In this episode, I sit down with Leif, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Public, an investing platform built for people who take investing seriously. We discuss how Public raised $400 million, doubled its user base in just 48 hours, and evolved beyond commission-free trading to offer options, treasuries, bonds, and more. Leif shares their no-payment-for-order-flow approach, emphasizing transparency and trust, and reveals how product velocity and AI integrations are helping them reach the mass-affluent market.We also dive into the importance of keeping teams lean, focusing on discipline over hype, and staying true to the company’s mission despite market cycles. From avoiding organizational meltdowns to crafting a long-term product strategy, this conversation sheds light on Public’s journey toward becoming a comprehensive fintech powerhouse.00:00:00 - $400M Raise & Doubling Users00:01:31 - Building for Serious Investors00:04:07 - Payment for Order Flow Explained00:06:49 - Public’s No-PFOF Decision00:09:01 - GameStop’s Impact & Funding Surge00:11:54 - Upgrading Product & Brand Tone00:14:44 - Aiming at Mass-Affluent Clients00:19:06 - Podcast & Media Strategy00:22:15 - AI & Alpha: The New Frontier00:25:20 - Complexities of Fintech Builds00:29:06 - The 2024 Big Product Launch00:34:21 - Org Meltdown & Lessons Learned00:39:16 - Surviving the Fintech Winter00:42:46 - Balancing Discipline & Growth

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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