#34 - Steve McLaughlin, Founder & CEO at Financial Technology Partners

Join us on this week's episode of the Slice of Finance podcast, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!

Our Guest: Steve McLaughlin, Founder & CEO at Financial Technology Partners.

What you’ll get out of this episode:

The Evolution of Financial Technology Partners: Steve McLaughlin’s journey from Goldman Sachs to founding a global FinTech investment powerhouse.
IPO vs. Staying Private: Why major FinTech firms like Stripe and Revolut delay going public.
Stablecoins & B2B Payments: How digital assets are shaping global transactions.
Identity & Security in FinTech: The challenges of fraud, security, and digital identity verification.
The Future of FinTech: Key trends shaping 2025 beyond AI.

Building a Global FinTech Investment Bank

Steve McLaughlin, founder and CEO of Financial Technology Partners (FT Partners), has been at the forefront of the FinTech industry for over two decades. After starting his career at Goldman Sachs, McLaughlin launched Financial Technology Partners in 2002, focusing exclusively on FinTech investment banking.

Today, Financial Technology Partners is a global leader, with over 225 professionals working on deals across the U.S., Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm provides services in M&A advisory, private capital raising, and IPO support, playing a crucial role in funding and scaling some of the world’s most valuable FinTech companies.

Why Major FinTech Companies Delay IPOs

Despite market anticipation, several high-profile FinTech firms continue to delay their IPOs. McLaughlin explains that many companies prefer to stay private as long as possible, given the abundance of private capital.

"The amount of private capital available is semi-infinite," says McLaughlin.

Private investments allow companies to operate without the pressure of quarterly earnings reports and market volatility, giving them flexibility in long-term decision-making. Major players like Revolut, Stripe, and Bloomberg have no immediate plans to go public, choosing instead to raise billions in private funding.

Stablecoins & The Future of B2B Payments

A major emerging trend in FinTech is the increasing adoption of stablecoins and blockchain-based payments. Companies are beginning to digitize transactions, offering instant, low-cost global transfers.

McLaughlin highlights how businesses like Circle, Ripple, and Banking Circle are driving this shift. Even Klarna's CEO recently acknowledged the importance of stablecoins in streamlining financial operations.

"No one thinks blockchain is a bad idea. It's actually an amazing technology," McLaughlin notes.

Beyond stablecoins, B2B payments continue to be a major growth area, with firms like Flywire, AvidXchange, and Thunes working to eliminate friction in cross-border transactions.

The Challenge of Digital Identity & Security

Despite advancements in financial technology, fraud and identity security remain significant obstacles. The industry faces trillions of dollars in fraud losses, prompting investment in identity verification solutions.

Financial Technology Partners has advised leading fraud prevention companies, including Feedzai and Worldcoin, which focus on biometric verification and fraud analytics.

McLaughlin believes that until digital identity is universally solved, FinTech will remain siloed, with limited cross-platform interoperability among financial apps.

Key Trends to Watch in 2025 (Beyond AI)

While AI dominates conversations, McLaughlin identifies several other major FinTech trends shaping the industry:

Crypto & Stablecoins: Increased use in global commerce and banking.
B2B Payments Innovation: Faster and cheaper cross-border transactions.
Private Market Investments: Growth in alternative asset trading platforms.
InsurTech Evolution: New opportunities in digital insurance solutions.
Digital Banking Boom: More digital banks reaching $10B+ valuations worldwide.

What’s Next for Financial Technology Partners?

McLaughlin remains deeply passionate about FinTech’s future. His focus isn’t just on financial success but also on building lasting relationships with clients and colleagues.

"To me, it's all about the people," he says.

With Financial Technology Partners’ global expansion, ongoing high-profile deals, and a commitment to innovation, the firm is set to remain a dominant force in FinTech investment banking for decades to come.