Join us as Chase Harmer, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years in the fintech industry, dives deep into the challenges and innovations of building a fintech company with a heart. In this episode, we explore the intersection of financial technology and charitable giving through Chase's latest venture, Wishes—a platform designed to transform how we support causes we care about.
Episode Highlights:
The Genesis of Wishes: From overcoming compliance hurdles to raising $30 million, Chase shares the behind-the-scenes of starting and scaling a fintech venture focused on solving real-world problems, such as hotel booking issues and incentivizing charitable donations with cashback rewards.
A New Era for Charities: Discover how Wishes is redefining charitable giving by ensuring transparency, reducing administrative costs, and enhancing donor engagement through innovative features like virtual cards and a rewards system.
Blockchain Meets Charity: Learn about the role of blockchain in fintech and how Wishes utilizes this technology alongside traditional systems to create a hybrid model that promotes transparency and efficiency in charitable transactions.
The Cost of Innovation: Chase breaks down the financial realities of building a fintech company—from the initial $2 million launch cost to ongoing platform and compliance expenses.
Strategic Nonprofit Partnerships: Hear how Wishes is not just a tech platform but a community builder, fostering strong connections between nonprofits and donors, and addressing challenges like homelessness through financial technology.
Looking Ahead: Chase discusses the future of fintech in the nonprofit sector and his vision for scaling Wishes to ensure a positive impact on the charity landscape.
Don't miss this insightful conversation about the fusion of technology and philanthropy, where passion meets purpose in the fintech space.
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This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
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Learn more about Chase Harmer:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-harmer-657a5b5/
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Highlighted Discussion Points
Entrepreneurship, FinTech, and building a charity-related FinTech company. 0:32
Building a tech company in FinTech, compliance challenges, and scaling. 3:42
Charity platform Wishbone, its features, and how it solves problems in the charity space. 9:48
Charity work and nonprofit alignment in FinTech industry. 15:31
Blockchain technology and its potential in the financial industry, with a focus on transparency and revenue generation for non-profit organizations. 18:07
The high costs of building and maintaining a FinTech company, including compliance, platform fees, and ongoing expenses. 23:45
Startup challenges and nonprofit fundraising strategies. 29:08
Nonprofit fundraising and payment processing. 31:38
Disrupting the nonprofit charitable giving industry with innovative technology. 37:01
