Steffen Vollert, Co-founder of Volt: $87 Million Raised to Build the World’s Leading Global Real-Time Payment Network

Episode notes

In a recent episode of Category Visionaries, I sat down with Steffen Vollert , Co-Founder and Interim CEO of Volt , to explore their journey building a global real-time payment network. With over $87 Million in funding, Volt has evolved from a European open banking solution to a worldwide payment infrastructure platform, connecting major payment systems like Pix in Brazil and PayTo in Australia. Beyond his role at Volt, Steffen shared an unexpected side venture - a vintage tractor restoration business that provides a therapeutic counterbalance to the digital world of fintech. Topics Discussed: Evolution from European open banking to global real-time payments The transition through different leadership roles (CTO, COO, CEO) Early product market fit challenges and iterations Strategic focus on PSPs and enterprise customers The impact of COVID on early company formation Building marketing and sales teams in fintech Fundraising journey through multiple rounds Organizational scaling beyond 150 employees GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Speed to MVP Beats Infrastructure: Volt launched their initial prototype in just six months, compared to the industry standard of 2-3 years.

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