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Hey, fintech fam! 💜

My first book, Fintech Feminists, launches on October 22nd —just 28 days. (But who’s counting? 😅).

It all started with a newsletter, sharing stories of women shaking up fintech. That turned into Fintech Is Femme, and now, my debut book.

But this isn’t just about fintech. It’s about women like me—and maybe you—who don’t fit the mold. I’m a 30-year-old mixed Asian woman writing about female expertise in business. If I wanted to see that story, I had to tell it.

So, I did. This book is dedicated to the Fintech Is Femme community. Keep pushing the boundaries.

Want to support this book and the movement? Visit the official Fintech Feminists hub for book orders, events, and sponsorships.

And guess what? We’re throwing the ultimate NYC book launch party, and you’re invited! 🎉 We’re also hitting Vegas and SF (details coming soon!), so don’t miss out.

Now, let's move on to today’s story—and check out the incredible women featured in the book at the bottom of the story!

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IMPACT

What if the Solution to Our Economic Problems Has Been Right in Front of Us All Along?

Let me tell you something we don’t discuss enough: feminist economics.

It shines a spotlight on the gaps in our economic data—gaps that exist because outdated social norms have shaped traditional economics and, unsurprisingly, have been led mainly by men.

It’s biased, focused on male-dominated topics, and routinely ignores the massive contributions of women, particularly in unpaid care work.

Mainstream economics overlooks the value of unpaid domestic and care work, which women overwhelmingly carry out.

And get this—while we’re busy obsessing over GDP and corporate profits, we’re ignoring an economic contribution worth at least $10.8 trillion annually. That’s three times the size of the global tech industry!

But since this work doesn’t come with a paycheck, it’s left out of the equation.

So, yeah, the economic system wasn’t built to see us, much less value us. And it’s high time we change that.

Look, I’m not here to sugarcoat things. We’re in an economic system that’s broken for the majority of people—especially women, people of color, and those living in underserved communities.

Despite record-breaking corporate earnings and stock market highs, many of us still feel the sting.

Think about it: 2.5 billion adults worldwide don’t even have a bank account.

One in five Americans don’t have emergency savings, and most say they couldn’t cover a $1,000 expense.

Women—who make up half the global population—are still earning 80 cents on the dollar compared to men, and for Black and Latina women, that number is even more devastating.

It’s almost like the system wasn’t designed for us. Because, well, it wasn’t.

The Fintech Revolution: A Game-Changer for Everyone?

What if I told you there’s an industry already working to change this? (Spoiler: It’s us.)

Yep, it’s fintech—an industry that’s completely revolutionizing how we think about money.

In 2021, fintech was the most venture-backed sector in the world, raking in over $120 billion in investments. That’s a big deal.

Think about how easy it is to transfer money on Venmo or tap-to-pay at the grocery store. That’s fintech at work—making financial services accessible to everyone, including those left out by traditional banks.

But (and it’s a big “but”), as revolutionary as fintech is, it follows a troubling pattern. Of that $120 billion, women make up less than 2% of founders funded, and industry-wide, only 6% of CEOs are women.

We’re innovating in fintech, but we’re still leaving women behind.

And that’s a huge missed opportunity.

The Women Leading the Way—and Changing the Game

Here’s the thing: women are the key to unlocking a better financial future for everyone.

Let’s discuss the facts: Women-founded companies generate more revenue, profit, and returns on investment than their male-led counterparts. Startups with diverse teams have 30% higher returns on capital when they go public or are acquired.

The data doesn’t lie—women build sustainable, successful businesses. So why are we still not seeing them lead in fintech?

I’m frustrated. As a woman covering fintech, I’ve seen how little we hear from women regarding financial matters. We’re fed false narratives about money and our ability to succeed in this industry, which holds us back.

So, I did what any frustrated, determined woman would do—I started my own media company to change the conversation. And now, I’m shouting from every rooftop I can find: women are the future of fintech.

Meet the Women Building the Future of Finance

Let me introduce you to three fintech founders who are already proving this.

1. Sallie Krawcheck – Once the most powerful woman on Wall Street, she’s now the CEO of Ellevest, a fintech company designed by women, for women. Sallie’s approach is gender-aware, tackling the financial hurdles women uniquely face—think pay gaps, career breaks, and longer lifespans. Ellevest now serves 3 million women and manages over $2 billion in assets. That’s right—Sallie’s not just playing the game, she’s changing the rules.

2. Shivani Siroya – Founder of Tala, a fintech company providing small loans to people in emerging markets—people who traditional banks overlook. She’s using alternative data (like mobile phone usage) to calculate creditworthiness, giving millions access to credit for the first time. Tala has already provided over $4.5 billion in loans to 9 million people across the globe. Talk about creating financial growth where it didn’t exist before.

3. Angel Rich – A trailblazer in financial literacy, Angel founded The Wealth Factory to educate people on managing their money. Her mobile game, CreditStacker, has reached 200,000 users in 60 countries. And she didn’t stop there. In 2021, she launched CreditRich, an app helping users round up spare change to pay bills and boost credit scores. She’s literally changing lives, especially for communities of color.

The Power of Angel Investors

Now, here’s why we need Fintech Feminists like Asya Bradley.

After founding and successfully exiting her neobank, Kinly, Asya began investing directly in female entrepreneurs—especially those in the early stages when support is the most critical. Through angel investing, she’s become a key player in a movement where women take control of capital and use it to elevate other women.

