Commerce's Dan Rosen sits down with Tom Brown to unpack tokenized deposits and CPIs—the shift from “moving money” to moving claims. We get practical on real-time ledgering, clearing, and an operator playbook you can start testing today.

In this episode of Commerce Conversations, Commerce Ventures partner Dan Rosen sits down with Lindsey Haswell (Chief Legal Officer at MoonPay) and Mitzi Chang (Partner at Goodwin Procter) to unpack the legal, regulatory, and commercial forces driving the stablecoin space forward. They cover the evolution of stablecoin adoption, recent breakthroughs in U.S. regulatory clarity, how global markets are reacting, and what might be next as AI and crypto converge.

Commerce's Ysbrant Marcelis speaks with Marco Mahrus, Head of Revenue at Bridge, about the rising role of stablecoins in global payments. From Uber and Brex to Bridge and now Stripe, Marco shares insights on real enterprise adoption, the importance of liquidity, and why the next two years won’t look anything like the last two.

Kirill Gurtman, Co-Founder of Conduit, joins us to share his journey from early crypto experiments to building cross-border payment infrastructure with stablecoins. We talk pivots, product-market fit, and why the future of fintech may be global, but not evenly distributed.

In the latest episode of Commerce Conversations by Commerce Ventures, the partners share their top predictions for 2025. Topics include the rise of stablecoins in cross-border payments, significant banking M&A activity, regulatory shifts enabling FinTech innovation, a resurgence in IPOs and venture funding, transformative AI developments, and the digitization of physical wallets. The partners also anticipate advancements in insurance tech, fueled by generative AI, and the broader implications of these trends on the market. The discussion highlights optimism for a dynamic and innovative year ahead.

This episode of Commerce Conversations features a conversation between Dan Rosen, founder and partner at Commerce Ventures, and Johnny Ayers, CEO and Founder of Socure. Johnny shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting with a competitive sports background and progressing through early exposure to business, a challenging job market during the financial crisis, and eventual success with his company, Socure. He emphasizes resilience, continuous learning, and leveraging AI across business functions.

This episode of Commerce Conversations features a conversation between Dan Rosen, founder and partner at Commerce Ventures, and Aaron Schumm, CEO and founder of Vestwell. They discuss Aaron’s journey from a blue-collar Chicago upbringing to becoming a serial entrepreneur. Aaron shares how early interests in finance, shaped by his father’s stock market discussions, led him to a corporate finance career and eventually to entrepreneurship. Aaron recounts pivotal experiences, like founding and selling a startup before Vestwell, which focuses on addressing America’s retirement crisis. His journey has been marked by challenges, including capital-raising difficulties during COVID-19 and the need to build core technology from scratch. He highlights the complexity and patience required in building financial infrastructure and acknowledges how government legislation, especially bipartisan efforts on Capitol Hill, impact the financial sector. Aaron also expresses admiration for industry leaders like Jamie Dimon and emphasizes the importance of solving real-world problems with purpose. His advice to aspiring founders focuses on patience, problem-solving, and humility, advocating for building businesses that contribute positively to society.

In this episode of Commerce Conversations, Vivek Krishnamurthy, partner at Commerce Ventures, interviews Kirti Shenoy, co-founder and CEO of Zeal. Kirti explains how Zeal began as a gig company and evolved into a payroll platform addressing the complexities of W2 labor, especially for hourly and gig workers. Traditional systems like ADP were insufficient, leading Zeal to create a more flexible, automated payroll solution. She envisions a future where large companies have fully integrated payroll systems that allow for real-time payments and personalized financial management. Kirti emphasizes building "painkiller" products—essential tools that businesses rely on, like payroll. She advises entrepreneurs to trust their instincts, focus on solving real problems, and find satisfaction in creating meaningful work. The episode also touches on Zeal's innovations, such as white-labeled apps for fast worker onboarding and payroll processing, helping companies stay competitive by offering faster payments.

In the interview, Melissa Stevens, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Fifth Third Bank, shares insights into her career journey, starting from her upbringing influenced by her educator mother and entrepreneur father. She discusses her transition from Citi, where she led significant tech initiatives like launching a banking app on the first-generation Apple Watch, to Fifth Third Bank, drawn by the company's customer-centric focus and transformation goals. Melissa emphasizes the importance of personal relationships in banking alongside digital advancements, envisioning a future where banking services are intuitive and seamlessly integrated through AI and open banking principles. Melissa also addresses the state of gender diversity in the financial industry, acknowledging progress but highlighting ongoing challenges, especially at senior levels. She advises women to advocate for themselves and build supportive

In this episode, Dan Rosen talks to Sharda Caro Del Castillo, who shares her compelling journey from her family's immigration to the United States to her globetrotting childhood and how these experiences shaped her into a global citizen. She discusses the significant risks she took throughout her career, transitioning from law to tech and finance, and her time at companies like Silicon Valley Bank, PayPal, Square, and Airbnb. Sharda emphasizes the importance of creativity, risk-taking, and dreaming big, while also highlighting the need to align personal values with a company's mission and culture. Her reflections on her career, family influence, and current pursuits in philanthropy and advisory roles provide valuable insights for aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs.

