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Hey fintech fam, 💜

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes secret: I usually write this newsletter the day it drops.

Not because I love last-minute stress—but because it keeps the voice real, the takes fresh, and the process true to how I work. (Writers, you get it—sometimes the deadline is the muse.)

Over the past four years and 400+ newsletters, that rhythm has worked. Until today.

For the first time (maybe ever?), I’m writing this 24 hours ahead. I’m taking Thursday and Friday off for some much-needed personal time—and decided to experiment with a little advance planning. Shocking, I know.

So while I swap my laptop for some offline rest, I’ve still got something for you:

→ A new report + fresh data

→ Two powerful podcast episodes you won’t want to miss

Let’s get into it.

#TRENDING

What’s Up In Fintech

Every Thursday, I bring you the latest fintech news and trends, delivering the key insights that matter most to the industry—and you.

#1 The Urgent Case for Climate Fintech in the Small Business Economy 

Let’s be real: resilience isn’t random. It’s a choice—and increasingly, it’s a strategy rooted in sustainability.

June’s Fiserv Small Business Index gave us more than just a temperature check on the economy—it gave us a climate call to action.

Small businesses are holding strong (+4.4% YoY sales increase) even as costs rise and foot traffic slows.

That’s not luck. That’s adaptation. And fintech has a huge role to play.

Smart operators are increasing ticket sizes, streamlining supply chains, and maintaining open doors despite reduced foot traffic. But the smartest ones? They’re using climate-aligned fintech to build long-term resilience—faster, cheaper, cleaner.

Here’s what that actually means:

1. Resilience Isn’t Random—It’s Strategy

Tools like energy-efficient payment systems reduce operational drag. Think of them as the Teslas of transaction tech—sleeker, cleaner, smarter. Every tap, swipe, or mobile pay can lower a business’s carbon footprint.

Then there’s climate risk-insured lending, which uses real-world climate data to protect borrowers and lenders alike. These models don’t just help people recover from floods and fires—they help them prepare for what’s coming next.

Fintech platforms are also enabling dynamic pricing, automated relief payments, and smarter underwriting based on actual climate risk. These aren’t perks. They’re lifelines.

2. Less Foot Traffic, More Digital Opportunity

Foot traffic dropped -2% in June—the third consecutive monthly decline. But fewer in-store visits means fewer emissions. That’s good news for climate goals, and an opportunity to double down on digital.

Fintech can make that transition easier: remote payment systems, decentralized finance tools, and mobile-first operations that keep small businesses thriving while lowering environmental impact.

This is where sustainability meets scale.

3. Essentials Are Still Surging

Spending on essential goods is up +7.5% YoY.

Grocery, personal care, household items—these are the sectors driving growth. That means there’s a prime opportunity for fintech to support sustainable supply chains, local sourcing, and climate-smart inventory tools.

The Bigger Picture: Climate Fintech Is the Infrastructure of the Future

Camila Vieira of QED Investors nailed it in a piece from earlier this year: the energy transition isn’t just coming—it’s already here. And fintech is the connective tissue.

Whether it’s:

• Financing renewable energy installs like solar panels, EV chargers, and batteries

• P2P energy trading and virtual power plants that let neighbors sell clean energy to each other

• Crowdfunding clean infrastructure with tokenized green bonds

• Parametric insurance that pays out instantly after disasters

• Smart contracts for decentralized energy payments

Fintech is doing more than facilitating transactions. It’s financing the future.

And if we zoom out to Latin America, we see what’s possible when fintech meets policy, resources, and urgency.

From solar-rich deserts in Chile to Brazil’s booming hydropower, LatAm is leading the charge with open energy data, grid modernization, and local financing, according to Vieira.

They’re building faster because they have to—and we should be learning from them.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., we’re dragging our feet. And that’s a problem.

Because as we saw with the floods in Texas—and as I wrote in my Tuesday column—climate volatility is no longer a distant threat. It’s a recurring headline. And small businesses, the backbone of our economy, are often the first to be hit and the last to recover.

Fintech must act like the essential service it is. That means building tools that help small businesses weather literal and financial storms—and doing it with climate equity, not just efficiency.

#2 Leading the Climate Fintech Movement with Bhuva Shakti

This week on Humans of Fintech, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with one of the most forward-thinking voices in our industry: Bhuva Shakti, founder of Bhuva’s Impact Global and Chief Sustainable Innovation Officer at Wallet Max™.

With over 30 years of experience—guiding major financial institutions through the last two economic crises—Bhuva isn’t just talking about climate fintech. She’s actively building it at the intersection of digital finance and sustainability.

From AI-powered solutions to inclusive innovation frameworks, she’s proving that financial technology can (and must) serve both people and planet.

In our conversation, Bhuva opened up about:

• What it really takes to challenge outdated mindsets,

• how legacy systems hold back innovation,

• and why collaboration—not competition—is the key to real progress.

We also get into why we’re joining forces this fall to co-host the Emerald Climate Fintech Summit, where we’ll spotlight the leaders building resilience into the future of finance.

If you’ve ever wondered how fintech can actually help solve the climate crisis—or how to lead with purpose in this moment of chaos—this is the episode for you.

🎧 Tune in to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

#3 Backing Bold Founders: How Haley Bryant Is Changing Early-Stage VC

This week on Fintech Mavericks, I sat down with Haley Bryant, Principal at Hustle Fund, alongside my co-host Drew Glover, for a conversation that every early-stage founder, operator, or investor needs to hear.

Haley is the real deal: a former operator who scaled teams at Apple and agencies before becoming one of the most founder-first VCs in the game. At Hustle Fund, she’s writing early checks to people who might not “look the part” on paper—but are building with purpose, urgency, and serious grit.

In this episode, we get into:

→ How to stand out before you have traction

→ What moves matter most in your first 90 days

→ Why infinite mindset > chasing headlines

→ The real talk on balancing motherhood, cycling, and VC hustle

Whether you’re pitching, investing, or scaling your own thing, Haley’s insight will leave you thinking differently—and moving smarter.

🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sponsored by Brex.

_{MARK YOUR CALENDARS}

Join us every Thursday to keep up with fintech events!

_{FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19}

[NEW YORK] EMERALD CLIMATE FINTECH SUMMIT

On Tuesday, I wrote about the devastating Texas floods—and what they exposed about the fragility of our systems and the urgent role fintech must play in climate resilience.

Now, I’m putting that conviction into action.

It’s happening: The Emerald Climate Fintech Summit

🗓️ September 19 | 📍 NYC | 🌍 During Climate Week

I’m teaming up with climate fintech powerhouse Bhuva Shakti to bring together the leaders building real solutions—where climate meets capital, and women lead the charge.

Because let’s be real:

→ Climate fintech isn’t niche—it’s where the future is headed.

→ Closing the gender funding gap could unlock $12B in ROI.

→ Women-led startups are scaling faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

→ The next generation of climate innovation is already here—we just need to fund it.

A room full of the boldest fintech builders scaling what actually matters.

_#Sponsored

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_FINTUNES

🎶 Mad — Reneé Rapp

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That wraps up today’s edition—thanks for reading! Until next week, keep innovating and challenging the status quo. See you Tuesday!

Love,

Nicole 💜