Stevon D. Darling’s Post

🚀Celebrating 5 years FINAVATOR INC Big milestone, July is officially my fifth year as an entrepreneur and CEO! I am very greatful to all of my clients Tillo, VoPay, Netevia, Prove to name a few, employees, CEO coaches and network for all of your incredible support through the years. Starting a company is never easy, I had the fun of also navigating a global pandemic 6 month after launching in July 2019. This early challenge taught me to think outside of the box and always be innovating! Very proud to share my top 5 Key Milestones : 🌎Launching an impactful Finavator Master Class on the Future of Finance in June of 2024 ➡️https://lnkd.in/gtz4HZeK 🎤Having the honour to speak on Global stages including Money20/20 , Fintech Meetup, Bank for International Settlements – BIS, Open Banking Expo, The Future of Money, The Payments Canada SUMMIT, Fintech Islands and many more. 🏆 Won multiple awards over the years including most recent 2024 FinTech Awards, by Wealth & Finance International -Most Empowering Retail & Payments Fintech Company 2024 - North America -Fintech Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 North America -Michelle Beyo 💡 Wrote a chapter in a USA TODAY best-seller! "Habit of success" in 2021 🎤 TEDxSantaBarbara in 2022 on “A Wave of Change: The Rise of Female Founders” TEDxSantaBarbaraSalon https://lnkd.in/gCBXGPdx 🚀Excited to share the program that inspired me to take the biggest risk of my career in 2019 and starting Finavator is now accepting applications! Money20/20 RiseUp & Amplify application close on July 19th, Apply today and join the world wide community of dreamers and high achievers. Amplify - https://lnkd.in/g3m8-jX4 RiseUp - https://lnkd.in/gmEcPKxf It is clear to me that “success is freedom” and that grit has played a pivotal role in my journey. We have faced a spectrum of challenges over the years yet still have an unshakeable commitment to our purpose—to drive meaningful change in our ecosystem. Purpose has shaped our strategies, influenced our decisions, and gave us the passion everyday to do our work. 1. Share Globally how important Open Data is for the future of finance and consumer empowerment 2. Always advocating for Diverse Board as they drive key innovation and added profits 3.Ensuring panels that I have the privilege of moderating include not only experts but have diverse voices with a goal of 50/50 As I step into my sixth year with Finavator, I will use all of the lessons to help guide me through our ongoing adventure. To my fellow entrepreneurs and dreamers: always let your purpose to be your guiding light! 💡 #opendata #openfinance #privacybydesign #diverseboard #5050panels #futureoffinance #riseuptogether

#everywheretech I #FintechFeast: Celebrating Growth and Innovation in the Fintech Community 🎉 A huge thank you to our thriving fintech community for your support of the Fintech Feast, our newly created group during #Intersekt24 bringing together 6,310 active members. In just the last two weeks, we’ve welcomed 114 new members, enjoyed 14 fresh posts, and reached an incredible 26,423 post views - all thanks to YOU! 🚀 #FintechFeast is the place for industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to explore cutting-edge advancements, discuss emerging trends, and showcase groundbreaking solutions that are transforming how we manage money, make payments, and invest. 💡 By joining as a member, you can contribute to insightful discussions, share your knowledge, pitch your ideas, and connect with like-minded professionals who are passionate about shaping the future of finance. 🔗 Join us now and become part of this growing community! Public posts can be viewed by anyone, but only members can contribute by commenting or posting. Let’s continue building this hub for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration! Community Rules: 💬 Post about fintech freely. 💡 Pitch your ideas anytime. 🔗 Learn and connect with like-minded people. 👍 Engage as much or as little as you like. 🎉 Have fun! 🚫 Zero tolerance for abuse—let’s keep it professional and respectful. Ready to dive in? We can’t wait to see you there! https://lnkd.in/gjNj2CJk #FintechFeast #FF #community #innovation #payments #investing #networking #knowledgesharing #collaboration Chris Ron Ben Adam Tim Sivan Jennifer FinTech Australia Rehan Australian FinTech Cameron Investment NSW Victorian Government Tank Stream Labs ThePillars.au Bradley Steve Aussie Angels Cheryl Birchal Matt Westpac ANZ Commonwealth Bank AWS Startups John Upplft Airtree Raaj Jackie Black Nova Venture Capital Matthew fin.amp Revealr.ai BC Payments Zai Monoova Teamified Startup Daily Sprint Ventures

