every Thursday to keep up with the best fintech events! These events are perfect for meeting people, learning new things, and connecting with our fintech community. Let's add these fun events to our schedules - I hope to see you there!

_{TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22}

[NEW YORK] FINTECH FEMINISTS BOOK LAUNCH PARTY (+ LIVE PODCAST)

_{MONDAY, OCTOBER 28}

[LAS VEGAS] Humans of Fintech LIVE Podcast & Book Signing at Money 20/20

​4:00 - 4:30 PM: Join Frances Zelazny, Founder & CEO of Anonybit, for a conversation on fraud, addressing problems at the root, and how women leaders and founders are shaping the future of fintech.

4:30 - 5:15 PM: Stick around to grab a signed copy of Fintech Feminists, with books generously sponsored by Anonybit.

Add this to your Money20/20 calendar by clicking here.

_{TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12}

[SAN FRANCISCO] Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit: San Francisco

It’s official…

Fintech Is Femme is breaking ground in San Francisco! 🌉✨

After eight SOLD-OUT events and over 1,000 tickets sold, we’re finally bringing the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit to the West Coast.

And here’s why this matters:

When women lead, they don’t just break barriers—they build bridges.

Creating community is the key to building networks that fund and support more women in fintech.

It’s how we’ll shift that 2% funding figure for women founders and open doors for the next wave of trailblazing leaders.

Grab your early bird ticket here before they’re gone!

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_FINTUNES

🎵 Nanna - Happy (Live session)

Get ready for an unforgettable night because Nanna is performing LIVE at the Fintech Feminists Book Launch Party in NYC this Tuesday! We’re going to be on cloud nine all night long!

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

📚 Increase your expertise by pre-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 Tuesday!

Love,

Nicole 💜