Hi, fintech fam! 💜

After a moment of reflection on a gondola ride following Fintech Meetup, I found myself thinking about the powerful space we’re creating with the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit.

In a world that often tries to shrink us, we’re here to say:

Ready. Set. Grow.

This isn’t just another conference. This is a space where fintech leaders unite, be unapologetically bold, and elevate each other’s businesses.

We’re flipping the script—doing business differently by combining the power of storytelling and community to actually get things done.

We’re doubling our value this year, hosting our biggest stage yet at The Times Center in the New York Times building in NYC.

Not only will you have access to the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit, but we’re also bringing you the first-ever Fintech Security Summit, co-hosted by Frances Zelazny of Anonybit.

That’s right—two events, one venue.

Two times the insight. Two times the connections. Two times the growth.

Leadership Summit tickets here.

Security Summit tickets here.

Our lineup of speakers and sponsors is growing, and the movers and shakers are ready to share their knowledge with you.

Today’s column reflects just how action-packed April 23 will be.

Let’s dive in.

INNOVATION

Building and Fundraising: Strategic Advice from the Experts at Fintech Meetup

As women founders, CEOs, and business leaders in fintech, the path to growth, funding, and innovation can feel like an uphill battle.

But one thing we know for sure is that we are the future of this industry, and we are crushing it.

After all, 

• Women-owned businesses generate higher revenue, delivering more than twice as much per dollar invested as those founded by men.

• Venture-backed teams with diverse founders innovate more and achieve better financial outcomes, with McKinsey reporting a 30% increase in multiples on invested capital.

• Research from the World Economic Forum shows that companies with above-average diversity generate 45% of their revenue from innovation, compared to just 26% for those with lower diversity.

At Fintech Meetup last week, I had the privilege of moderating a panel featuring powerhouse entrepreneurs and investors in fintech:

Trish Costello, CEO of Portfolia; Carolyn Rodz, Co-Founder and CEO of Hello Alice; Stephany Kirkpatrick, Founder and CEO of Orum; and Denise D’Angelo, Chief Growth Officer at Blankfactor.

The conversation was packed with actionable insights and expert advice on building, funding, and scaling in the fintech space—especially as women and diverse founders.

Here’s a recap of the key takeaways that you won’t want to miss:

1. Know Your Audience—and Don’t Waste Time

Trish Costello dropped some serious knowledge on the importance of being laser-focused when pitching your business.

One of the most critical moves you can make early in your fundraising journey is to be crystal clear about who you’re pitching to.

Time is your most valuable asset, and you want to be sure you’re targeting investors who understand your market and have invested in women-led ventures before.

The goal isn’t just to be a pitch machine; it’s about finding investors who align with your mission so you don’t constantly educate them.

They should understand what you do and believe in your vision right from the start. There is no need to waste time with anyone who does not buy into your big idea.

2. Show, Don’t Tell

Stephany Kirkpatrick hit on a critical point about execution. A good idea is great, but investors are more concerned with how you’re going to execute that idea.

Good execution is what will separate the dreamers from the doers.

Stephany shared that, in her experience, investors want to see traction—they want to know that you can deliver on your promises.

If you don’t have paying customers yet, show them how you’ll get there.

Data, traction, and evidence are your best friends.

The more you can back up your story with real-world data, the better your chances of building trust with investors.

3. Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Story

Carolyn Rodz, who has raised $28 million through a Series C round, emphasized how important it is to craft a compelling story.

In a crowded fundraising landscape, investors are looking for something that stands out—not just the numbers, but the why.

What problem are you solving, and why are you the person to do it?

One of the biggest lessons Rodz learned through her fundraising process was that consistency and follow-through are key.

She and her co-founder would update their investors regularly, even when they didn’t have major wins to report, and over time, this built trust and credibility. It’s a long game.

Fundraising isn’t a quick transaction; it’s about building relationships and showing you can execute over time.

4. Don’t Apologize for the Niche

One topic that always comes up is the niche market dilemma.

Investors often hear the term “niche” and automatically think “small opportunity”.

But here’s the truth: the most enormous untapped opportunities lie in niches.

Costello was clear: don’t apologize for going after a niche market, especially when you’re focused on women, people of color, or other underserved groups.

Think about it: women control $30 trillion in global wealth and represent 50% of the population. There’s nothing niche about that.

We’re building a $30 trillion opportunity here, and investors who understand that will see the vast growth potential.

5. Capital Efficiency: The Name of the Game

When managing money and scaling your business, you must be capital efficient—especially in the early stages.

Denise D’Angelo shared a powerful lesson: you don’t need to spend all the money you raise right away.

The temptation is real to hire aggressively and throw resources at every problem, but that can be a recipe for disaster.

Instead, layer in change carefully—test, validate, and prove your business model before scaling.

D’Angelo team found that pulling back on growth initially actually led to stronger top-line growth in the long run.

Strategic, focused growth is often better than scaling too quickly and burning through resources.

6. Raising Money is Not the Endgame—Execution Is

Here’s the cold, hard truth: raising money is not the reward—it’s just the beginning.

Fundraising can feel like the Holy Grail, but it’s really the groundwork for everything that comes after. As Kirkpatrick said, “You have to pay that money back.”

Raising millions sounds like a dream, but it’s also a responsibility to execute that capital in a way that will generate returns.

No amount of funding will save you if you can’t show a solid path to profitability and growth.

The true reward comes when you execute well and deliver on your promises.

7. Be Prepared for the Long Haul

Lastly, it’s important to understand that fundraising isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon.

You won’t walk into an investor’s office and get a “yes” immediately.

Rejection is part of the process, but so is persistence.

Rodz shared that every lead investor they had at Hello Alice initially said no—but over time, they built trust, showed their execution, and eventually won them over.

If you’re in this for the long haul, don’t let rejection get you down. Take feedback, learn from it, and keep moving forward.

Bottom Line: Building and fundraising in fintech as a founder is about more than just having a good idea.

It’s about executing flawlessly, telling a compelling story, knowing your market, and building relationships with the right investors who understand your vision.

Invest in yourself and your vision, and the right people will take notice.

The data is clear: investing in women-led businesses is not only smart but essential for the future of innovation.

Now, go out there and own it.

_{WTF ELSE?}

• Could AI ever replace human wealth management advisors? 

• The banking boom: Is digital innovation just a gloss over old systems?

• Fintechs and crypto companies seek bank charters for growth

• Klarna, nearing IPO, plucks lucrative Walmart fintech partnership from rival Affirm

• How Halle Berry and other angel investors fund underserved markets

FINTECH IS FEMME LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

The first look at our speaker faculty is here! Check out the powerhouse list of leaders you’ll learn from and connect with. See you there.

_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 📰 Today’s Read: Last week’s column on International Women’s Day and playing big to win in fintech is here, ICYMI. I also dropped some of my top personal branding tips!

• 🌍 Today’s Food: Celebrated a dear friend’s birthday at a delicious Italian spot in the West Village called Alice (fun fact: also the name of my cat).

• 🎤 Today’s Listen: The first episode of our new podcast, Fintech Mavericks, is out, and I’m so excited for you to listen! My co-host Drew Glover, and I interviewed the founders of Alinea Invest and Wagmo. You can listen to it on Apple here or Spotify here.

_FINTUNES

🎵 LISA - BORN AGAIN feat. Doja Cat & RAYE

At its best, collaboration lifts everyone to new heights.

_{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 💜