"There are eight digital banks trying to build the Chime of the Philippines. No one's building the Ramp or the Brex. That's the opportunity."
I talked with Zach Marks, founder and CEO of Jia, on Startup Hustle this week. Jia is building modern digital banking for small businesses in emerging markets, starting in the Philippines, powered by an AI credit engine that turns messy, handwritten paperwork into an underwriting decision in minutes instead of weeks.
Here's what you'll get out of it:
⚡ Why small businesses in emerging markets are so underserved, and why banks there take zero risk while asking founders to put their house up as collateral
⚡ How Zach went from teaching English and befriending samosa vendors in India to launching fintech markets across 15+ countries
⚡ How Jia's AI credit engine cuts a three-week manual underwriting file down to minutes, with a low non-performing loan rate
⚡ The real story of doing business in the Philippines, from BIR shakedowns to why the best local talent still beats every other emerging market
⚡ Why building a strong local culture and hiring leaders who embody it matters more than anything when you hire abroad
If you're building in fintech, emerging markets, or with an offshore team, this one is worth your time.
Listen to the Startup Hustle podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts!
⏱️ Episode Breakdown
01:16 Introduction and Guest Background
02:20 Starting in Construction and Key Clients
03:24 The Inspiration Behind the Book
04:23 Early Life Challenges and Lessons Learned
07:03 Common Entrepreneurial Traits and Backgrounds
09:38 Key Lessons from the Book
10:27 Business Lessons for Tech Entrepreneurs
11:55 Impact of AI on Construction and Design
13:50 Acquiring Big Name Clients and Referrals
16:24 Building a Scalable Business Model
18:24 The Power of Case Studies and Content Marketing
20:05 Showcasing Work Through Content and Videos
24:00 Final Advice and Closing Remarks
Links & Resources
Connect with Zach Marks on LinkedIn
Jia - https://jia.xyz/
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