🤩 Thrilled with the support we've received so far in building this community of fintech experts since launching at #intersekt2024 last month. 💬 With nearly 150 industry leaders already part of the group - including founders, VCs, C-Suite execs, industry pioneers, SMEs from sales to risk and compliance and beyond - we are looking to build the most active and helpful fintech network and community in the Southern Hemisphere! 🌏 For those in fintech in Australia... there really is no excuse for not joining(!). And for those of you from further afield, we welcome you to come and see what's going on in our part of the world, as well as share your experiences and news from your neck of the woods. 🎉 So come, join in, and share your thoughts, interesting posts, FinTech news & information, and of course requests for help, answers to questions you may have, or even requests for introductions to companies and people with whom you'd like to be connected. #fintechfeast | #ff | #fintech | #community | #collaboration | #payments | #investing | #embeddedfinance | #australia

Best way to kick things off here is do what we do best, for more people. Are you ready to explore one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing industries within Tech in NZ? Join us for an exclusive evening dedicated to unveiling the exciting world of Fintech. We'd love to invite you to Fintech meets Auckland 🗓 Thursday 5th September - 5.30pm 📍 GridAKL -  101 Pakenham Street West, Auckland CBD 🎟  https://lnkd.in/e48BvxrZ Why Attend? ✔ Discover Fintech: Learn why fintech is becoming one of the go-to industries for tech professionals looking to make a significant impact. ✔ Quick Fire Company Intros: Meet the founders of 5 innovative fintech companies as they share their vision and showcase their game-changing solutions in quick, engaging presentations. ✔ Connect with VCs: If you have a fintech idea or are considering a pivot, this is your chance to connect with specialised venture capitalists eager to invest in the next big thing. ✔ Network & Mingle: After the presentations, enjoy the opportunity to mingle with founders, VCs, and like-minded professionals. Build valuable connections and explore potential collaborations in a relaxed and friendly environment. Who Should Attend? ➡ Tech professionals in Sales, Operations, Engineering, and Product who are curious about fintech ➡ Entrepreneurs with fintech ideas seeking investment or partnership opportunities ➡ Anyone interested in learning more about the fintech industry and its potential

In fintech, the enduring winners build moats from technology, not just capital. A few points on this: ➞ Fintech encompasses wildly diverse business models with varied outlooks. Blindly chasing the latest hype often ends badly. ➞ Valuations swing wildly between private and public markets. "Locals" focus on long-term value creation. ➞ Interest rates make or break many fintechs. Locals spot rate-sensitive business models and adjust accordingly. ➞ Early traction provides little signal in some fintech niches. Locals emphasize sustainable differentiation. ➞ The best founders boast deep industry expertise. Locals back tested veterans over brash newcomers. ➞ Regulation remains fintech’s ultimate gatekeeper. Locals incorporate compliance from day one. Locals recognize software and data’s potential to transform financial services. Tourists chase the new shiny object. This perspective shapes all our investments at Foundation Capital. The key is experience and discernment. Thoughts? If you want to discuss further, comment or DM me! 📩

𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝑰𝒏𝒄𝒖𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑼𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 7 𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆! 🌟 Q3 2023 unveils a dynamic fintech landscape with over 500 investors looking for opportunities to invest in top European fintech start-ups.    Despite a 50% YoY funding dip, investors remain confident in the uprising market.    Among the famous investors, Antler and Seedcamp have been the most prominent investors in the European market.    However, Tenity’s second edition incubation programme has hand-picked seven start-ups from 130+ applications, nurturing them over the period of four months.     During this period, these start-ups will receive training, coaching, and mentoring from Tenity’s experienced team, creating a more collaborative start-up culture in the European region.    Furthermore, they will emphasise developing sustainable & climate-centric fintech solutions, breaking the traditional boundaries and bringing a new era of innovation & support.    Source: FinTech Global  #fintech #fintechinnovation #europe #venturecapital     𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑀𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝐿𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑒𝑑𝐼𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑝𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠👍  𝐹𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘🌟   𝐷𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤☑️   𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑚𝑒 𝑎 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑒𝑛𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠✌️ 

We are thrilled to announce that Farther has been named to the 2024 Fintech Innovation 50 by GGV Capital U.S. and Crunchbase. Selected by 44 investment firms from a pool of 150 nominated companies, the annual list aims to recognize the most promising innovators in the financial tech sector according to startup investors. After weathering a volatile industry year in 2023, fintech companies continue to grow 3 times faster than traditional financial services, setting the stage for a year of unprecedented growth in 2024. The team at Farther is honored to be spotlighted alongside other companies working to disrupt the industry and innovate for the future. Read more about the #FintechInnovation50 here: https://bit.ly/4b2jZHf. #gofarther #wealthmanagement #wealthtech #financialadvisor #teamfarther #FI50

