In this episode, we're excited to introduce Robin Gandhi, Chief Product Officer at Lithic, the programmable card issuing and processing infrastructure for developers, digital banks, and financial institutions handling billions in annual volume. Robin brings over a decade of deep fintech expertise across product, partnerships, and global operations. Before joining Lithic, he served as CPO at Nium, defining payment strategy across 190+ countries, and held leadership roles at Navan (formerly TripActions) and Adyen, where he scaled global issuing and North American partnerships. Evolving from its roots as Privacy.com, Lithic acts as the go-to infrastructure layer for companies launching customizable card programs with direct network connectivity and real-time fraud logic. Join us as we explore Robin's journey across the fintech landscape and how Lithic is building the trust and infrastructure layer for the next generation of card programs.About PersonaPersona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards.Apply to join Persona's Startup Program: https://withpersona.com/startupsConnect with Robinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robingandhi/https://lithic.com/Connect with Edhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

In this episode, we're excited to introduce Dr. Joshua Broggi, the Founder and CEO of Woolf University, the world's first global collegiate university. A former Oxford philosophy faculty member and Humboldt Fellow, Joshua turned his deep research into the role of universities in human progress into a bold vision: an accredited institution that empowers qualified organizations to offer degrees recognized in 50+ countries. With 30+ member colleges, 800+ faculty across 5 continents, and students in 70+ countries, Woolf is using technology to make academic excellence more accessible and affordable. Join us as we explore Joshua's journey from philosophy professor to edtech founder, and how Woolf is reshaping the future of credentialing, identity, and trust in global education.About PersonaPersona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards.Apply to join Persona's Startup Program: https://withpersona.com/startupsConnect with Joshuahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabroggi/https://woolf.university/Connect with Edhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

In this episode, we're excited to introduce Batu Inal, Co-Founder and CTO of Balance, an intelligent treasury platform revolutionizing how enterprises optimize their cash management. Balance provides real-time visibility into cash across all accounts, AI-powered forecasting, and automated insights to help businesses work their money harder. With $50B+ in transactions processed and $2B+ in accounts monitored, the platform serves established organizations including large enterprise businesses. Join us as we explore Batu's journey from technologist to fintech entrepreneur, and how Balance is transforming enterprise treasury from a back-office function into a strategic advantage through intelligent automation and data-driven decision-making.About PersonaPersona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards.Apply to join Persona's Startup Program: https://withpersona.com/startupsConnect with Batuhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/batuinal/https://www.balancecash.io/Connect with Edhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

In this episode, we're excited to introduce Barnett Klane, VP of Product at Trolley, the leading payouts platform powering the internet economy. Trolley enables businesses to automate global payments to creators, freelancers, and contractors across 210+ countries and territories, serving major companies. Barnett previously founded MyManual and held product roles at Bugcrowd, bringing deep expertise in building products at the intersection of payments, compliance, and creator platforms. Join us as we explore Barnett's journey from startup founder to product leader, and how Trolley is solving the complex challenges of global payout automation—from recipient onboarding and KYC compliance to tax management and fraud prevention.About PersonaPersona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards.Apply to join Persona's Startup Program: https://withpersona.com/startupsConnect with Barnetthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/barnettklane/https://trolley.com/Connect with Edhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

In this episode, we're excited to introduce Brandon Ooi, the COO of Dinari, a fintech innovator making compliant tokenized securities accessible to investors. Brandon co-founded Crunchyroll as its CTO and worked at Stripe as an engineer specializing in marketplace enterprises, bringing deep technical expertise and product leadership to the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain technology. Join us as we explore Brandon's journey from building beloved consumer platforms to pioneering the future of securities trading, and how Dinari is bridging the gap between traditional markets and digital assets.About PersonaPersona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards.Apply to join Persona's Startup Program: https://withpersona.com/startupsConnect with Brandonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonooi/https://www.dinari.com/Connect with Edhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

In this episode, we're excited to introduce Sri Kaza, the visionary founder of BrightCap, a fintech pioneer transforming the way small businesses access capital. With a career spanning over two decades in business leadership, consulting, and entrepreneurship, Sri brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the financial challenges facing small businesses. Join us as we explore Sri's journey, the mission behind BrightCap, and how they're leveraging technology to democratize access to funding for America's small enterprises. About Persona Persona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards. Apply to join Persona's Startup Programhttps://withpersona.com/startups Connect with Sri https://www.linkedin.com/in/srikaza/ https://www.britecap.com/ Connect with Ed https://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

In this episode of 'Personally,' we're diving into the heart of the sharing economy with Daan Weddepohl, the visionary founder of Peerby. Discover how Peerby is redefining the way we think about ownership and community through its unique platform for borrowing and sharing items with neighbors. From his early beginnings to pioneering a sustainable path in the tech world, join us as we explore Daan's journey, the challenges and triumphs of building Peerby, and his insights on the future of sustainable entrepreneurship. About Persona Persona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards. Apply to join Persona's Startup Program https://withpersona.com/startups Connect with Daan https://peerby.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/daanweddepohl/ Connect with Ed https://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

Welcome to 'Personally,' Persona’s podcast, where we bring you closer to the personal stories behind some of the most innovative and inspiring entrepreneurs of our time. I'm your host, Ed Giansante, and in today's episode, we're venturing into the dynamic intersection of technology and travel. Our guest is Cynthia Huang, Co-founder and CEO of Dtravel. Dtravel is more than just a travel platform; it's a community-owned and operated travel ecosystem that's revolutionizing the way hosts and guests connect. Cynthia's journey to founding Dtravel is marked by her previous successful ventures, Altcoin Fantasy and Airhosts Forum. Known for her expertise in strategy, growth, and market innovation, Cynthia has become a leading voice in the web3 world. In this episode of 'Personally,' we'll uncover the story behind Cynthia's entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges she's conquered, the milestones she's achieved, and her ambitious plans for Dtravel. Let's explore how Cynthia Huang is crafting a new narrative in travel, where technology meets community-driven experiences. About Persona Persona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards. Apply to join Persona's Startup Program https://withpersona.com/startups Connect with Cynthia https://www.linkedin.com/in/imcynthiahuang/ https://www.dtravel.com/ Connect with Ed https://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

Welcome to Personally, a Persona’s community podcast where we explore the innovative solutions driving today's startups. In today’s episode, Ed Giansante will sit down with Luke de Haas from Mosea - a fintech company at the forefront of group payments and money collection, about how they're simplifying financial interactions for communities and teams alike. About Persona Persona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards. Apply to join Persona's Startup Program https://withpersona.com/startups Connect with Luke https://www.mosea.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-de-haas-a26a7b197/ Connect with Ed https://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante

Today I’m speaking with Sarah Huggins, the co-founder of Hiive—a groundbreaking online marketplace that is reshaping the trading of private securities. With a rich background as a seasoned lawyer and entrepreneur, Sarah brings a unique blend of legal acumen and strategic innovation to the financial technology sector. Sarah is a strategist at heart, dedicated to solving complex problems and nurturing high-caliber teams. Let's dive into her insights and experiences. About Persona Persona is a unified identity platform that provides businesses with the building blocks they need to customize verification experiences, while mitigating fraud, and meeting ever-evolving compliance standards. Apply to join Persona's Startup Program https://withpersona.com/startups Connect with Sarah https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-huggins-29820316/ [http://www.hiivemarkets.com](http://www.hiivemarkets.com/) Connect with Ed https://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante