LendAPI Podcast

Recent episodes

1. LendAPI Partner Podcast: Trevor Barran (FNCR) on the $1M-to-$30M Gap No One Is Financing

   Jul 27, 202653 min

   In this episode, host Timothy Li (CEO, LendAPI) talks with Trevor Barran, CEO of FNCR, about the strange, underserved middle of small business lending — too big for a local bank or an online lending platform, too small for a commercial bank's credit desk — and why FNCR built an entire company to close that gap. Trevor's path runs from building American Express's early small business credit line models, to studying complex adaptive systems and AI at the Santa Fe Institute in the early 2000s, to living through the 2008 financial crisis as regulation reshaped small business lending in ways no one fully anticipated. He and Tim trace how that regulatory shift commoditized small-dollar lending, created the opening for data-driven platforms like OnDeck, Kabbage, and Lending Club, and left a $1M-to-$30M financing gap that neither banks nor fintech lenders have solved. What You'll Learn: How 2008-era regulation (personal guarantees, delinquency timelines, capital reserve rules) accidentally commoditized small business lending and pushed banks out of it Why data-driven lending platforms work well under roughly $250K-$500K, but struggle to underwrite profitably above that How Trevor's team built a market for monetizing pending government credits (like the Employee Retention Credit) during COVID — buying receivables at 85 cents on the dollar so businesses could get cash immediately instead of waiting on the IRS Why the same logic now applies to the tariff refund wave, after tariffs were ruled unconstitutional How FNCR connects roughly 2,000 bank and non-bank lenders to the small and medium enterprise market through "programs" — tightly defined lending needs matched to specific capital providers, currently focused on real estate and healthcare Why FNCR never cold-calls or cold-emails a business — every introduction comes through an existing partner relationship (PEOs, GPOs, large suppliers) with tens of thousands of SME relationships already in place What's next for FNCR: e-commerce businesses and the AI-driven creator economy About FNCR FNCR ("financier") is a lending marketplace built to serve small and medium enterprises seeking $1 million to $30 million in financing — a segment too large for most banks and online lenders, and too small for commercial banking desks. Led by CEO Trevor Barran, FNCR partners with large businesses that already hold tens of thousands of SME relationships (suppliers, PEOs, GPOs) to match qualifying businesses with the right lender from its network of roughly 2,000 bank and non-bank capital providers, with no unsolicited outreach to borrowers. Learn more: https://www.fncr.com Explore the LendAPI Marketplace: https://www.lendapi.com/marketplace Listen on YouTube , Spotify & Apple Podcasts

2. LendAPI Partner Podcast: Carlos Caro on Scaling Network with Affiliate Marketing Summit

   Jul 24, 202642 min

   In this episode, host Timothy Li (CEO, LendAPI) welcomes back Carlos Caro — consumer lending founder, creator of The Free Toaster newsletter, and now the organizer of a new invite-curated event bringing lenders and publishers together in San Francisco. Carlos spent seven years at Capital One before building Credit Karma's Lightbox targeting platform from zero customers, then went on to found NewMarket Growth, which advises lenders on affiliate partnerships with the likes of Experian, LendingTree, and Credible. Now he's channeling everything he's learned about the industry's biggest conferences into something smaller, sharper, and far less exhausting. What You'll Learn: Why Carlos built a 150-person, highly curated alternative to 10,000-person mega-conferences like Money20/20 The two-day format: a TED-talk-style day of talks, off-the-record Q&A, and debate-format sessions at San Francisco's Exploratorium, followed by a day of wine tasting and structured networking in Sonoma Who should attend: CMOs and heads of partnerships at lenders, and senior leaders at publishers like Experian, Credit Karma, Engine, and Prism Data Why panels are being replaced with debates — two speakers arguing opposite extremes of an issue, judged by no one How ticket pricing (under $1,000 for day one before August 1) compares to Money20/20's $4,000+ price tag Carlos's philosophy on event pricing, ratios, and why he'd rather have 100 of the right people in a room than 300 of the wrong ones What "success" looks like for attendees: one new partner relationship worth more than the ticket price ten times over About The Free Toaster The Free Toaster is a newsletter and podcast covering the intersection of marketing and lending, with roughly 2,500 subscribers and interviews with leaders across the fintech ecosystem. Its latest venture is the Affiliate Marketing Summit for Lenders and Publishers — a two-day, invite-curated event running September 23 (San Francisco) and September 24 (Sonoma), with early-bird pricing through August 1. Sponsors confirmed so far include Experian, Engine, Prism Data, SoFi, Chime, Credit Karma, LendingTree, Bankrate, Rakuten, and Avant. Learn more and register: https://events.thefreetoaster.com Explore the LendAPI Marketplace: https://www.lendapi.com/marketplace Listen on YouTube , Spotify & Apple Podcasts