And the impact? Women now make up nearly 47% of the angel investor market. In 2023, 46.3% of those seeking angel capital were female-led ventures. That’s not just a feel-good stat—it’s an economic power move.

When women invest in women, they unlock the full potential of our economy.

Think of all those financial services and fintech companies that haven’t centered their offerings around women’s needs. That’s a direct result of women not getting funding.

The ripple effect is massive: Women, as individuals, invest less of their wealth than men, which means they miss out on market returns.

But it’s more than just personal wealth. Think of the businesses that never got off the ground because women didn’t get the needed funding. The unmet needs, the innovations that could’ve reshaped industries, and the economic growth that was never realized.

VC opportunity costs from withholding investment from diverse founders? They could be as high as $4 trillion.

And here’s a kicker: VC firms with more female partners make more successful investments and have more profitable exits.

We’ve got the data. Now, we need action.

The Path Forward: Time to Invest in Women

I’m not saying the answer to all our problems is more “confidence” in women in fintech.

I’m saying the solution is simple—invest in women. 

Women already show they’re resilient, innovative, and capable of leading companies to new heights.

Yet, they’re still being shut out of the rooms where investment decisions are made. It’s not about women needing to change; it’s about changing the system. And we can do it by demanding more transparency in venture capital funding, equal pay in the workplace, and more women in leadership.

Fintech is a goldmine for entrepreneurial success, but we need to build the infrastructure that allows women to access it—because the possibilities are endless when we do.

To change the game, we need to amplify the stories of women and the businesses they’re building.

The media shapes the narrative, and businesses control the money. So, when the media overlooks women as the brilliant founders, innovators, and investors they are, it feeds into outdated myths about women, money, and leadership.

If we want to rewrite the story, we need to change the storytellers.

We need to learn from the women already out there, building in fintech and making waves.

My book, Fintech Feminists? It’s packed with those stories.

Female leaders are rewriting the narrative, showing that women have always driven innovation in finance and tech—you just haven’t read about them yet.

The truth is that the media has the power to shift beliefs and drive change. When we accurately showcase women’s contributions, we’re not just telling stories—we’re ensuring their voices are heard and their businesses are seen and valued.

How You Can Support This Movement

The women I just mentioned are already creating a more inclusive financial future. They’re part of a movement, and you can be part of it, too.

Now, we’re aiming to take this movement to the next level—with your help.

My upcoming book, Fintech Feminists, showcases over 40 trailblazing women (just like the ones mentioned above) who are reshaping the financial industry.

These women aren’t just changing the narrative but building the future.

And with your help, we can amplify their impact.

We need 3,500 pre-orders to get Fintech Feminists onto the bestsellers list.

Here’s why this matters: When Fintech Feminists hit that milestone, it means more visibility, recognition, and support for the trailblazing women reshaping the financial world.

When these female-led businesses thrive, they create a $5 trillion ripple effect in the economy, generating more wealth and opportunities for everyone.

Here’s how YOU can be a part of the movement:

• Check out the Fintech Feminists website hub to learn all about the book, support the movement, bulk order, and join our launch events.

Because the future of fintech—and the future of our economy—is female. Let’s ensure these women have the platform, the investment, and the support to keep leading us forward.

After years of covering the financial industry as a journalist, I witnessed firsthand the structural barriers keeping women out of leadership roles, out of funding conversations, and out of sight.

But I also met incredible women defying the odds, building groundbreaking fintech companies, and leading with a vision for a more inclusive financial system.

That’s when I knew I had to tell their stories.

That’s why I wrote Fintech Feminists—to document the women shaping the future of finance and to remind us all that we need women at the forefront of this industry if we want to solve the financial challenges of tomorrow.

As promised, here’s the list of all the remarkable women profiled in the book.

Additionally, while reading, you’ll find featured and mentioned women whose inspiration has profoundly influenced my work. I’m excited for you to meet these trailblazers!

_{WTF ELSE?}

• The first ever Fintech Is Femme Creator Summit highlight reel and professional photographs are here! (Check them out, download them, and feel free to share!)

• Nasdaq Expands Digital Bank FinTech Presence in Latin America

• Harris Says Her White House Will 'Invest in America's Future' Which Includes 'Digital Assets'

• The Rise of Fintech in Cambodia: Driving Growth and Financial Inclusion

• Wealthtech sector takes to AI models to rewire business

• Average fintech deal size in UK shot up by 87% as they asserted their dominance in Europe

_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 🌍 Today’s Opportunity: If expanding internationally and growing your global network excites you, reply now! I'm seeking fintech founders and CEOs for an exclusive VIP program at the Milan Fintech Summit, Oct. 7-9. Enjoy complimentary hotel, summit tickets, curated dinners, networking, and a chance to speak on stage! Only THREE slots are available. Reply to get all the details.

• 💸 Today’s Event: Interested in learning how to invest/become an LP?

  Join me and Lisa Carmen Wang on October 8th for an exclusive workshop: How to Invest in the Next Billion-Dollar Female-Led Companies.

• 💰 Today’s Pitch: I’m not just writing stories; I’m writing checks. As a venture partner with Lisa’s BBE fund, I’m now using this platform to funnel deal flow with female founders building the next billion-dollar business. Apply to pitch us at our next Bad Bitch Pitch event by October 1st!

_FINTUNES

🎵 Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman

_{LET’S CONNECT}

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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 Thursday!

Love,

Nicole 💜