The financial landscape continues to evolve, thanks to innovative young entrepreneurs and leaders entering the industry. The El-Balad 2026 Top 30 Under 30 list highlights influential founders in fintech, crypto, and traditional financial services. These selected individuals have made significant contributions, disrupting existing models and showcasing the profound impact of technology in finance.
Notable Fintech Entrepreneurs
Kalyani Ramadurgam and Ashi Agrawal co-founded Kobalt Labs in 2023, after recognizing how outdated compliance processes were in financial institutions. Their company aims to modernize compliance through machine learning, enabling banks to efficiently vet business partners. To date, Kobalt Labs has raised $13 million and boasts over 20 clients, including Celtic Bank and Bilt.
Victor Cardenas, hailing from Caracas, dropped out of Stanford to create Slash, a digital bank focused on businesses. Collaborating with Kevin Bai, another dropout, Slash provides tailored financial solutions such as corporate credit cards and stablecoin payments. The startup has expanded its customer base to around 2,500, processing $6 billion in transactions annually.
Gabriel Stengel, a Princeton graduate, co-founded Rogo with John Willett and Tumas Rackaitis. This fintech utilizes generative AI for automating financial analysis, having secured $50 million in funding at a $350 million valuation. Rogo’s clientele includes renowned firms like Lazard and Moelis.
Innovators in the Crypto Space
Asta Li, with a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering, co-founded Privy, a company producing crypto wallets for businesses. Privy has successfully acquired over 1,000 clients and reached a valuation of $230 million. Additionally, Giovanni Vignone created Octane to enhance smart contract security, securing more than $186 billion in assets quickly and effectively.
Leaders in Traditional Financial Services
The influence of young leaders isn’t limited to fintech and crypto. Arkin Gupta recently transitioned from Morgan Stanley to Citadel, where he applies machine learning in trading strategies. Previously, he managed a $2 billion portfolio, combining his investment knowledge with advanced analytics.
Annika Kim, who joined the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) this year, is already influencing private markets significantly. She is tasked with building a $2.5 billion portfolio in Asia over the next five years, leveraging her extensive experience from Goldman Sachs and Carlyle.
Demographic Insights
- 30% of the honorees are women.
- 41% identify as people of color.
- 73% are founders of their respective companies.
All candidates for the 2026 Top 30 Under 30 must have been 29 or younger as of December 31, 2025. Notably, none have previously appeared on the Under 30 lists for Europe, North America, or Asia.
This year’s list, meticulously curated by El-Balad’s editorial team, features remarkable individuals shaping the future of finance. Their impact is proof of the transformative power of young innovators in the industry.
