ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode, Chris Corbishley speaks with Matt Oppenheimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Remitly - the global payments company reshaping how money moves across borders.
Matt shares how his time in Kenya sparked the idea for Remitly and how the company grew from a small startup in Seattle into a platform now trusted by millions. What began as a response to an unfair, outdated system of money transfers became a mission to make financial services more affordable, transparent, and human.
The pair talk about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship from the early “nerve-sited” days to running a listed company and what it means to stay mission-driven while scaling globally. Matt also reflects on why purpose has been Remitly’s biggest advantage, how regulation can build trust, and why AI and stablecoins could open up the next chapter of financial inclusion.
Key Takeaways
- How a frustrating personal experience in Kenya inspired Remitly’s founding idea
- The emotional rollercoaster of building a fintech from scratch
- Why being “too mission-driven” once scared investors, and why that’s now a strength
- How purpose creates resilience, attracts great teams, and builds better businesses
- What really allowed Remitly to challenge giants like Western Union
- Why regulation can be a competitive advantage, not a roadblock
- The opportunities AI and stablecoins bring to global finance
- Matt’s vision for serving the 300 million people still left out of fair financial systems
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