3. LendAPI Partner Podcast: Jeeda Salloum (Block Equity) on Betting on Businesses When No One Else Will

   Jul 23, 202642 min

   In this episode, host Timothy Li (CEO, LendAPI) talks with Jeeda Salloum , Partner at Block Equity Group, about small business lending, the real stories behind the numbers, and how a psychology degree turned out to be the perfect training for finance. Jeeda's a partner, closing deals and helping build out the firm's AI stack. She and Tim dig into how Block Equity has funded $370M+ for small businesses, why 80% of their clients come back for a second round, and what it actually looks like to pull a business owner out of a genuine financial hole. What You'll Learn: How Block Equity Group has funded over $370 million for small businesses, and why 80% of clients return for repeat financing A real client story: an SBA micro loan, a medical emergency, a "rapid rescore," and a larger SBA round that followed How a factoring facility helped a trucking company stabilize cash flow while waiting on 30/60/90-day client payments Why a policy change on SBA eligibility for green card holders forced Block Equity to find bridge financing and investor capital instead How Block Equity is using AI to automate back-office and document collection work — without replacing the human relationship at the center of the business Why Jeeda believes sales is the single most transferable skill you can learn Advice for young people and founders on staying focused, choosing your environment, and pushing through economic uncertainty and noise About Block Equity Group Block Equity Group is a small business finance and advisory firm that helps business owners access SBA loans, factoring, bridge financing, and refinancing — with a relationship-first approach that keeps 80% of clients coming back for repeat funding. Founded by two cousins as a family venture, the firm has funded more than $370 million for small businesses across the country. Block Equity Group is a partner on the LendAPI Marketplace. Learn more: https://www.blockequitygr.com Explore the LendAPI Marketplace: https://www.lendapi.com/marketplace Listen on YouTube , Spotify & Apple Podcasts

4. LendAPI Partner Podcast: John Gordon (ValidiFI) on Killing Payment Fraud Before It Happens

   Jul 22, 202645 min

   In this episode, host Timothy Li (CEO, LendAPI) talks with John Gordon, CEO of ValidiFI, about how lenders and fintechs validate bank accounts, stop ACH fraud, and make better credit decisions using bank behavior data most lenders never see. John breaks down NACHA's Web Debit Rule (why every ACH payment now requires account validation and ongoing fraud checks), the real-world fraud patterns ValidiFI's data uncovers, and why "managed friction" — not maximum friction — is the smarter way to protect both lenders and good customers. What You'll Learn: What NACHA's Web Debit Rule actually requires, and how its 2026 update expanded fraud-check obligations Real fraud signals ValidiFI tracks: landlines/VOIP as the riskiest phone types, 4+ accounts linked to one consumer raising risk 70%, and one account tied to 200+ Social Security numbers Why "managed friction" beats blanket friction — fast-tracking clean accounts and reserving step-up authentication (bank login, micro deposits) for risky ones How FedNow/RTP-enabled micro deposits now validate an account same-day using an alphanumeric code instead of a 3-day penny-drop Why open banking (logging into your bank account) and account/routing validation should coexist, not compete How ValidiFI processes 1.75 billion account inquiries, plus data partnerships with Early Warning Services and JPMorgan Payments Why traditional credit scores miss Buy Now Pay Later, medical debt, and gaming spend — and how bank behavior data fills the gap How free retroactive testing lets lenders see what ValidiFI's fraud and risk scoring would have caught, before signing anything About ValidiFI ValidiFI helps lenders, fintechs, and financial institutions validate bank accounts, detect fraud, and assess credit risk using bank and payment intelligence — including a 1.75-billion-inquiry data network and data-sharing partnerships with Early Warning Services and JPMorgan Payments. Led by CEO John Gordon, ValidiFi serves clients across credit and risk, fraud prevention, and account validation, including non-prime lenders, auto finance, insurance, and loyalty/payments programs. ValidiFi is a partner on the LendAPI Marketplace. Learn more: https://www.validifi.com Explore the LendAPI Marketplace: https://www.lendapi.com/marketplace Listen on YouTube , Spotify & Apple Podcasts

5. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Jay Shah, Director of Strategic Partnership at CRS Credit API

   Jul 21, 202640 min

   In this episode, host Timothy Li (CEO, LendAPI) talks with Jay Shah of CRS Credit API — a licensed Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) built to make regulated financial data easy for fintechs and lenders to access. Jay breaks down what "regulated data" actually means, why the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) protects consumer credit data, and what separates a licensed CRA from a data broker. He explains how CRS connects lenders to 200+ products across Experian, TransUnion, Equifax, LexisNexis, CoreLogic, Finicity, SoCure and more — all through a single integration, with onboarding down to about four days. What You'll Learn: Why regulated consumer data exists, and what the FCRA protects What a CRA license actually requires, and why so few companies have one How CRS lets lenders pull credit, identity, and fraud data through one API instead of onboarding each bureau separately Why some lenders want more data (full reports, fraud, business checks) while others want less — just the 3-5 attributes that matter for fast, high-volume decisions How silent, low-friction identity verification (phone + device signals) is replacing long PII forms without hurting match rates How a non-technical client used AI tools to build a working underwriting engine directly on top of CRS's API CRS's "sales karma" philosophy — advising fintechs on compliant, cost-efficient data flows instead of just selling products About CRS Credit API CRS is a licensed Consumer Reporting Agency built by CEO Stephen Hawkins, a 30+ year veteran of the credit bureau industry, to give fintechs and lenders fast, compliant access to regulated data. Jay Shah leads business development, having previously worked in fintech sales at Forward Lane. CRS partners directly with the major bureaus and specialty data vendors, offering a single onboarding process, a real-time onboarding portal, and flexible product bundles for lenders of every size — from single-founder startups to major banks. Learn more: crscreditapi.com Explore the LendAPI Marketplace: lendapi.com/marketplace Listen on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

6. LendAPI Partner Podcast — Ron James, Founder & CEO at Opscale Exchange

   Jul 21, 202644 min

   In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li sits down with Ron James, a former senior retail executive at Walmart, Best Buy, and H&R Block who now runs Opscale Exchange. They dig into the billions of dollars in government tax credits — from R&D to tariff refunds — that small businesses leave unclaimed every year, and how LendAPI itself just recovered a six-figure R&D credit using Ron's team. What You'll Learn: The R&D Tax Credit, Demystified : Why the Research and Development Tax Credit isn't just for Microsoft and Amazon — any business taking a risk with an unknown outcome (including software teams) can qualify, and how LendAPI recovered roughly $500,000 by working directly with Ron's team. $80 Billion Goes Unclaimed Every Year : The IRS estimates $80 billion in tax credits go unclaimed annually — not because of loopholes, but because most small businesses don't have the teams big companies use to find them. From Katrina to COVID — How the ERC Was Born : The origin story of the Employee Retention Credit, which Ron's prior company recovered $6 billion of for U.S. businesses, and how it traces back to relief legislation written after Hurricane Katrina. PPP vs. ERC — The Difference That Confuses Everyone : A clear breakdown of how the Paycheck Protection Program (a loan) differs from the Employee Retention Credit (a refund of payroll taxes already paid). The Tariff Refund Opportunity : Why the government estimates $165 billion (and Ron's network believes closer to $1 trillion) in tariffs are refundable after recent rulings, what "importer of record" means for eligibility, and why working with a customs attorney — not just a broker — matters. What the "Big, Beautiful Bill" Actually Changed : How the law made 100% bonus depreciation and cost segregation permanent, letting real estate investors and equipment buyers write off the full cost of an asset in year one instead of over 20–30 years. About Opscale Exchange Opscale Exchange helps small and mid-sized businesses recover tax credits and refunds — R&D, Employee Retention Credit, cost segregation, tariff refunds, and 10,000+ other federal, state, and local incentives — that typically go unclaimed simply because businesses don't know they qualify. Opscale Exchange partners with top-100 law firms and specialty attorneys to file claims on contingency — no upfront cost — and is building a client portal to continually surface new credits as they qualify. Learn more at OpscaleExchange.com . 📢 Explore more on the LendAPI Marketplace 🎧 Listen now on YouTube , Spotify , or Apple Podcasts .

7. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Tristan Pollock, Managing Director at gener8tor from LendAPI Podcast

   Jun 19, 202647 min

   In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li sits down with Tristan, who manages the accelerator community at gener8tor. They explore the burgeoning tech landscape in Nevada, the critical importance of the energy sector, and how generator's specialized programs are accelerating innovation for deep tech and hard tech startups. The Electrify Nevada Program : A detailed look at gener8tor’s seven-week energy accelerator designed to support companies in advanced energy, critical minerals, and physical AI. Nevada's Energy Dominance : Insights into why Nevada is a top-ranked state for solar, geothermal, and grid battery storage, making it a "breeding ground" for new energy technologies. The Lithium Loop : An explanation of why Nevada is the only state in the U.S. capable of supporting the full lithium lifecycle, from mining and extraction to battery manufacturing and recycling. Business Advantages of Nevada : The strategic reasons companies are moving to Nevada, including zero corporate and income taxes, lower operational costs compared to California, and significantly reduced regulatory "red tape". Data Center & AI Synergy : How the massive expansion of data centers by hyperscalers like Microsoft, Google, and Apple is driving an immediate need for advanced power solutions and battery storage in the region. Accelerator Strategy & "Speedrun" Ecosystem : How generator acts as a "fractional co-founder," helping startups achieve in seven weeks what would typically take seven months by opening doors to major industry players like Tesla and Redwood Materials. Lifestyle as a Talent Magnet : Why the Reno-Tahoe area’s outdoor lifestyle—featuring world-class skiing, mountain lakes, and the Truckee River—is attracting top-tier talent and venture capital from Silicon Valley. gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator that runs over 100 programs worldwide.Their Nevada-based initiatives, such as Electrify Nevada, focus on integrating startups into the local ecosystem by providing critical introductions to mentors, investors, and state-run VC funds like Battle Born Ventures.By bridging the gap between academic research at institutions like UNR and UNLV and commercial application, generator helps turn deep tech innovations into scalable businesses 📢 Explore more on the LendAPI Marketplace 🎧 Listen now on YouTube , Spotify , or Apple Podcasts . What You'll Learn:About gener8tor

8. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Tommy Cotter, Director of Data Product at Benzinga from LendAPI Podcast

   May 29, 202647 min

   In this episode of the LendAPI Podcast, host Timothy Li talks with Tommy Cotter, who manages the API data endpoints for Benzinga. They discuss the evolution of financial news, the power of real-time data integration, and how modern technology is reshaping how retail and institutional investors consume market information. What You'll Learn: The Benzinga Content Philosophy : How the company focuses on making complex financial news simple and actionable by breaking down what happened, why it matters, and what happens next for its audience. API Integration and "Stay Put" Strategy : How brokerages and fintech startups use Benzinga’s 30+ API endpoints to natively integrate news and corporate actions data, keeping users engaged on their own platforms. Emerging Market Trends : Insights into the current "hottest" topics in the financial world, specifically the rapid growth and interest in private markets (such as SpaceX and Anthropic) and prediction markets. The Human-in-the-Loop Advantage : Why human editorial discernment remains critical in an era of "AI slop" to ensure news coverage is important, unbiased, and provides actual new information. Real-Time Data Evolution : A look at Benzinga’s new conference call transcripts endpoint, which provides real-time, timestamped, and diarized data from executive calls to give investors an immediate edge. The Business of News : An overview of Benzinga's three primary revenue verticals: B2B/B2C subscriptions, targeted advertising, and high-quality lead generation for financial partners. From the Court to the C-Suite : Tommy Cotter shares how his experience as a Division I college basketball player at Oakland University taught him the dedication, teamwork, and punctuality necessary for success in the fintech industry. About Benzinga Founded in Detroit in 2009, Benzinga is a leading financial news and data provider.With a team of approximately 200 employees and a growing global presence, the firm provides a massive data lake of normalized, dependable information extracted from SEC filings and press releases to help investors around the world own a piece of the American market. 📢 Explore more on the LendAPI Marketplace 🎧 Listen now on YouTube , Spotify , or Apple Podcasts .

9. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Matthew Komos, Founder & CEO of OGMA Risk and Analytics from LendAPI Podcast

   May 27, 202645 min

   In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li sits down with Matthew, founder of OGMA Risk and Analytics, to discuss the critical intersection of deep analytical experience and modern financial technology. Drawing from over 20 years in risk management and consulting, Matthew shares insights on how foundational risk principles remain essential in today's fast-paced, AI-driven lending landscape The Evolution of Risk Management : Reflecting on the "old school" days at Household International, where data was processed manually and scorecards were hand-built, and how those frameworks still apply today. Navigating the Fintech Boom : How regulatory shifts like the CARD Act of 2009 spurred innovation in unsecured personal loans and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) products. Bridging the Gap with Education : The importance of formal risk management training for modern fintech professionals and students to ensure they understand the practical application of their analytics. The Reality of AI Risk : A deep dive into the governance and legal liabilities surrounding AI in lending, including the potential for inadvertent discrimination and the need for robust audit processes. Global Innovation and Patterns : Insights into expanding financial services into the UK and Europe, highlighting universal mathematical truths in risk while navigating distinct cultural and regulatory differences. Fractional Expertise on Demand : How institutions can leverage fractional Chief Risk Officers (CROs) to navigate digital transformations and product expansions without overextending internal resources. Resilience and Course Correction : A personal look into Matthew’s journey through academia and entrepreneurship, proving that a change in direction can lead to a successful career trajectory. OGMA Risk and Analytics is a specialized firm that provides data-driven and experience-guided risk management solutions. By offering services ranging from fractional risk leadership to specialized training programs, OGMA helps financial institutions and fintechs modernize their credit scoring, improve approval rates, and manage delinquency through sophisticated analytics. 📢 Explore more on the ⁠LendAPI Marketplace⁠ 🎧 Listen now on ⁠YouTube⁠ , ⁠Spotify⁠ , or ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ . What You'll Learn:About OGMA Risk and Analytics

