a16zConnect/Fintech is a multi-day, invitation-only retreat hosted by Andreessen Horowitz that brings together leaders from technology and financial services.
Now in its fourth year, a16zConnect/Fintech provides a rare opportunity for public company CEOs, startup founders, and public market investors to deepen connections and create new partnerships, while exploring the future of fintech.
Alex Bouaziz is the co-founder and CEO of Deel, the all-in-one HR platform for global teams. Founded in 2019, Deel’s technology helps companies simplify every aspect of managing an international workforce, from culture and onboarding, to local payroll and compliance. In just under four years, the company has grown to 4,000+ team members worldwide in over 100 different countries and raised over $600 million in funding. It has 35,000-plus customers, including Shopify, Nike, and Lego. Alex grew up in Paris and graduated from Technion and then MIT with a Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Gilles Gade is Founder, President and CEO of Cross River, having served as Chairman of the company since its inception in 2008. Gilles’ vision is steering Cross River as an innovation-driven, state-chartered bank and technology infrastructure provider powering the future of financial services. He served as CFO of First Meridian Mortgage and was Co-Founder and Managing Director of Chela Technology Partners. Gilles began his career at Citicorp Venture Capital and went on to join Bear Sterns as a FIG Investment Banker and later to Barclays Capital as a Technology Investment Banker. He graduated from the MBA Institute IMIP (Groupe IPESUP) in Paris with a Masters of Science in International Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics. Gilles holds positions at various global charitable organizations and institutions and is a Nationally Registered active Paramedic.
Jackie Reses is the CEO and Chair of Lead Bank, an FDIC insured bank in Kansas City that enables banking services for builders and innovators. Previously, she was the Executive Chairman of Square Financial Services and Capital Lead and Head of the People Team at Block (Square). Prior to Block, she held leadership positions at Yahoo! and was a Partner at Apax Partners.
Jackie was the Chairwoman of the Economic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Jackie is also on the board of directors of Affirm, and Nubank, as well as the Board of Advisors of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors of Alibaba Group. She has been named one of Forbes “Self Made Women”, Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business,” and American Banker “Most Powerful Woman in Finance”.
Jackie received a bachelor’s degree in economics with honors from the Wharton School of the University. She holds multiple patents in payments and cryptocurrency.
Mason Morfit is a Partner, co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of ValueAct Capital, a governance-oriented investment fund with over $10 billion in assets under management. ValueAct Capital invests in a concentrated portfolio of 10-15 companies and works constructively to help recruit executives, develop business strategies, optimize capital structures and execute mergers & acquisitions. The partners at ValueAct Capital have served on the Boards of Directors of 47public companies. The firm also has the flexibility to execute going-private transactions for 100% control in select circumstances.
Mr. Morfit is a director of Salesforce, where he serves on the Transformation Committee. Mr. Morfit has previously served as a director of Microsoft Corporation, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, CR Bard, Inc., Immucor, Inc., Advanced Medical Optics, Solexa, Inc. and MSD Performance, Inc.
Mr. Morfit has lectured on issues of corporate governance and executive compensation at Stanford Law School’s Director’s College, the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, and the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition, Mr. Morfit is a member of the Advisory Council for Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He has a B.A. in political economy from Princeton University.
Renaud is the co-founder and CEO of Upgrade, Inc., a fintech company offering mobile banking and responsible credit to everyday consumers. Under his leadership, Upgrade has delivered over $35 billion in affordable credit to consumers in just over 6 years and launched Upgrade Card, an innovative credit card named the fastest growing credit card in America by Nilson Report in 2021 and 2022, making Upgrade the only fintech company ranked among the top 25 U.S. Card issuers. Upgrade was ranked the fastest growing company in the Americas by the Financial Times in 2021 and is one of the most valuable US fintech companies with a valuation that reached $6.3 billion in its latest financing round.
Prior to Upgrade, Renaud founded and ran Lending Club for 10 years. He took the company public, reaching a market capitalization of over $10 billion. At Lending Club, Renaud pioneered consumer fintech and grew the company to become the largest provider of personal loans in America.
Renaud was ranked among the world’s most influential leaders by Bloomberg Markets and recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative for expanding access to affordable and responsible credit. He holds the Newport-Bermuda sailing record with the only crossing ever achieved under 24 hours.
Renaud received his M.B.A. from HEC Paris and London Business School and his J.D. from Montpellier University.
Contact venture-programs@a16z.com