Hey, fintech fam! 💜

At Fintech Is Femme, we’re all about one thing: giving you the tools, connections, and confidence to crush it in fintech.

Opportunities that drive growth? Check.

Relationships that actually matter? Double-check.

A community that’s as ambitious as you are? You better believe it.

And now? We’re turning it up a notch.

Introducing the FEMMY Awards 🏆🏆🏆

📅 When: December 9, 2024

📍 Where: Rise by Barclays, NYC

This isn’t your average awards night. Nope. The FEMMYs are the launchpad for something way bigger: the Fintech Is Femme Membership Community.

Here’s the deal: As a Founding Member, you won’t just be part of fintech’s future—you’ll be shaping it. This is about more than attending events or shaking hands.

It’s about:

• A Seat at the Table: Be part of an exclusive group of leaders rewriting the rules to success in fintech.

• Meaningful Connections: Build bonds with trailblazers who are as invested in your growth as you are.

• Your Name in the History Books: Help shape the vision for women-led fintech innovation (I’ve got the pen, you’ve got the story).

Because let’s face it—your network is your net worth, and this is your chance to level it up. 💸

➡️ Get Your Ticket Now & Save Your Seat at the Table

Now, onto today’s story. (Read to the end for another opportunity to accelerate your company’s trajectory, big time).

IMPACT

How Nasdaq’s Big Bet on Fintech Startups Is Shaping the Future of Finance

When Nasdaq moved its headquarters to Times Square in 2018, it wasn’t just a change of address but a declaration. 

Imagine Wall Street meeting Times Square—a fusion of finance’s storied past and its high-tech future. 

Nasdaq wasn’t turning its back on tradition; it was redefining it, elevating its iconic LED tower over the bustling crossroads of the world. 

With this move, Nasdaq signaled something bold: that this 48-story skyscraper in Times Square wasn’t just a place for opening bells and ticker tape—it was a hub for the future of finance itself.

Established in 1971 as the world’s first electronic stock market, Nasdaq has always been a pioneer in blending speed and transparency with traditional financial services. 

But this new headquarters took it to another level, transforming the space into a global experience where the next generation of innovators would come to launch their visions—and maybe even the next unicorn. 

With this skyscraper, Nasdaq bridged the legacy of Wall Street with the electric pulse of Times Square, promising a future where tradition and innovation don’t just coexist; they drive each other forward. 

I felt that energy on my first visit to the Nasdaq MarketSite in May 2022.

I stepped into that space with the usual chaos of a morning Times Square commute behind me, but inside, it felt like an entirely different world.

In this high-energy, glass-encased tech sanctuary, the economy of the future is being written in real time. 

I was there to sit down with Brandis DeSimone, Nasdaq’s Head of Data Sales for the Americas, who had been celebrating over ten years of calling the exchange her work home. 

As I settled into the embrace of the glass-enclosed broadcast studio overlooking a busy Times Square, it quickly became evident that DeSimone and I shared a joint reflection as we got mic'd up for our interview: Nasdaq is a pioneer, but it’s not just in technology. 

Back in 2021, Nasdaq set a record with 52 IPOs led by women CEOs—more than any other U.S. exchange. 

• Whitney Wolfe Herd famously brought Bumble to Nasdaq in a yellow power suit with her son on her hip, marking the second-largest tech IPO by proceeds raised. 

• JuE Wong led the third-largest consumer IPO as CEO of Olaplex. 

• Jennifer Hyman of Rent the Runway also joined the club.

And here’s the reality: this still feels like a rare occurrence. 

Out of over 2,000 companies that went public in the U.S. between 2013 and 2020, only 18 had female founders and CEOs. Yes, 18.

As DeSimone and I sat in that iconic glass studio, it was impossible not to feel that Nasdaq’s history-making potential isn’t just about ticker symbols. 

Nasdaq is tapping into something bigger—a shift toward economic inclusion and a marketplace open to every audacious idea out there, from early-stage to late-stage founders. 

How Nasdaq Powers the Fintech Revolution

Now, let’s get down to the tech behind it. 

Nasdaq isn’t just a place to ring bells and cut ribbons; it’s a data powerhouse that fuels some of the most innovative fintech companies around. 

Think of it like an electric grid for financial information, giving companies the power to run apps and platforms that, in turn, empower investors.

Companies like Public.com, eToro, and DAS Trader (founded by Karen Gentile, a fintech CEO who’s carved out her own space in this male-dominated field) all use Nasdaq’s data to bring their platforms to life. 

These companies aren’t just using data to power pretty charts—they’re transforming how people interact with finance. 

For example:

• Public.com is on a mission to demystify the stock market, making investing accessible for everyone, not just those who speak fluent finance. Public taps into Nasdaq’s data to ensure its users have access to accurate market information, leveling the playing field for retail investors in a way that wasn’t possible even a decade ago.

• eToro, the “social” trading platform where you can follow others’ trades, relies on Nasdaq to power its unique model. It’s like a giant trading club where you can watch, learn, and maybe copy a move or two. And behind the scenes? Nasdaq’s data makes this community-based trading possible, ensuring users have reliable, real-time information.

