Carlo Kobe

Yo, have you heard of Carlo Kobe? The dude’s a straight-up legend in the startup world. He’s only like, what, mid-20s, and he’s already crushed it big time. So here’s the scoop: he’s the co-founder and CEO of Fizz, a fintech startup that came out of YC S21, yeah, the Summer 2021 batch. Based in NYC, Fizz is all about helping college kids, like 18-24, get smarter with money. They’ve built this sick AI-powered debit card and gamified learning platform that actually teaches young people how to build credit and become financially independent. No cap, this thing is the real deal.

But here’s what’s crazy, Carlo dropped out of Harvard at just 19 to jump into Fizz full throttle. Before that, he was already stacking up some serious experience. He studied stats and econ at Harvard, and even did that Harvard Business School CORe program in 2020. He’s no stranger to the grind. Before Fizz, he worked as a product manager at Merantix, that AI research and venture studio, plus he did some biz analysis at Harvard College Consulting Group. He even interned at a German newspaper and an investment bank, talk about a diverse background.

And get this, under his leadership, Fizz raised $14.4 million in seed funding, led by Kleiner Perkins, one of the top VC firms, in June 2024. That’s no small feat. They also got backing from SV Angel, YC, and some founder-heavy investors. Basically, everyone believes in what Carlo and Fizz are doing. He’s even been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30, which is a huge nod to his possible and impact.

What does this all say about him? It’s pretty obvious, Carlo jumps into the deep end without waiting for permission. Dropping out of Harvard to chase his vision? That’s pure guts and conviction. His background in stats, econ, and AI shows he’s super analytical, but he’s got that entrepreneurial fire too. He’s not just in it for quick cash; he’s on a mission to solve real problems, like helping young people get ahead financially. That’s a big change.

Long story short, Carlo Kobe is one of those guys who saw a gap, jumped in, and is now building something that could totally shake up how young people handle money. He’s young, super sharp, and already making moves that most entrepreneurs dream about. No bullshit, he’s the real deal, and he’s just getting started.