Live data from Hacker News

Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

news.ycombinator.com

91–100 of 163 posts

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes correct. The immutability and provenance of data are key characteristics that make blockchain useful here.

What happens if someone adds incorrect entries by accident or intentionally? How do you ensure parity between the real world and the Blockchain?

you can build document versioning into a blockchain-backed protocol - I would assume that Digibuild have done this as documents can be both corrected and extended over time. The important factor being that the old version is not erased and thus you can see the history of the document, which could be beneficial.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#92

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

Congrats on launching. Seems the differentiating utility of your product is moreso about being marketed to vs built for young women? I.e. there isn't necessarily any product feature specific to female users but crucial effort is required to build effective channels to reach them.

So, I assume your sales/market building process will be more front loaded with an info campaign, due to many being unaware of how they're underserved/under-rewarded relative to their spending power and also per lower levels of financial literacy and product awareness that you cited below.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really cool! What's the biggest differentiator between Sequin and a secured credit card? Me and my wife used the latter as the first step to help build our credit history...but admittedly the limit was small.

Secured cards have high deposits ($200+) and can still get you into debt if you don't pay back / pay min / pay late - affects women more than men.

> can still get you into debt if you don't pay back / pay min / pay late

How exactly is your card different? Is there no obligation to make payments? If so, how many cards can I open?

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#94

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

Congrats on launching. Seems the differentiating utility of your product is moreso about being marketed to vs built for young women? I.e. there isn't necessarily any product feature specific to female users but crucial effort is required to build effective channels to reach them. So, I assume your sales/market building process will be more front loaded with an info campaign, due to many being unaware of how they're u…

Awareness is a key piece, yes - however, they product is designed for women in a few key ways: 1) women are putting 70% of spend on debit cards which don't build credit, this is a debit card that gives them the same control, but builds credit.; 2) women are more likely to make avoidable credit mistakes - this is a risk free, interest free product;3) credit scoring - we don't report credit utilization which disproportionately impacts women's credit histories.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#95
post #89

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

Cool startup! I like the name. In my locale, “sekin” is slang for money.

That was the origin of the name!

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#96

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

This is wild! I had no idea such discrimination existed, though on reflection, my partner has had quite a hard time building her credit for not too dissimilar reasons. Congratulations on the launch.

Thanks! The opportunity to evangelize the mission with Sequin is one of the coolest (and most challenging) bits.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#97
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Secured cards have high deposits ($200+) and can still get you into debt if you don't pay back / pay min / pay late - affects women more than men.

> can still get you into debt if you don't pay back / pay min / pay late How exactly is your card different? Is there no obligation to make payments? If so, how many cards can I open?

We connect to your existing bank account and make the payments automatically to build credit. Traditional debit cards do not do this.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#98

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

I wouldn’t have expected a need for a “gendered” debit card - it’s pretty crazy that young women are so disproportionately “behind” in building their credit. I will admit I fell in that category a few years ago (didn’t get a credit card until a few months before I graduated college) and I’m still regretting waiting so long to start building credit. I hope you can help other young women not make my mistake!

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#99

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

Love this idea! Have felt the problem myself and have seen my mother/MIL/wife struggle with the same thing.

It's clear that you both have extensive experience in the space, too.

How can I help / get involved? :-)

Post reply on HN