Putting small businesses first: AI, trust, and the human side of finance
- At this year’s Money 20/20, conversations went beyond payments and embedded finance to how technology can truly support America’s smallest businesses.
- Two fintechs shone in the discussion: Hello Alice, which aims to make capital more accessible, and Bluevine, a banking platform tailored for SMBs and sole proprietors. Different strategies, same focus -- putting SMB owners first.
For decades, small business finance has been shaped by what banks and fintechs wanted to sell, not by what SMB owners actually needed. Half of US GDP comes from businesses with fewer than 15 employees, yet these entrepreneurs have long navigated a patchwork of financial tools that weren’t designed for them. For entrepreneurs, every minute counts, and financial tools that truly fit their lives are becoming increasingly essential.
This year at Money 20/20, those challenges were front and center. Conversations at the conference weren’t just about payments or embedded finance; they were also about how technology can genuinely empower and meet the real-world needs of the smallest businesses in America.
Two fintechs stood out in that dialogue: Hello Alice, a Houston-based company focused on equitable access to capital, and Bluevine, a US banking platform designed for SMBs, including sole proprietors and microbusinesses. Each firm takes its own route, but they are united on one principle: put the SMB-owner first.
