Founder and advisor Shawn Johnston opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship—from what pushed him to build his own business to the hard lessons he learned leading “by habit” before shifting to leadership by design. He shares how building systems transformed his company’s scalability and profitability, and why clarity is the key to removing bottlenecks and empowering teams.

Shawn also dives into the personal side of leadership, discussing how ADHD hyperfocus can be both a powerful driver and a risk for burnout, and the strategies he’s developed to manage load, find balance, and lead more intentionally.

Whether you’re building a business, leading a team, or navigating work with a neurodiverse brain, this conversation is full of practical takeaways on how to grow with purpose and sustainability.

On this episode of Fintrepreneur, Dave and Eli sit down with Sahil Hasan, founder and CEO of Dots, a fintech startup helping companies pay contractors across the globe. Sahil’s career spans Google and X (the Moonshot Factory), and he shares how those experiences shaped his leap into fintech entrepreneurship. We explore his founder journey, how Dots scaled to multi-million revenue in under three years, and the lessons learned from raising nearly $6M from Y Combinator and top-tier investors. The conversation also looks ahead to the rise of fractional work, the challenges of cross-border payments, and the role fintech will play in building the infrastructure for the future of work. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in fintech, startups, or the changing landscape of global payments.

In this episode, Dave and Eli sit down with Cameron Burke, Partner at Fort Capital Partners, to explore what’s really driving today’s tech and fintech deals. From his journey as an operator to becoming a trusted advisor on capital raising and M&A, Cameron shares his perspective on what founders need—and what they don’t—when navigating high-stakes decisions.

The conversation spans the current state of tech and capital markets, the evolving M&A landscape in 2025, and what buyers are really looking for. Plus, a deep dive into fintech trends, sustainable business models, and how companies can stand out in an increasingly competitive and compliance-heavy space.

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or just curious about what’s next in fintech, this episode offers a front-row seat to the thinking behind today’s biggest deals.

In this episode of Fintrepreneur, Dave and Eli sit down with Tyler Thielmann, CEO of Spring Financial, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming personal finance in Canada.

Tyler shares his journey as a fintech founder, from launching Spring Financial to introducing the AI-powered assistant OscarAI, and discusses how his team is working to bring all banking services under one intelligent, user-friendly platform. The conversation covers the rise of AI in personal finance management, the challenges of building an all-in-one financial hub, and how real-time insights are empowering Canadians to make smarter financial decisions.

Whether you're building in fintech, interested in AI, or curious about the future of Canadian banking, this episode is packed with forward-looking insights and practical takeaways.

Season 4 kicks off with an in-depth look at the growing threat of account takeover (ATO) fraud. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, businesses need real-time solutions to stay ahead. In this episode, Dave and Eli sit down with Israel Mazin, CEO of Memcyco, to explore how cutting-edge fraud prevention strategies are transforming the fight against ATO attacks.

They discuss why fintech platforms are prime targets, how AI and machine learning are revolutionizing fraud detection, and the importance of balancing security with a seamless user experience. With ATO fraud on the rise, understanding how behavioral analytics and real-time monitoring can help detect and prevent threats is more critical than ever.

Tune in for actionable insights on how fintech companies can implement real-time prevention measures to protect their platforms and customers. Whether you're in cybersecurity, fintech, or just curious about the future of fraud prevention, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

In this episode, Dave and Eli reflect on the key trends and milestones that defined fintech in 2024. They explore how the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayment deadlines impacted small businesses and highlight the role Merchant Growth played in helping them navigate these challenges and unlock new opportunities.

The conversation also dives into Tabit’s incredible year of growth and innovation. From empowering merchants to manage cash flow to scaling operations with enhanced B2B BNPL solutions, Tabit continued to drive success for businesses across Canada.

Rounding out the discussion, Dave and Eli examine the evolution of AI and automation, showcasing its transformative impact on lending, risk assessment, and customer support.

Join us for a comprehensive recap of 2024 and a look ahead to the exciting developments coming in 2025!

In this episode of Fintrepreneur, we sit down with Kendall Garrison, the CEO of Amplify Credit Union, to explore his journey to leadership and discuss the evolving role of credit unions in today’s digital economy. Kendall provides valuable insights into how credit unions are adapting to regulatory changes, embracing digital transformation, and fostering innovation to stay competitive in an increasingly dynamic financial landscape.

Through our conversation, we delve into the key challenges and opportunities for credit unions, as well as Kendall’s approach to leadership and innovation in the financial services industry. This is an episode packed with lessons on the future of finance, leadership, and the impact of digital transformation.

Tune in to hear Kendall’s perspectives on the future of credit unions and the broader financial sector. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion!

Join hosts Eli and Dave in the latest episode of Fintrepreneur as they delve into "Expert Views on Small Business NeoBanking" with Eytan Bensoussan, the Co-Founder and CEO of NorthOne. Eytan shares his journey to becoming a fintech leader, offering insights into the transformative power of neo-banking for small businesses.

This episode covers the rise of neo-banking and its impact on small business finance, discussing key features, benefits, and the challenges that neo-banks present. Looking ahead, the conversation explores future trends in neo-banking, helping small businesses understand what to expect in this evolving sector. Tune in for an engaging and informative discussion on the future of finance for small businesses!