LOGO-InternGroup-01-1
    • Our programs
      • In-person
      • Blended
      • Remote
      • Digital Nomad
      • How it works
      • What's included
      • Program fees & start dates
        • Compare program fees
        • Financing & financial aid
      • Academic credit
      • By season
        • Winter internships 2025
        • Spring internships 2025
        • Summer internships 2025
        • Fall internships 2025
      • Who you are
        • High school student
        • Gap year student
        • University/college student
        • Graduate
        • MBA/Masters student
        • Career changer
        • Looking for part time options
        • US citizen / international student in the US
    • Career fields
      • Architecture
      • Art, photography & graphic design
      • Business
      • Consulting
      • Engineering
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Environmental science & sustainability
      • Fashion
      • Finance & accounting
      • Government & politics
      • Hospitality, events & tourism
      • Human resources
      • IT & computer science
      • Journalism, publishing & media
      • Language & translation
      • Law
      • Music & performing arts
      • NGOs & non-profits
      • PR & marketing
      • Social work
      • Television & film
      • Example internship roles
      • Example host organizations
    • Destinations
      • Virtual/Remote
      • Europe
        • London
        • Dublin
        • Madrid
      • USA
        • New York
      • Asia
        • Bangkok
        • Tokyo
        • Hong Kong
      • Australia
        • Melbourne
      • Latin America
        • Medellin
    • Alumni stories
    • Learn More
      • About us
      • Why The Intern Group
      • Our awards
      • In the press
      • Our team
      • Join an info session
      • The Intern Group Learning Experience
        • Learning events
        • Learning platform
      • Resources
        • Blog
        • FAQ
        • Insurance
      • For parents
      • For educational institutions
      • For partner university students
      • For program alumni
      • For employers
      • Contact us
    • Apply now
       
      Login
    News 1 min read

    Fintech and the Power of Education: An Interview With Esteban Velasco

    Admin
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Share
    • Email
    • Copy

    Welcome to How To Be The Difference: The Blog Series. Learn and be inspired by key opinion leaders across the world, dive into work culture, DEI & the future of work. Each article features a guest who has joined our hosts, Paul and Johanna, for an episode of The Intern Group’s podcast How to be the difference.

     

    Meet the Guest

    Esteban Velasco

    Entrepreneur and venture capitalist, he is an expert on the startup world and the intersection of technology and finance. Fintech and the Power of Education are the perfect mix of his passions.

    He founded Velum Ventures, a firm geared towards investments in early and seed-stage businesses in Colombia and around Latin America.

    Esteban is also the CEO and co-founder of Sempli, a fintech company that focuses on improving the financial health and wellness of Colombian small businesses through its all-in-one finance digital bank.

    Sempli has supported over 2000 small businesses in Colombia, lending over $55 million dollars. Sempli also created the first credit card for small businesses in Colombia not backed by a traditional financial institution.

     

    Episode Takeaways

    Entering the Venture Capital World

    Esteban is from a very entrepreneurial family, and actually launched his career as an entrepreneur!

    However, his first attempt at entrepreneurship ended in bankruptcy. From there, he worked first in an investment bank, and then at a venture capital firm. Of course, that diverse experience armed him with excellent skills on all ends of the investment spectrum.

    From there, Esteban decided to create his own venture capital fund. This was a difficult challenge, he explained, because he didn’t come from a wealthy family. So, Esteban turned to the immense network he’d built during the various stages of his career.

    He invited his connections to join him on a journey of supporting Colombian startups, and Velum Ventures was born. Velum supports digital, disruptive startups in Colombia and sometimes elsewhere in Latin America.

    Today, Esteban has worked in all different stages of venture capitalism, including designing a fund and deciding what elements to look for in a business.

     

    A grey typewriter and a paper with the worlds "Startup investments" printed on it

     

    What is fintech?

    The academic definition of fintech is “offering financial products through technology,” Esteban told Johanna and Paul.

    But people working in the industry understand that fintech is two things, he said.

    The first is access.  Creating opportunities in the market to get a financial product. Access doesn’t necessarily mean companies that are creating the first financial product. Instead, it often means enhancing access to the financial world. For example, in Latin America, fewer than 10% of small businesses have access to credit, Esteban said.

    When you think about it from an access perspective, fintech is even more relevant for emerging economies than for more developed economies, he explained.

    The second part of fintech is experience. Fintech products provide the opportunity to be more agile, to simplify complex financial tasks for both businesses and individuals.

     

    The power of education

    From a venture capitalist perspective, education is one of the most relevant investment opportunities today, Esteban said.

    Education is about giving opportunities and wellness to a particular community, he explained. “In Latin America, it’s one of the things that is most needed. And I see that the market also wants to be educated.”

    There’s a big crossover between fintech and “edtech,” Esteban said. Fintech companies have worked very hard, for example, on educational projects for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs need to understand corporate finance, marketing strategies, and more.

    Of course, fintech also provides opportunities that are consumer-oriented. These often include education about personal wealth, credit, and investment opportunities.

    However, finance isn’t the only area that is closely aligned with edtech, Esteban said. There are opportunities in many other markets. Esteban points to the language learning market in particular. Having a second or third language opens up the opportunity to learn about culture, which brings a huge benefit to career development, he said.

     

    Listen to the full episode

    If you have enjoyed this article, why not give the Podcast a try? Available on your favorite platforms like YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

    Ready to realize your potential?

    Apply now

    Related Posts

    News 4 min read How To Become An Entrepreneur: An Interview With William Shaw
    Read More
    How to be The Difference Podcast 8 min read Understanding Social Behavior: An Interview with Jaime Bermudez
    Read More

    Subscribe via email

    Subscribe to get insights sent directly to your inbox.

    LOGO-InternGroup-white-1
    • Candidates
      • Internship programs
      • How it works
      • Destinations
      • Career fields
      • Program fees
      • Apply
    • More
      • Companies
      • Universities
      • Academic credit
      • Learning Experience
      • About us
      • DE&I statement
      • Careers
    • Contact us
      • UK: +44 20 7193 4188
      • US: +1 (718) 878-6393
      • AUS: +61 2 8011 3305
      • email: info@theinterngroup.com
    Follow
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Youtube
    • TikTok
    ©2023 The Intern Group. All rights reserved.
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy