The Billion-Dollar (FinTech) Marketer: lessons from Ryan Reynolds💡; JPMorgan launches Ad Platform & enters the media business 😳; Revolutionizing AI risk management in financial services 💸

FinTech is Eating the World, 3 April

Hey Everyone,

Good morning & happy Thursday! Despite the delay, today’s edition is the best one yet. Today we’re going to deconstruct The Billion-Dollar (FinTech) Marketer and explore the lessons from Ryan Reynolds (how everything he touches turns gold + a deeper dive into Reynolds-backed Nuvei that just got acquired), JPMorgan that just entered the media business and is starting to show Super App ambitions (why their ad platform is brilliant + a deep dive into JPM & how FinTechs are media companies too), and see how AI is revolutionizing risk management in financial services (looking at ValidMind & why they are exciting). So let’s just jump straight into the awesome stuff 🌶

The Billion-Dollar (FinTech) Marketer: lessons from Ryan Reynolds💡

Ryan Reynolds-backed FinTech giant Nuvei just got sold to Advent International for a whopping $6.3 billion 😳

This makes it the second-largest private equity deal in FinTech in recent memory. The biggest one is GTCR acquiring Worldpay for $11.4B.

But more importantly, this makes Reynolds the greatest marketer alive today. Here’s how he does it👇

But first...

What do a Canadian payments processor, a struggling gin brand, a budget mobile carrier, and a small Welsh soccer club have in common? 🤔

That's right, they've all been touched by the marketing magic of Ryan Reynolds, propelling them to billion-dollar valuations.

The crazy part? Companies he co-owns or has sold are valued at more than $20 billion 🤯

So how does he do it?

Of course, at the core of it all is the Ryan Reynolds brand that took decades to build. But you can have a brand, be famous, and still fail or achieve only a fraction of what he managed to achieve.

Hence, leveraging your brand and executing on it is the key, and Ryan is a true master of it.

So what’s the secret then? It all boils down to Reynolds' unconventional approach.

He doesn't just invest money and sit back - he becomes the face and driving force behind the brands he believes in. With his signature wit and charm, Reynolds creates ads that are instant viral sensations, seamlessly injecting himself into the cultural narrative.

From capitalizing on the buzz around Taylor Swift's music re-recordings to turning around a hilarious Aviation Gin ad in just 36 hours featuring the actress from Peloton's controversial commercial, Reynolds has mastered the art of "fast-vertising."

He brilliantly rides the waves of trending topics, ensuring his brands are always at the center of the conversation.

But it's not just about speed.

Reynolds understands the power of equity. His biggest successes, like Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile, are companies where he owns a stake.

He's therefore not afraid to get personally involved, whether it's staging a fake feud with Hugh Jackman or becoming the voice of Mint Mobile's customer voicemails.

Perhaps most importantly, Reynolds reminds us that marketing doesn't have to be expensive or serious.

Some of his most effective ads are simple, low-budget productions that rely on great writing and comedic timing. In a world of stuffy corporate campaigns, Reynolds' approach is like a breath of fresh air.

So what can we learn from the billion-dollar marketer?

Be authentic, move fast, and don't be afraid to have fun.

Or as Reynolds himself might say, "In a world full of bland brands, be the gin that gives back."

ICYMI: Nuvei to go private in $6.3B acquisition by Advent International 😳 [why it makes sense & what can we expect next]