10. Demolishing Wall Street’s Walls: Inside Trump’s New Fintech EO from LendAPI Podcast

    May 21, 20265 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li dive into the massive structural shifts rocking the fintech and banking landscape following the latest White House mandate. Timothy breaks down the newly signed Executive Order, “Integrating Financial Technology Innovation into Regulatory Frameworks,” exploring how it aims to overhaul the underlying “plumbing” of the financial system and strip away legacy advantages held by traditional commercial banks. The Death of Renting the Rails: A look at how the EO targets Federal Reserve Master Accounts, paving the way for non-bank fintechs and digital asset firms to access payment rails like Fedwire and FedNow directly without paying a "bank tax." Dismantling "Brick-and-Mortar" Relics: Why the White House's explicit rhetoric labeling existing rules as outdated protections for powerful traditional incumbents signals an unprecedented regulatory vibe shift. The 90-Day Agency Clock: Breaking down the aggressive timeline handed to the SEC, CFTC, OCC, FDIC, and CFPB to audit and eliminate barriers blocking fintech partnerships, bank charters, and digital licensing. The Federal Reserve's 120-Day Mandate: What happens when the Fed reports back on its legal authority to expand direct master account access to crypto firms, fintechs, and state-chartered entities like Wyoming SPDIs. The Regional Reserve Twist & Jurisdiction Shopping: An analysis of whether the 12 regional Reserve banks have independent authority to grant accounts, and how that could spark a race to innovation as fintechs flock to the most forward-thinking districts. The Fast-Track Framework: Understanding the proposed 90-day fast-track clock to approve or deny completed fintech applications, and what this operational speed means for builders looking to scale infrastructure quickly. 📢 Explore more on the ⁠LendAPI Marketplace⁠ 🎧 Listen now on ⁠YouTube⁠ , ⁠Spotify⁠ , or ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ . What You'll Learn:

11. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Brian Scott, Co Founder of RAI Partners from LendAPI Podcast

    May 14, 202641 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li sits down with Brian Scott, co-founder of RAI Partners, to explore the intersection of credit unions, mission-driven lending, and modern financial products. Drawing from over 20 years in payments and credit unions, Brian discusses how a focus on underserved members and credit-building products is essential for credit unions to grow and remain relevant. What You'll Learn: The Foundation of Credit Unions : Understanding Select Employee Groups (SEGs) and the common bond that forms the basis of the cooperative movement. Modernizing Credit Card Programs : How RAI Partners helps credit unions approve members they would typically decline through real-time, behind-the-scenes decisioning. Serving the Underserved and New-to-Credit : The importance of specialized products for college students and gig workers who are often misunderstood by traditional FICO-only underwriting. Affinity Branding in Finance : Why RAI Partners prioritizes the brand of the university or credit union over its own to build deeper member trust and affinity. The Power of CUSOs : Insights into Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSOs) and how they return value and innovation directly to the credit union industry. Navigating Macroeconomic Pressures : How lenders must balance responsible credit access with the realities of inflation and shifting regulatory landscapes. Financial Literacy at Home : A look into the "dinner table conversations" regarding saving, spending, and building credit for the next generation. About RAI Partners RAI Partners is a growth-oriented firm that empowers credit unions by managing end-to-end credit card programs, including all risk and operational costs. By focusing on "doing the basics better," RAI Partners helps institutions reach new demographics—such as younger alumni and underbanked populations—through relationship-driven, white-labeled financial solutions.

12. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Billy Quinn, SVP Business Architecture Lead at Truist from LendAPI Podcast

    May 12, 202647 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li sits down with Billy Quinn, who leads product and platform architecture at Truist, to explore the intersections of military discipline, process engineering, and modern banking. Drawing from his 10-year career in the military and experience at major firms like Accenture and Wells Fargo, Billy discusses how a "product-first" mindset is essential for traditional banks to remain competitive against nimble fintechs.What You'll Learn: The Power of Military Principles in Business: Why the military concept of "buy with and through" is essential for modern product delivery and how structured discipline creates a foundation for human execution Modernizing Legacy Banking Architecture: How banks are shifting from "spaghetti to lasagna" by quantifying business products and building platform experiences that string together end-to-end client journeys. The Crucial Role of Business Processes: Why fintechs and banks must start with accountable business processes to ensure APIs truly reflect the underlying business functions they serve. Bridging the Military-to-Civilian Gap: Insights into the evolution of transition programs like the Honor Foundation and Accenture's JMO program that help veterans translate tactical skills into corporate value. Navigating Career Growth in Finance: Why young professionals should seek "battle scars" in large institutions to learn the industry's inner workings before launching their own ventures. Human-Centric Banking in an AI World: Why empathetic advisors and established brand trust remain critical for consumers navigating complex financial decisions like homeownership. The "Baseball Mindset" for Success: How embracing a high failure rate—successful only three out of ten times—is a necessary trait for professionals in sales and product development. About Truist: Truist is a product-forward banking institution that emphasizes a "product first" culture on both the business consumable and technology platform sides. Deeply rooted in its communities, Truist combines technology with a relationship-driven approach, relying on empathetic advisors and established brand trust to serve its clients' financial needs.

13. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Colin Darke, Chief Executive Officer at CompliSun from LendAPI Podcast

