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Hi, fintech fam! 💜

How is this year nearly halfway over?! If you’re like me, you’re coming off the long weekend trying to catch your breath—with a to-do list that somehow grew while you were resting.

But here’s the thing: the halfway point is also a milestone. And when I take a second to look back, I’m honestly floored by how much we’ve built—together.

The first five months of 2025 have been the fastest growth period in Fintech Is Femme history. We took risks, said “no” to free work, and said “hell yes” to bold moves. The result?

• 41 newsletters published (51% average UOR)

• Two major summits, 500+ attendees

• 20+ brand sponsors and powerhouse partners like FIS and Salesforce

• Nearly doubled our net revenue

• Launched a new podcast series, Founder’s Spotlight coaching track, and watched our LinkedIn reach skyrocket by 367.5%

• Oh, and built a private membership community from 0 to 125+ paid members

This is proof that content + community = revenue. And it’s just the beginning.

Tomorrow, we’re hosting our first official State of the Union for Academy members—where I’ll share how to plug into event co-hosting, on-stage features, content collabs, and our biggest launches of the year, including:

→ Emerald Summit, our climate fintech event on Sept 19

→ Career Creators, turning content into business growth

→ Leadership Summit: SF Edition, coming this October

→ Even more exclusive brand collabs, podcast drops, and in-person moments

We’re not slowing down—and we’re not looking back. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been along for the ride, THANK YOU.

Now, let’s get into today’s column.

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INNOVATION

Culture Over Code: How to Craft Partnerships That Deliver Real ROI

At the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit in New York City last month, a standout panel revealed what it really takes to build enduring, impactful partnerships between fintech startups and large enterprises. 

In a market saturated with fast pitches and even faster rejections, this conversation drilled into something more essential: trust, alignment, and the long game.

Moderated by Spave founder and CEO Susan Langer, the panel featured Andrea Martone, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of Atomic; Meghan Kober, VP of Fintech Partnerships & Strategic Investments at US Bank; and Helen Robb, Director of Product Management at H&R Block. 

Each panelist brought a unique lens to the table, but one shared theme rose to the top: great tech means nothing if it doesn’t solve real problems in a way that works for both people and institutions.

Finding the Sweet Spot Between Pain Point and Potential

Innovation at scale starts with clarity, not code. As Kober explained, US Bank doesn’t chase shiny objects. 

"We work across the enterprise to understand priorities, pain points, capability gaps—and where we can accelerate products to market through partnerships and investments," she said. 

Their recent collaboration with Atomic on deposit switching was rooted in real friction customers faced. That kind of traction only happens when enterprises start with the question: what’s broken?

Their bar for external partners? Best-in-class tools that solve niche problems quickly without overwhelming internal resources. If your fintech can plug in cleanly, that’s a win.

Robb echoed this, explaining how Spruce by H&R Block made its build-vs-buy decisions. "We know the problem we’re solving and the customers we’re solving it for," she said. "But we also know we’re not the best at everything. So if a partner brings us best-in-class tech, and they can implement it cleanly, that’s a win for our users."

Culture Can Make or Break a Deal

As the adage goes, 'culture eats strategy for breakfast.' While strategy and tech are easy to vet, cultural alignment is often the real deal-breaker.

"Every enterprise has a slightly different culture," said Martone. "The key is meeting them where they are without sacrificing your own values."

Kober agreed, noting that culture can be the reason a great proof of concept stalls. "You’re merging a risk-averse bank with a fast-moving startup. If that cultural bridge isn’t built intentionally, the partnership won’t last."

Helen Robb took it further, flipping the script: "Enterprises need to create a culture where fintechs can succeed. That means using language like 'partner' not 'vendor,' and internally educating stakeholders about the long-term value of that relationship."

From Pitch to Contract: What to Know

The commercialization journey—from first meeting to signed agreement—is often longer and more complex than either side expects. 

Fintech founders, Martone warned, should resist the urge to treat the enterprise sales cycle like a transactional funnel. "Don’t roll your eyes at the process. Compliance, security reviews, endless InfoSec paperwork—yes, it’s tedious. But it’s how you earn the right to scale."