• DAS Trader, led by Gentile, provides professional-grade trading platforms to retail and institutional traders. With Nasdaq’s data, Gentile’s company can offer tools that were once only available to big-time traders. Her success is a testament to Nasdaq’s commitment to building partnerships with fintech founders who see finance as a path to empowerment for all.

Nasdaq’s data isn’t just a service; it’s the secret sauce that lets these platforms bring finance to life for their users. 

Think about it: if Public’s prices didn’t match up with those on Yahoo Finance, their users would lose trust fast. 

This is why Nasdaq puts such a premium on accuracy. 

Nasdaq's data keeps fintech companies reliable and credible in a world where even a small discrepancy can shake user confidence.

Because here’s the truth: trust is everything.

Building a Marketplace Beyond Algorithms

One thing that stood out in my chat with DeSimone was her emphasis on human connection. 

Yes, even in a world of algorithms, Nasdaq still values actual, honest-to-goodness relationships.

 “Building relationships,” she told me, is Nasdaq’s ace in the hole when working with fintech startups. It’s not just about deals and transactions; it’s about aligning values and partnering with companies that get the big picture.

DeSimone’s view of Nasdaq is part B2B, part B2C. 

Nasdaq’s partnerships with fintech companies help these platforms deliver real value to their users, broadening retail access to the market. 

It’s a cycle of empowerment where everyone benefits, from the startup founder to the retail investor. 

The goal? To make finance more democratic, where anyone with a smartphone and a bank account can grow their wealth.

Nasdaq’s investment in retail investors doesn’t end with data, either.

 They’re prioritizing education, particularly around creating a balanced portfolio. 

If 2021 was about the thrill of individual stocks, 2024 is about balance. 

ETFs and index-linked products like the Nasdaq-100® are gaining traction, offering stability when the market looks more like a rollercoaster. 

Nasdaq is keen on ensuring retail investors aren’t just in the market but also understand the market. 

After all, a well-informed investor is a resilient one.

A Vision for the Future: Finance for All

Nasdaq and Fintech Is Femme are all about spotlighting the fintech disruptors reshaping the future, one bold idea at a time. 

That’s why I’m beyond excited to team up for Nasdaq’s annual Fintech Trailblazer contest, now kicking off its third year.

It’s a search for the next big fintech disruptor—the company that will take Nasdaq’s data, run with it, and maybe even shake up the entire industry with a future IPO. 

Partnering with Nasdaq on this contest has been a joy because it’s not just about finding the next unicorn but building a community of trust and innovation that will fuel finance’s next chapter.

So here’s my takeaway: Nasdaq is more than a stock exchange. It’s an incubator for ambition, a catalyst for growth, and a beacon of trust in an industry where trust isn’t always easy to come by. 

For the entrepreneurs, the fearless founders, and the next generation of tech pioneers, Nasdaq is laying out a red carpet to center stage in Times Square. 

And if the bright lights of Times Square have taught us anything, it’s this: the bold, the innovative, and the inclusive belong right here at the heart of it all.

Are You the Next Fintech Trailblazer?

If you’re a fintech innovator—whether you’re at pre-seed, seeking funding, or even gearing up for that IPO moment—Nasdaq’s 2024 Fintech Trailblazer Contest is calling your name. 

This isn’t just an application; it’s a chance to showcase your vision and join a league of change-makers redefining finance.

Here’s what the Fintech Trailblazer winner will receive:

• 🏢 A featured company logo placement on the iconic Nasdaq Tower in Times Square

• 🎙️ An interview with Nasdaq’s Global Markets Reporter, Jill Malandrino, on a special #TradeTalks episode

• 🏦 VIP access to attend a live opening or closing bell ceremony. Plus, a photo opportunity at Nasdaq’s signing podium and a tour of the newly renovated MarketSite. 

• 🤝A sit-down with Nasdaq executives to discuss the future of your business and the steps to going public. 

• 🎤 As a bonus, join me for a guest spot on the Humans of Fintech podcast recorded live at Nasdaq MarketSite.

If you’re ready to take your fintech company to the next level and make a lasting impact, don’t miss this opportunity. Let’s make history together.

Get all the details and apply today here: 

_{WTF ELSE?}

• Positive signs in fintech dealmaking

• Financial technologies and children's well-being 

• FIs face new liabilities from CFPB’s rule on open banking 

• AI adoption in financial services: Balancing risks and regulations

• Wealth management industry set for double-digit growth, led by North America

_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 📰 Today’s Read: Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés is mandatory reading for everyone!

• 🍿 Today’s Food: I'm in LA this week and had a fabulous dinner at a former hardware store turned incredibly chic restaurant called Laurel Hardware. Save this as a "must-go" for your next visit to LA.

• 🌍 Today’s Buy: ICYMI, my bespoke plum suit (as seen in photos of me speaking at Harvard) was made by DALYA, a female-founded and owned bespoke suit experience for women ready to dress the way they want to be addressed. Use code FINTECHISFEMME10 to get 10% off your appointment (high quality and affordable, ladies!) Check out her page and sign up for an appointment here.

_FINTUNES

🎵 Amber Mark - Sink In

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_{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 💜