    May 12, 202647 min

    LendAPI Partner Podcast features Colin Darke, CEO of CompliSun, a regulatory technology company and fractional compliance team. Darke discusses his extensive background, including eight years at Rocket Loans where he served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. He highlights the common struggles fintech startups face when treating compliance as an afterthought and how CompliSun aims to simplify these complex legal and operational challenges. What You'll Learn: CompliSun's Mission: The company was created to be a "single source of truth" for compliance, replacing outdated tools like spreadsheets and PDFs with a more intuitive, tech-forward system. Compliance for Founders: Many founders only focus on compliance when facing a regulatory "slap" or preparing to raise investment. Darke notes that proving compliance often requires weeks of manual preparation instead of a simple, real-time report. Guardian Tool: CompliSun offers a free "Guardian" version that allows new fintechs to perform self-assessments, identify gaps, and establish a compliance calendar. AI in Compliance: The platform uses AI and specific prompts based on Darke's 20+ years of experience to help users understand complex disclosures, such as those for the TCPA. Industry Trends: - Bank Charters: Darke observes a "gold rush" of players seeking bank charters and warns that the initial streamlined regulatory environment will eventually shift toward stricter fiduciary obligations.- Responsible Innovation: He advocates for "vibe coding" only as a prototyping tool, stressing that final products must be correctly coded, secure, and SOC 2 compliant. About CompliSun CompliSun is a regulatory technology company and fractional compliance provider designed to simplify the legal and operational headaches of growing financial institutions. Founded by Colin Darke—a seasoned legal professional with a background at Rocket Loans and major banking institutions—the platform serves as a comprehensive system for managing policies, procedures, and risk assessments. CompliSun bridges the gap between static PDF policies and real-world execution, providing startups with the tools to tell a compelling compliance story to regulators, bank partners, and investors alike

14. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Phil Ganz, President at Next Wave Mortgage from LendAPI Podcast

    Mar 25, 202654 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li, Founder & CEO of LendAPI , sits down with Phil Ganz, President of Next Wave Mortgage , to discuss what it truly takes to build a people-first mortgage brokerage in today's fast-moving lending landscape. Phil brings a rare combination of 26+ years in the mortgage industry, a top 1% originator ranking nationally, and a builder's mindset — having launched Next Wave Mortgage from the ground up to serve borrowers across multiple states with low-rate, low-friction home financing experiences. What You'll Learn: Why mortgage brokers are outpacing retail lenders — and how nimble, client-focused operations like Next Wave Mortgage deliver better rates and service without the overhead of large corporate structures How Phil is using technology and automation to modernize the mortgage origination process — reducing friction for borrowers and improving pull-through rates for the brokerage The story of building Next Wave Mortgage from scratch — what it takes to launch and scale a multi-state brokerage in a high-rate, low-volume market environment Why Phil believes loan officers should have an ownership mentality — and how Next Wave's platform empowers LOs to grow long-term client relationships rather than just close transactions How non-QM and alternative lending programs (bank statement, DSCR, Down Payment Assistance) are unlocking homeownership for borrowers that traditional lenders routinely turn away Why AI and digital tools are transforming lead generation and borrower education — and how mortgage professionals can use content and technology to stay ahead of the competition What the current housing affordability crisis means for lenders and borrowers alike — and how smart mortgage planning can still create viable paths to homeownership About Next Wave Mortgage: Next Wave Mortgage is a multi-state mortgage brokerage headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, dedicated to expanding sustainable homeownership through transparent, technology-forward lending. Founded in 2023, Next Wave gives loan officers the platform to build lasting client relationships by combining broker-model pricing flexibility with strong operational support. Under the leadership of President Phil Ganz — a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist and nationally recognized top 1% originator — the brokerage specializes in FHA, VA, Conventional, Jumbo, Non-QM, and Down Payment Assistance programs, with a commitment to serving first-time homebuyers and self-employed borrowers who need creative, personalized financing solutions. Next Wave Mortgage is how mortgages should be done. 📢 Explore more on the LendAPI Marketplace Listen now on YouTube , Spotify , or Apple Podcasts .

15. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Ryan Hildebrand, EVP & Chief Innovation Officer at Bankwell from LendAPI Podcast

    Mar 19, 202627 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li, Founder & CEO of LendAPI , sits down with Ryan Hildebrand, EVP & Chief Innovation Officer at Bankwell , to discuss what it truly takes to transform a community bank into a fintech-grade institution. Ryan brings a rare perspective as a serial founder, former CPA, and fintech builder who helped launch Simple (the first consumer fintech bank) and Seed (the first business fintech bank), and led landmark fintech partnerships at Cross River Bank with companies like Coinbase, Stripe, and Plaid. Now at Bankwell, a $3B+ commercial bank, Ryan is executing a ground-up technology transformation — starting with SBA lending and expanding to serve the full small business ecosystem with fintech-level speed and service. What You'll Learn: Why technology is the great equalizer for community banks — and how nimble decision-making lets smaller institutions outmaneuver billion-dollar competitors without matching their budgets How Ryan is using AI and modern fintech platforms to modernize SBA and small business lending at Bankwell — reducing friction for borrowers and improving outcomes for the bank The inside story of building Simple and Seed — two fintech firsts — and what those exits taught Ryan about what real banking innovation requires Why Ryan would give back a $100M innovation budget — and how lean, focused teams with the right AI tools consistently outperform large, well-funded innovation departments The hidden systemic risk of legacy core banking infrastructure — why banks feel trapped, why VC funding dries up for alternatives, and what needs to change How AI adoption in banking is a cultural transformation , not a technology project — and why front-line employee buy-in determines whether AI investments succeed or fail What the coming wave of community bank consolidation means for institutions that are innovating versus those that are waiting — and how to end up on the right side of it About Bankwell: Bankwell is a $3B+ commercial bank headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut, built on a foundation of strong relationships with businesses across the region. Under the leadership of Chief Innovation Officer Ryan Hildebrand, Bankwell is executing a deliberate strategy to deliver fintech-grade technology and service to small and mid-sized businesses — starting with SBA lending and expanding outward. Bankwell was the first bank customer and investor in Casca, a Y Combinator-backed AI-native loan origination platform, underscoring its commitment to partnering with the most innovative builders in the industry. Bankwell's approach to innovation — resourceful, accountable, and customer-focused — reflects the belief that the best community banks can compete with anyone

16. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Carla Canino, Founder & CEO of Kindlee from LendAPI Podcast

    Mar 19, 202624 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li, Founder & CEO of LendAPI, sits down with Carla Canino, Founder & CEO of Kindlee (Techstars '24), to explore the intersection of responsible AI, financial inclusion, and the future of fair lending. Carla brings over 15 years of experience across global payments, financial services product strategy, and entrepreneurship — from her time as Global Payment Strategy Lead at Blizzard Entertainment to co-authoring inclusion standards with the Federal Reserve and W3C. Today, she is building Kindlee, the first AI fairness intelligence platform for regulated financial institutions, helping lenders detect bias, improve model accuracy, and meet EU AI Act compliance — while unlocking billions in untapped revenue. Why AI bias in lending is costing the industry an estimated $443 billion annually — and how the majority of affected consumers are actually creditworthy customers being misclassified How Kindlee's Kindlee Conversational Trust Index (KCTI) provides the first composite trust score for AI performance across vulnerable populations — with zero PII exposure and zero integration burden Why 65% of loan declines may involve creditworthy customers misclassified by biased AI models, and what lenders can do about it right now The real business case for inclusive AI: a documented 1,578% ROI on remediation over three years, and why fairness is a competitive advantage — not just a compliance checkbox How the EU AI Act's August 2026 deadline is creating urgency for financial institutions to audit their AI systems for high-risk use cases Carla's journey from payments expert at Activision Blizzard to solo founder — and the personal experiences as a disabled immigrant that exposed systemic weaknesses in financial systems and inspired Kindlee Practical advice for any fintech or lender looking to build AI that is explainable, unbiased, accessible, and growth-focused Kindlee is an AI fairness intelligence platform backed by Techstars and J.P. Morgan, purpose-built for regulated financial institutions navigating the EU AI Act and European Accessibility Act. Founded by Carla Canino, Kindlee helps banks, fintechs, and lenders detect bias and operational friction in their deployed AI — including conversational AI, credit decisioning, and KYC systems — and provides a direct path to remediation. Their proprietary KCTI benchmark has audited nine of Europe's largest financial institutions, revealing that 82.7% of AI interactions with disabled, elderly, and immigrant customers result in severe or critical failures. Kindlee makes fairness measurable, profitable, and easy to adopt — without touching a single line of PII. Learn more at www.kindlee.ai . What You’ll Learn:About New Market Growth

17. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Carlos Caro, Managing Partner & Founder of New Market Growth from LendAPI Podcast

    Mar 10, 202645 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li, Founder & CEO of LendAPI , sits down with Carlos Caro, Founder of New Market Growth , to discuss the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of consumer lending. Carlos shares his deep industry expertise, detailing how lenders can successfully navigate the challenges of listing on popular affiliate platforms, the critical importance of balancing lead quality with volume, and the significance of building a strong professional network. What You'll Learn The real challenge of getting listed on major platforms like LendingTree or Credit Karma, and why Carlos often has to turn down 85% of lenders who approach him for placement. Why striking a balance between acquiring a high volume of leads and ensuring those leads are of top quality is essential, especially as platforms prioritize customer welfare and competitive rates. The importance of "Market Fit" and understanding the specific requirements of each platform, tailoring your offerings to match traditional products like mortgages or personal loans. How embracing innovation—such as leveraging blockchain technology for new, high-reward credit cards—can help differentiate your products in a crowded market. Actionable strategies for success, including focusing on customer needs, attending industry events, collaborating with other businesses, and staying ahead of market trends and regulatory shifts. About New Market Growth New Market Growth is a specialized consulting firm that helps lenders connect with powerful affiliate marketing channels to drive customer acquisition. Founded by Carlos Caro, who brings a rich background in lending and marketing from his time working with major financial institutions, the firm assists lenders in navigating the highly competitive consumer finance space. They focus on bridging the gap between innovative lending products and key acquisition platforms, ensuring lenders can effectively reach and serve their target markets. 📢 Explore more on the ⁠ LendAPI Marketplace⁠ Listen now on ⁠ YouTube⁠ , ⁠ Spotify⁠ , or ⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠.

18. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Dan Niemiec, Chief Credit & Analytics Officer at 1st Franklin Financial Corporation from LendAPI Podcast

    Mar 6, 202627 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li, Founder & CEO of LendAPI, sits down with Dan Neimiec, Chief Credit Risk and Analytics Officer at 1sr Franklin Financial, to discuss the company's unique approach to consumer lending. Dan shares how his team is using internal performance data and AI tools to enhance predictive modeling, while still ensuring the human element and personal branch-customer relationships remain the core of their operation. What You’ll Learn: Dan’s experience managing risk at JP Morgan Chase during the 2008-2009 housing downturn, which highlighted the limitations of "backwards looking" credit models. How an 85-year-old company like First Franklin strategically shifted to making data-driven decisions while maintaining its crucial community and branch-based customer relationships. Why the company uses their lending models as "guard rails and guidelines" rather than a fully automated decision engine, emphasizing that humans make the ultimate lending decisions. The primary product offerings and how the company uses direct mail models to target new customers. How First Franklin uses "live checks" (or convenience checks) via direct mail to pre-qualified customers, followed by personal branch outreach to solidify the customer relationship. Advice for aspiring credit risk analysts: focus on "business knowledge and the business intuition" because artificial intelligence now handles much of the data assembly and manipulation. About First Franklin Financial First Franklin Financial is an 85-year-old, privately owned financial services company that started in the early 1940s. The company operates nearly 400 branches and serves almost 400,000 customers, with approximately $1.2 billion in receivables. First Franklin primarily serves subprime consumers with credit scores in the 550 to 700 range. While maintaining a strong community presence with personal branch relationships, the company has recently implemented a strategic initiative to incorporate data-driven decisions and modern analytic models. 📢 Explore more on the LendAPI Marketplace Listen now on YouTube , Spotify , or Apple Podcasts .

19. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Debra LeJeune, Founder & CEO at Integrity Payments Group from LendAPI Podcast

    Mar 6, 202630 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li, Co-Founder and CEO of LendAPI, sits down with Debra LeJeune, a special friend of LendAPI. Debra, whose background originated in banking, is a former commercial banking officer. She discusses the formation of her company, Integrity, and how it focuses on a payment strategy to improve the lending and payment process.What You’ll Learn:- How Debra's background in banking and as president of multiple companies led her to found Integrity.- Why Integrity was formed to combat the payments industry missing the mark on putting the customer first, locking clients into long-term contracts, and not having the customer's best interest in mind.- How Integrity provides agnostic advice and representation, ensuring the recommended technology stack is specific to the client and focused on their integrity.- Integrity's approach to payments, which involves taking the payment process across the entire life cycle, including infrastructure, onboarding new borrowers, and payment success.- How Integrity might set up a client with five, six, or seven different solutions to create the perfect waterfall, minimize issuer declines, and achieve a 10% to 30% lift in authorization approvals.- The importance of clients owning their payment data, utilizing network or universal tokens for validation, and having the infrastructure to waterfall onto other solutions with no downtime.- How a forensic analysis of a client's payment and authorization data can lead to advice on qualifying for lower interchange and having fewer false declines. About Integrity Payments Group (IPG) :Integrity Payments Group (IPG) positions itself as more of a payment strategy firm than a payment placement or bank-pushing firm. They focus on putting the client's needs first across the life cycle, which contrasts with traditional payments companies that might focus on locking people into a singular payment provider. Integrity uses its strategy to help clients with everything from infrastructure to collection 📢 Explore more on the LendAPI Marketplace Listen now on YouTube , Spotify , or Apple Podcasts .

20. LendAPI Partner Podcast with Steven Ma, Founder & CEO at Pony Money from LendAPI Podcast

    Mar 2, 202624 min

    In this episode of the LendAPI Partner Podcast, host Timothy Li, Founder & CEO of LendAPI , sits down with Steven Ma, Founder & CEO of PonyMoney , a Texas‑based personal lending company focused on delivering fast, hassle‑free installment loans. Steven shares how PonyMoney built a modern lending operation around flexibility, rapid experimentation, and borrower‑friendly experiences—and why they chose LendAPI as their core lending technology partner. What You’ll Learn: - Why Steven founded PonyMoney and the specific gaps he saw in traditional personal lending around speed, transparency, and product flexibility.- The challenges PonyMoney faced with legacy loan origination systems and decision engines, from rigid integrations to limited control over underwriting rules and pricing.​- How PonyMoney uses LendAPI’s flexible, API‑driven platform to run A/B tests on underwriting strategies, plug into cash‑flow data providers, and update rules in real time—without vendor tickets or long release cycles.- The impact of this setup on approval rates, portfolio performance, and operational efficiency, including faster launch of new products and smoother borrower journeys.About PonyMoneyPonyMoney is a consumer lending operator dedicated to providing individuals with simple, transparent, and quickly funded installment loans. By combining data‑driven underwriting with a digital‑first experience, PonyMoney helps borrowers access credit with less friction while giving its team full control over product design, risk strategies, and pricing. Powered by LendAPI’s integrated LOS and decision engine, PonyMoney can test, iterate, and scale new lending programs at startup speed without sacrificing compliance or control.