The Financial Venture Studio is a San Francisco based venture capital firm that invests in fintech startups in the early stage. Its fund has invested in over 18 companies and aims to make a difference in Americans’ financial lives by investing in great teams. The team works to connect founders with the right people and resources to help them overcome the obstacles of launching a fintech company and grow it quickly.
While not taking board seats in its portfolio companies, the firm acts as an advisor and introduces the startups to later-stage investors. The studio has already deployed 15% of its second fund, and plans to invest in up to 35 companies. The firm has also made investments in blockchain and crypto companies. Falvey and Griffin co-founded FVS in 2018 and raised $13.4 million for their first fund.
The team at Financial Venture Studio is led by Ryan Falvey, who co-founded the company with Tyler Griffin. The two had previously worked together at a fintech accelerator in New York City called the Financial Solutions Lab. Falvey and Griffin’s goal was to extend digital financial services to more sectors of the economy. Since then, they have invested in companies such as Nova Credit, Even, Dave, and Point.
Financial Venture Studio supports early-stage startups and helps them build the most successful fintech companies in the world. The team has a diverse range of backgrounds, including McLaughlin’s experience at a fintech company. Prior to joining FSL, McLaughlin was the CEO of Azlo, a digital banking platform for small businesses in the US. As CEO, he grew the company to support the growing needs of small businesses. McLaughlin was named one of Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40.
The firm has also established a Fintech Fund. The fund aims to act as the first capital for fintech founders. As of the second quarter of 2019, the Fund has invested in 10 fintech startups and made five new investments. In addition to its portfolio companies, Fintech Fund I is also backed by prominent venture firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, and Tiger Global.