Most fintech startups die waiting for data access they can't afford. Nicole Edwards, Head of Growth at Fintech Sandbox, joins Nicole Zeno and Tamara Laine live at Startup Boston Week to explain how her nonprofit gives early-stage fintech founders free access to 40+ premium data providers and why 86% of the startups that go through the program are still in business today.

Nicole breaks down the "chicken and egg" problem every data-dependent founder faces (you need data to build the product, but you need the product to get funded), how Fintech Sandbox's vetting and due diligence process actually works, and her honest advice on building relationships with resources before you need them instead of chasing every event in town.

TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Welcome, Nicole Edwards (Fintech Sandbox)01:00 - What Fintech Sandbox actually does03:00 - The startup data "chicken and egg" problem04:00 - Inside the Data Access Residency Program05:00 - Community, connection & Boston Fintech Week07:00 - How Fintech Sandbox vets startups for sensitive data09:00 - The due diligence process: financial, security, business audits11:00 - The stat: 86% of portfolio companies are still in business12:00 - Is fintech different from country to country?14:00 - How talking about money changes across cultures16:00 - Inside the Fintech Sandbox Innovation Forum at the Fed18:00 - Who can attend Boston Fintech Week19:00 - Advice for founders: be intentional with your time21:00 - Why saying no to "the noise" matters22:00 - Build relationships before you need them23:00 - What it's like running growth at a nonprofit26:00 - Nonprofit growth vs. startup growth27:00 - How to connect with Nicole Edwards & Fintech Sandbox

CONNECT WITH NICOLE EDWARDS & FINTECH SANDBOX:🔗 Fintech Sandbox: fintechsandbox.org🔗 Boston Fintech Week: bostonfintechweek.org🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicoleedwards1

FOLLOW WHAT THE FRAC?:🔗 Website: https://whatthefracshow.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/what-the-frac-show🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefracshow

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