🌍 Meet Bhuva Shakti – Leading Wallet Max Into a Sustainable Future! 🌍 We’re proud to introduce Bhuva Shakti, the visionary behind Wallet Max. A Wall Street veteran turned impact investor, Bhuva has made it her mission to empower women-led startups and expand fundraising access for high-growth sustainable ventures. 💡✨ With over 25 years of experience navigating complex risk management, corporate transformations, and mergers & acquisitions across four continents, Bhuva’s leadership and expertise have consistently delivered real-world solutions for businesses. Now, she’s channeling that wealth of knowledge into making a difference for sustainable startups around the globe. 🌍💼 After founding Bhuva's Impact Global - Risk Advisory, Climate FinTech and AI Ethics for Sustainable Transformation! to offer board advisory services, risk management, and guidance on climate fintech and AI ethics, Bhuva has been called to tackle the next era of digital transformation. She’s seen tech giants rise and fall and knows the importance of ethical, sustainable innovation. 🔄🤖 Now she’s committed to ensuring businesses don't repeat the same mistakes of the past. At Wallet Max, Bhuva leads with a commitment to sustainability, social inclusion, and financial wellness. 💚 Through initiatives like the Emerald Summit and our monthly newsletter, Wallet Max connects impact investors with climate-positive businesses, creating opportunities for sustainable growth and lasting environmental change. 🌱📊 Together, we are building a global community dedicated to climate literacy, DEI, and planet-positive markets. We believe that change happens when everyone is included, and we’re proud to support businesses on the frontlines of sustainability. 🤝🌍 It’s time to stop being the “only one in the room.” It’s time to spread the wealth of knowledge and create lasting change. 💡 🌱 Want to connect directly with Bhuva Shakti? Follow her on LinkedIn to stay updated on her journey and insights 👥 🔗 Plus, you can join our Wallet Max Hub community and take action toward a sustainable, inclusive future: hub.getwalletmax.com 🌿💬 #ImpactInvesting #SustainableTech #WomenInLeadership #ClimateAction #Inclusion #Sustainability #WalletMax #BhuvaShakti #ClimateFintech #AIEthics #FinancialWellness #EmeraldSummit

Dear FinTechers! Did you know Africa’s fintech sector is projected to surge 13 times by 2030 to reach $65 billion? East Africa is experiencing a major revolution in digital finance. Dubbed the “Silicon Savanna”, the financial services sector is in the midst of a rapid transformation, giving millions of previously excluded people access to savings, credit, and opportunities for personal and economic mobility. Come learn about a new prestigious program for early-stage fintech venture ideas (from concept to MVP) targeting emerging markets. Pears Challenge: Validate gives fintech founders the market knowledge and connections on the ground to validate their startup and take it to the next level. About Pears Challenge: Validate - pearsprogram.com/validate Register to the info session - https://lnkd.in/dZe_HfcB

Next week is NY Tech Week, and I look forward speaking at the Fintech Is Femme Founder Summit on 6/3, hosted by the incredible Nicole Casperson! 💜 I will be joining fellow panelists Frances Zelazny and Fay Vlahu Scott as we talk about developing and executing effective go-to-market strategies, including identifying target markets and optimizing distribution and storytelling channels for a successful product launch. ⚙️ You could have the best product in the universe - the PERFECT product - but if you get GTM wrong, your company will die (thanks James Cho for being my accountability buddy here every day). We'll be covering the hard lessons learned as marketers and founders and sharing some best practices as part of the summit, which is focused around "Building a Resilient Future". As always, we'll be real and bring the hot takes 🌶️. I'm also super excited to hear from fellow Center for Accelerating Financial Equity (CAFE) cohort mate Laura Kornhauser on fundraising strategies - important for everyone, crucial right now in this challenging market. Laura's an amazing leader and I'll be taking lots of notes. 📝 If you haven't got your tickets yet, JOIN US and sign up before it sells out like it did last time! (link in comments ⬇ ) When: Monday, June 3 at 12pm Where: Rise, created by Barclays, NYC See you there! #nytechweek #fintech #womeninfintech #fintechisfemme #femaleCEO #startup #femalefounder #marketing #gotomarket #resilientfuture