LendAPI Podcast

Timothy Li
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Business News
  • Updated Weekly

We dedicate this podcast to the hard working men and women from members on LendAPI's Marketplace.

  1. 1d ago

    LendAPI Partner Podcast with Jackie (MOOV) on Instant Payments and the art of follow-up

    In this episode, host Timothy Li (CEO, LendAPI) catches up with Jackie of MOOV — a single-API payment processor connected directly to the Fed, Visa, and Mastercard — live from FinTech DevCon in Denver, a developer-only conference with no sales pitches allowed. Jackie walks through what MOOV actually does (moving money across cards, ACH, and instant payment rails through one integration, without ever rebranding a client's checkout experience), why instant payments are becoming the default expectation rather than a nice-to-have, and how her own path from Amex's retention desk to commercial real estate to SaaS eventually led her back to the payments industry her father spent 40 years in. What You'll Learn: How MOOV's single-API model lets businesses start with card acceptance and add instant payments later without a re-implementationWhy instant, real-time payment rails (FedNow, push-to-debit) are becoming the expectation, not the exceptionMOOV's philosophy of staying invisible infrastructure — letting businesses own their brand and payment experience rather than putting MOOV's name on the checkoutWhat FinTech DevCon looks like when engineers, not salespeople, staff the booths — and why that changes the kind of conversations that happenJackie's reframe for handling sales rejection: hearing "no" as "not right now," and how that mindset shift is teachableWhy she prioritizes in-person relationships and dinners over calls and texts, and the deliberate way she uses group meals to let partners sell each otherHow 15 years of coaching youth basketball and mentoring young women in tech shaped her approach to building trust with clients and colleagues About MOOV MOOV is a single-API payment processor with direct connections to the Federal Reserve, Visa, and Mastercard, built to make it simple for businesses of any size to accept payments and move money — from card acceptance to real-time and instant payments — without switching providers as their needs grow. MOOV hosts FinTech DevCon, an annual developer-focused fintech conference held in Denver, Colorado. Learn more: https://moov.io Explore the LendAPI Marketplace: https://www.lendapi.com/marketplace Listen on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts

    LendAPI Partner Podcast with Jackie (MOOV) on Instant Payments and the art of follow-up

  2. 3d ago

    LendAPI Partner Podcast with Simon Darchis (FinWise Bank) on What Makes a Bank Say Yes to a Fintech

    In this episode, host Timothy Li (CEO, LendAPI) talks with Simon of FinWise Bank Corp about what actually happens behind the scenes of a bank-fintech sponsorship — why some fintechs get onboarded and others get turned away, why high-interest short-term loans aren't always the villain they're made out to be, and why so many Buy Now, Pay Later companies are racing to get their own bank charters right now. Simon's path runs from Paris to McGill University to Cross River Bank to FinWise, where he's spent nearly a decade building out the bank's fintech sponsorship and payments infrastructure. He and Tim get into the real economics of subprime lending, what a "dream" fintech partner looks like from a bank's perspective, and why owning your own charter isn't the shortcut some fintechs think it is. What You'll Learn:Why high-interest short-term loans, while expensive, can be genuinely life-changing for subprime borrowers — and why overdraft fees are often the worse alternativeWhat FinWise actually evaluates before onboarding a fintech: product design, compliance depth, founding team, and access to capitalWhy some sponsor banks onboard 30+ fintechs a year while others do fewer than 10 — and why "fintech as a gold mine" thinking burned banks in 2020-2021How FinWise built "Money Rails," an API-based payment hub with full sub-ledger tracking, after watching banks get burned by not owning their ledger of recordWhy the credit and debit card markets are largely saturated, and where the real innovation opportunity still exists (credit-building products, early wage access)Why BNPL companies are rushing to apply for their own bank charters now — and why Simon thinks most of them are building for today's lighter regulatory environment, not tomorrow'sHow the "Big Beautiful Bill's" equipment depreciation rules and student lending caps are reshaping commercial and student lending opportunitiesAbout FinWise BankFinWise Bank enables fintechs to bring innovative financial products to market through a comprehensive suite of banking, lending, payments, and card solutions. As a single banking partner for multiple fintech needs, FinWise provides the regulatory, compliance, operational, and program infrastructure that supports deposit, lending, card, and payment programs. Through Strategic Program Lending, BIN Sponsorship, MoneyRails™, and other solutions, FinWise helps fintech partners scale responsibly while navigating a highly regulated environment. Learn more here https://www.finwise.bank/fintech/ Explore the LendAPI Marketplace: https://www.lendapi.com/marketplace Listen on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts

    LendAPI Partner Podcast with Simon Darchis (FinWise Bank) on What Makes a Bank Say Yes to a Fintech

  3. Jul 27

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

    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 itWhy data-driven lending platforms work well under roughly $250K-$500K, but struggle to underwrite profitably above thatHow 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 IRSWhy the same logic now applies to the tariff refund wave, after tariffs were ruled unconstitutionalHow 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 healthcareWhy 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 placeWhat'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

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

  4. Jul 24

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

    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 Money20/20The 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 SonomaWho should attend: CMOs and heads of partnerships at lenders, and senior leaders at publishers like Experian, Credit Karma, Engine, and Prism DataWhy panels are being replaced with debates — two speakers arguing opposite extremes of an issue, judged by no oneHow ticket pricing (under $1,000 for day one before August 1) compares to Money20/20's $4,000+ price tagCarlos'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 onesWhat "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

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

  5. Jul 23

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

    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 financingA real client story: an SBA micro loan, a medical emergency, a "rapid rescore," and a larger SBA round that followedHow a factoring facility helped a trucking company stabilize cash flow while waiting on 30/60/90-day client paymentsWhy a policy change on SBA eligibility for green card holders forced Block Equity to find bridge financing and investor capital insteadHow Block Equity is using AI to automate back-office and document collection work — without replacing the human relationship at the center of the businessWhy Jeeda believes sales is the single most transferable skill you can learnAdvice 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

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

  6. Jul 22

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

    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 obligationsReal 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 numbersWhy "managed friction" beats blanket friction — fast-tracking clean accounts and reserving step-up authentication (bank login, micro deposits) for risky onesHow FedNow/RTP-enabled micro deposits now validate an account same-day using an alphanumeric code instead of a 3-day penny-dropWhy open banking (logging into your bank account) and account/routing validation should coexist, not competeHow ValidiFI processes 1.75 billion account inquiries, plus data partnerships with Early Warning Services and JPMorgan PaymentsWhy traditional credit scores miss Buy Now Pay Later, medical debt, and gaming spend — and how bank behavior data fills the gapHow 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

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

  7. Jul 21

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

    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 protectsWhat a CRA license actually requires, and why so few companies have oneHow CRS lets lenders pull credit, identity, and fraud data through one API instead of onboarding each bureau separatelyWhy 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 decisionsHow silent, low-friction identity verification (phone + device signals) is replacing long PII forms without hurting match ratesHow a non-technical client used AI tools to build a working underwriting engine directly on top of CRS's APICRS'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.

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

  8. Jul 21

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

    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 ExchangeOpscale 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.

    LendAPI Partner Podcast — Ron James, Founder & CEO at Opscale Exchange
See All (54)

About

We dedicate this podcast to the hard working men and women from members on LendAPI's Marketplace.

Information

  • Creator
    Timothy Li
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Timothy Li
  • Show Website
    LendAPI Podcast