Daniel Kimerling

Yo, you gotta hear about Daniel Kimerling. This dude’s the real deal in fintech. Started out at the University of Chicago, dude crushed it there, got both his AB and MA with honors. Then he jumped into the tech scene, working at TechCrunch as an analyst, yeah, dude was already deep in understanding what’s hot in tech and finance.

But what really shows his hustle is when he co-founded Standard Treasury during YC’s S13 batch. That was all about API-driven banking infrastructure, think of it as building the backbone for digital banks and fintechs. This wasn’t some small side project; it was legit original, and it got snapped up by Silicon Valley Bank in 2015. That move showed he’s got the vision and the chops to build stuff that big players want.

Before that, he was COO at Giftly, a mobile payments startup, which got acquired by Giftcards.com. So, he’s been in the trenches, making startups grow, and then seeing them get acquired. That’s a pattern, building, scaling, then selling or partnering with giants.

After SVB, he didn’t just sit back. Nah, he jumped into investing. He’s now the founder and managing partner at Deciens Capital, a VC fund totally focused on early-stage fintech. The guy’s not just throwing money around, he’s backing the next wave of fintech startups like Treasury Prime, Chipper Cash, Haven Connect, Funding U, Rumbleship. He’s out here supporting the real deal, helping fintechs crush it.

And he’s not just about startups. Dude’s super plugged into the scene, he’s a Kauffman Fellow, named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30, and sits on the Polsky Council at Chicago. Plus, he’s got ties to some of the biggest financial institutions like Silicon Valley Bank and Standard Treasury, so he really knows how the big boys think.

What does all this say about him? Honestly, he’s a builder. Someone who’s been in the trenches, understands the nuts and bolts of finance and tech, and now he’s using that to fund and mentor the next generation. His process from university to startup to big bank to VC? It’s about understanding where fintech is going and helping it get there. No bullshit, this guy’s all about pushing the envelope, making shit happen, and backing the winners before they blow up.

Bottom line? Daniel Kimerling’s the guy you wanna follow if you’re into fintech innovation. He’s built, invested, and scaled some of the coolest stuff out there, and he’s still out here looking for the future trend.