These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are truly making waves in the realms of fintech, crypto and traditional financial services. Their innovative ideas and efforts are reshaping the landscape of finance.

Uncovering the Success Stories of Under 30 Financial Titans

Spade: Revolutionizing Data in Financial Services

Credit card transactions often lack crucial information about the recipients. Oban MacTavish and Cooper Hart recognized this issue and cofounded Spade. Through data partnerships, AI and human review, this three-year-old New York City-based startup has built extensive databases covering millions of businesses. It provides banks with precise details about merchants, business categories and locations, helping them in the battle against credit and debit card crime. In 2023, such crime cost banks $36 billion globally. Spade is now an 18-person outfit processing over $1 billion in monthly transactions for more than 20 customers like Stripe and Corpay. It has raised $16 million in funding from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Gradient Ventures and Flourish.This innovative approach shows how data and technology can transform the financial industry and make it more secure and efficient.

Mukund Tibrewala: From App Development to Fintech Success

Born in Mumbai and educated in Singapore, Mukund Tibrewala, 29, built three iOS and Mac apps at the age of 16. One of these apps became a top education app in Mongolia. He then attended Carnegie Mellon University and worked as a software engineer at Airtable for three years before cofounding Salient in 2023. Salient uses AI to automate customer interactions for auto lenders like Consumer Portfolio Services (CPS) and also processes payments. In 2024, it reached an annualized revenue of $6 million and has raised $4 million in venture funding from investors like Matrix and General Catalyst.Tibrewala's journey highlights the power of diverse skills and experiences in the fintech world.

Anthony Zhang: Making Wine Investing Accessible

Anthony Zhang, 29, is on a mission to make wine investing accessible to a wider audience. Vinovest is his platform that combines investing and logistics. The robo-advisor identifies investment opportunities for clients, while the startup also acquires and stores bottles and casks in specialty facilities. With over 1.7 million bottles in custody and more than 20,000 customers investing $140 million, Vinovest is making significant strides. Zhang, a C5 quadriplegic, has found a new purpose and community through wine, aiming to inspire other paralyzed entrepreneurs.This shows how innovation can break down barriers and open up new opportunities.

Shayne Coplan: The Influential Crypto Founder

During the Covid era, Shayne Coplan, 26, dropped out of NYU and launched Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction markets platform. It allows users to bet on event outcomes and has raised $74 million in funding from investors like Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and Vitalik Buterin. In 2024 alone, it processed over $3.5 billion in transactions. Its crowd-driven forecasts even foreshadowed Donald Trump's presidential win. However, the startup has faced controversy as the FBI raided Coplan's residence a week after the election, citing alleged violations of a 2022 settlement. A Polymarket spokesperson has suggested the raid was politically motivated.This incident highlights the challenges and risks in the crypto industry.

Cindy Leow: The Crypto Quant Hedge Fund Pioneer

Cindy Leow, 27, cofounded a quantitative hedge fund in 2018. Three years later, she launched Drift, which has become Solana's largest trading exchange for perpetuals, a cryptocurrency-based financial derivative. Drift has facilitated over $35 billion in trading volume and manages more than $400 million in deposits. It is expected to generate $40 million in revenue in 2024 and has received $42 million in funding from investors like Polychain Capital, Multicoin Capital and Robot Ventures. It now has over 200,000 users.Leow's success demonstrates the potential of crypto in the financial world.

David Fershteyn: Leading in Traditional Financial Services

David Fershteyn, 29, is the CEO and cofounder of Atlanta-based alternative investment firm Altera Investments. He manages $450 million in assets through investments in small and medium-sized businesses, private credit and real estate. He started his business journey early, doing private equity deals with a local investment banker while still in college at the University of Georgia.His story shows the importance of early start and strategic investments in traditional finance.

Evelyn Duan: Making Waves in Multi-Asset Management

Evelyn Duan, 29, is a vice president at Sixth Street Partners, managing roughly $75 billion in assets under management. Based in Austin, Texas, she has contributed to $500 million worth of investments in software companies like Bloomreach, SnapLogic and Heap, each valued at more than $1 billion. She began her career at Ernst & Young and then joined Softbank as an investment associate. As a first-generation immigrant, she mentors international students through Ascend.Duan's achievements highlight the role of diversity and mentorship in the financial industry.

Jenny Chen: The U.S. Treasury Trader

Jenny Chen, 25, is a trader at Citadel Securities, specializing in trading U.S. Treasuries. She started her career at Deutsche Bank and worked in commercial mortgage-backed securities, handling deals for buildings like 30 Hudson Yards and One Vanderbilt in New York.Her work showcases the importance of specialized trading skills in the financial market.