This episode of Commerce Conversations recapped our 11th Annual Summit, featuring discussions led by partners Dan Rosen, Matt Nichols, Ysbrant Marcelis, and Vivek Krishnamurthy. We covered key topics including the evolving role of Banking as a Service (BaaS), emphasizing the need for closer collaboration between fintechs and sponsor banks for regulatory compliance and product development. The conversation on open banking highlighted the potential impact of the CFPB’s proposed rule to expand data access in the U.S., drawing comparisons with Europe’s regulatory-driven approach and discussing the implications for banking and fintech dynamics. Generative AI's rapid adoption by large enterprises was noted, focusing on its capacity to enhance productivity while maintaining compliance and privacy. The M&A segment discussed the challenges of valuation gaps, the integration of venture investments, and regulatory considerations. Early-stage venture trends pointed to a shift towards stronger, more technical founders and the ongoing debate about optimal company locations, particularly San Francisco. The episode concluded with insights into the public markets, noting the open but subdued IPO market and the normalization of valuation gaps between public and private markets, underscoring the dynamic changes and challenges within the financial and retail tech sectors.

In this interview with Madeline Parra, CEO and Co-Founder of PurpleDot, she shared her journey from growing up in North Carolina and being a D1 swimmer at Davidson College to becoming a serial entrepreneur.

This episode delves into the concept of Banking as a Service (BaaS), focusing on its initial exposure and evolution amidst the rise of FinTech platforms. It highlights a journey beginning around 2019, where FinTechs increasingly used BaaS to offer more products without direct banking partnerships. The discussion covers the complexities of implementing BaaS, including the challenges of scalability and the role of humans in the service delivery, suggesting that while BaaS initially seemed promising for transforming service delivery through software, the reality has been more nuanced with significant reliance on customized solutions. The dialogue also touches on the strategic shifts of banks to incorporate technology and compete with BaaS providers by enhancing direct relationships with FinTechs, thereby potentially sidelining BaaS intermediaries. This reflects a broader skepticism about the scalability of BaaS companies and their potential for significant growth or IPOs, despite the initial excitement around the concept.

Melissa Pancoast, Founder of The Beans, and Erika Hull, Senior Associate at Commerce Ventures, discussed Melissa's experience as female founders in FinTech, sharing personal challenges and the importance of adapting to changing circumstances. Melissa talked about how her childhood formed her passion for helping the caring class and her journey towards entrepreneurship. She emphasized the need for a holistic understanding of wealth beyond net worth maximization, and supporting female founders to create a more inclusive ecosystem. Melissa and Erika also discussed the importance of financial literacy and support for the 'caring class,' defined as one in three working Americans who prioritize their impact on their communities. They emphasized the need for a modern approach to financial literacy and advisory, using evidence-based methods to reduce financial stress and build a support network for financial wellness.

Sean Harper, Co-Founder and CEO of Kin, shares his journey from growing up in a Midwestern family with a police officer father and a teacher-turned-principal mother, to becoming a tech enthusiast and entrepreneur. He discusses his early interest in programming, sparked by organizing his baseball card collection and further developed through familial influences and academic pursuits in computer science and economics. Sean's path took him from starting out with programming on an Apple IIe, through ventures in the payments industry, to founding FeeFighters and eventually co-founding Kin, a company specializing in homeowners insurance with a tech-forward approach. The discussion covers the challenges and breakthroughs in starting and scaling Kin, focusing on innovation in financial services and insurance against the backdrop of climate change, highlighting Sean's entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability in leveraging technology to address complex market needs.

This episode delves into Wade's journey from growing up in Davenport, Iowa, to selling his first company, to founding Moov, a FinTech venture driven by his passion for technology and community. Wade's entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to open source, and focus on redefining profitability underscore a narrative of purposeful innovation and community empowerment in the world of finance.

In this podcast, Rene shares his fascinating journey growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, highlighting the invaluable "dinner table MBA" gained from small business exposure. He delves into his career evolution, from working as an accountant to founding PayCycle, navigating challenges during the 2008 financial crisis, and emphasizing the significance of patience and decisiveness in entrepreneurship. Throughout, Rene reflects on lessons learned, the impact of family, the imperative to do good, and the importance of staying true to one's vision amidst the ever-changing landscape of business.

Join the Commerce Ventures partners as they reflect on their 2023 predictions, admitting where they hit the mark and where they missed. Dive into the key insights about the state of the Commerce Continuum, from the surprising resilience of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services to predictions on mass merchants and luxury markets. Our team shares their bold forecasts for 2024, covering everything from AI's impact on retailers to potential M&A shake-ups in the banking sector.

Step into the future of payments with Rich Clow and Ysbrant Marcelis as they delve into the transformative power of real-time payments. Drawing inspiration from global markets already adopting this innovation, he emphasizes the collaborative spirit needed for swift progress. In this episode, Rich underscores the potential for partnerships to catalyze innovation, describing a payment landscape undergoing a profound and gradual evolution. Join the journey of reshaping payments, where real-time transactions are not just a trend but a powerful force shaping the future of financial interactions.

In this episode, Joe Bayen, a former track and field athlete turned entrepreneur, shares his journey from representing Cameroon at the World Championships to becoming a FinTech founder. Emphasizing the culture at Grow Credit, Joe discusses core tenets that drive his company and shares lessons in sustaining a positive work environment during remote times, including coaching up and addressing transparency limitations. The description of this issue takes inspiration from the Peter Drucker saying about culture competing with strategy, here we unpack how building an intentional culture from the beginning can be a business's strategic advantage.