From Street Hustler to Fintech CEO - Victor ‘DIVINE’ Lombard’s Journey with Ben Horowitz’s Mentorship
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Discover how Victor “DIVINE” Lombard went from street hustler to fintech CEO, with guidance from Ben Horowitz, and a mission to transform how finance serves overlooked communities.
Fintech entrepreneur Victor “DIVINE” Lombard shares his journey from street hustler to CEO, revealing how mentorship, compliance, and purpose-driven startups can transform access to financial tools with Tedd Huff Voalyre CEO on Fintech Confidential. They to expose the blind spots in today’s financial system and why creators are locked out before they even get started.
With firsthand experience on both sides of the table, Victor reveals how he’s building purpose-driven fintech to empower independent artists with access to financial services, real mentorship, and education. This isn’t theory—it’s a blueprint, shaped by hard-earned lessons and grounded in reality.
Together, they unpack:
• Why traditional banking metrics fail creators
• How compliance, when mastered, can build trust—not block progress
• What it takes to design sustainable financial ecosystems from the ground up
• Why mentorship often matters more than a credit score
Whether you’re a startup founder, creative entrepreneur, or fintech builder—this conversation delivers rare, real insight.
Takeaways
1️⃣ Build Systems Before You Scale – Early structure avoids chaos later
2️⃣ Use Compliance To Build Credibility – Master regulation before you need it
3️⃣ Train Your Team Like Operators – Start onboarding with education
4️⃣ Pitch Value, Not Your Backstory – Focus on what you’re solving
5️⃣ Design Products For Real Use – Reflect real workflows, not trends
Links
Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE)
Instagram: www.instagram.com/divine4thletter
Notes
Website: www.notestechnology.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/notestechnology
Facebook: www.facebook.com/notestechnologyinc
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@notestechnology
Instagram: www.instagram.com/notestechnology
Fintech Confidential
Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen
Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential
X: https://x.com/FTconfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential
Supporters
Under.io – Streamline your underwriting and application process by digitizing PDFs and enabling secure, fast digital signatures. https://under.io/ftc
Dfns – Launch wallets across 50+ blockchains with API-first, MPC-secured tools trusted by top fintechs and custodians. https://fintechconfidential.com/dnfs
Skyflow – Secure, tokenize, and analyze personal data with a zero-trust privacy vault delivered via API. https://skyflowsecure.com
Hawk:AI – Detect fraud in real time with ML transaction monitoring and advanced risk scoring. https://getHawkai.com
About
Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE): Fintech founder and hip hop artist empowering urban music creators with capital access and financial education.
Notes: Fintech platform helping artists build sustainable wealth through education, mentorship, and smarter financial tools.
Tedd Huff: Founder of Voalyre and executive producer of Fintech Confidential, helping fintechs scale with strategy and clear messaging.
DD3 Media: Production company powering high-impact media content globally.
Chapters
00:00 Highlights
01:02 Under.io (Sponsor)
01:46 The Intersection of Hip Hop and Banking
04:29 Falling into Fintech
06:05 The Importance of Financial Literacy
07:47 Creating Financial Platforms for Artists
09:01 The Role of Empathy in Financial Systems
09:55 Streets to Startups
12:29 The Power of Networking and Mentorship
13:24 Dfns (sponsor)
14:46 Challenges in Building FinTech Startups
17:28 Addressing Bias in Financial Systems
22:14 Leveraging Technology for Financial Empowerment
26:09 The Importance of Knowledge and Awareness
27:07 Pursuing Knowledge and Experience
27:37 Challenges of Independent Artists
28:27 Technology’s Role in Success
29:36 Building FinTech with a Criminal Record
30:08 Overcoming Barriers with Partnerships
30:35 Navigating Startup Challenges
32:45 Importance of Relationships in FinTech
34:18 High Compliance and Risk Management
35:56 Growth Challenges in FinTech
36:49 SkyFlow: (Sponsor)
38:41 Managing Multiple Financial Institutions
39:22 Complexity in FinTech Backend
40:01 Problem-Solving in FinTech
41:28 Learning and Adapting in FinTech
42:17 Regulatory Environment and Compliance
42:50 Cannabis and Cryptocurrency Banking Issues
43:36 Thinking Big but Starting Small
44:51 Building Relationships for Success
45:31 Soft Skills and Communication
46:09 Blind Spots in FinTech Startups
47:37 Future of Financial Technology
49:37 Advice for FinTech Founders
50:04 Final Thoughts
50:37 FinTech Isn’t Just About Tech and Finance
51:08 Creators Deserve Better Tools
52:01 Hawk:AI (Sponsor)
52:49 Disclaimer