$35M → $3B in 36 Months: The Sezzle Growth Blueprint | Founder Charlie Youakim

Описание: Today’s guest on the show is Charlie Youakim, Co-founder & CEO of Sezzle, the fast-growing Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platform.

In this episode, host Matthew Cheung sits down with Charlie to unpack:

✅ Sezzle’s business model
✅ How Sezzle makes money
✅ The shift that led to their rapid profitability & explosive growth
✅ How a billion-dollar company thinks about hiring
✅ Why BNPL is shaping the future of commerce, and what’s coming next

If you’re a founder, CEO, operator, or anyone building in fintech, this conversation is a masterclass.

From understanding how business model innovation can change a company’s trajectory to learning how top fintech leaders hire and scale—this episode is packed with insights.

00:00 – Trailer
01:14 – Introduction
01:40 – Charlie’s Early Days
07:22 – Lessons from the First Company
10:35 – What Led to the Idea of Sezzle
12:06 – How to Win in an Overcrowded Market
14:46 – Detailed Breakdown of the BNPL Market
17:17 – How Sezzle Makes Money
18:48 – Sezzle IPO Story
21:30 – Impact of COVID on the Stock
23:03 – What It’s Like to Be a Listed Company
26:00 – Market Crash ($1B to $35M) and the Road to Profitability
33:34 – Future of the BNPL Market
36:35 – How Sezzle Helps Young People
39:45 – Lessons from Building a $3B Company
41:15 – Hiring Framework
44:39 – Picking a Winning Sector
46:18 – Mentors
47:11 – Business Opportunities
48:56 – Advice for His 25-Year-Old Self