Transparency is another critical piece. As Robb noted, startups often miss the chance to build trust by not celebrating wins with their partners. "We want to know when something goes right. If you just closed a funding round, tell us. We want to rally behind your growth."

Don’t ghost your enterprise partner when things go well. Celebrate milestones together. 

Transparency builds trust.

Impact Isn’t Just a KPI

Perhaps the most powerful part of the panel came in the form of impact stories. 

Partnerships that work make a difference—for the business and the customer. Martone shared how Atomic’s reach came full circle when a Best Buy technician unknowingly praised a feature built on their infrastructure. "He had no idea it was us. But that’s the point. Real impact shows up in everyday lives."

Robb spoke about Spruce’s mission to re-engage the underbanked. "Many people using Spruce are coming back to the banking system after a negative experience. Our goal is to make that return feel seamless and supportive—and that means working with partners who make onboarding as smooth as possible."

Kober reminded the audience that the ripple effect of these partnerships isn’t just financial. "When startups grow, they hire. That drives local job creation and economic development. It’s all interconnected."

Human-First Innovation Is the Future

Asked for closing advice, each panelist landed on a shared truth: behind every powerful product is a trusted relationship.

"Recognize the human connection," said Martone. "It’s what keeps the phone lines open and the ideas flowing."

"Find values-aligned enterprises and the right champions inside them," Robb added. "And if it’s not a fit, move on respectfully. The door might open again."

Kober closed with the fundamentals: "Anchor on the business problem. Understand your shared value. And collaborate with humility."

In a fintech ecosystem where partnership is often confused with procurement, this conversation was a masterclass in how to build something better. Not just scalable tech–but sustainable, human-centered innovation. 

Because when cultural alignment and real problem-solving lead the way, ROI isn’t just a metric—it’s the outcome. 

Key Takeaways for Fintechs Partnering with Enterprises:

• Lead with the problem, not the pitch. Understand your enterprise partner’s pain points before selling your solution.

• Don’t just sell tech—sell trust. Cultural fit and communication matter just as much as product functionality.

• Make it easy to say yes. Clean integrations, fast onboarding, and minimal lift for internal teams are essential.

• Respect the process. Be ready for legal, security, and compliance hoops—and show up with patience and professionalism.

• Celebrate wins together. Keep your enterprise partners looped in on milestones; it deepens the relationship.

• Bring the receipts. Share real-world impact stories showing how your tech improves end users' lives.

• Play the long game. Strong partnerships aren’t built on transactions—they’re built on transparency, alignment, and shared outcomes.

_{WTF ELSE?}

• Why wealth managers are flocking to Dubai

• CFPB’s move to rescind rule 1033 creates uncertainty in open banking 

• From LLMs to hallucinations, here's a simple guide to common AI terms

• Chime’s IPO is coming: Here’s how to value the one-of-a-kind fintech

• Personal finance app Monarch rises with $75M at $850M valuation after Mint's meltdown

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_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 🎧 Today’s Listen: I have more podcasts cooking as we head into the second half of the year, but for now here’s a throwback to an epic episode of Fintech Mavericks with Founder of Super.com, Hussein Fazal. Tune in to this masterclass in growth, here!

• 🚀 Today’s Activity: We spent our Memorial Day afternoon enjoying the lovely Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn and stumbled upon a fabulous Turkish restaurant called Deniz. If you find yourself in the area, you should definitely give it a try!

• 🧘‍♀️Today’s Self-Care: Just like everyone else, I find myself hitting the snooze button every morning as if it's a regular part of my routine, even though it really shouldn't be! So, when I stumbled upon this article explaining how snoozing is actually robbing us of precious sleep, it definitely caught my attention. However, I felt the article didn't quite nail the part about how to break the snooze habit. I'm open to suggestions—any tips to help me kick this habit?

_FINTUNES

🎵 Kali Uchis - All I Can Say

It's like a blend of classic vibes with a fresh twist. You should definitely check out this new song and her latest album!

_{LET’S CONNECT}

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🎤 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 💜