Michael Wendland

Kelowna, BC, Canada

  1. Product
  2. Product Strategy
  3. Figma
  4. Founder
  5. Go-to-Market Strategy
  6. HubSpot

Founded a Fintech, grew it to 125,000 users and exited in 2021

I'm a former fintech founder and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the financial services & fintech sectors, including consumer finance, mortgage lending and credit cards. I created Refresh Financial in Canada, delivering credit building solutions to the underbanked, scaling it to serve over 125,000 customers and over 80 employees. Refresh offered credit building solutions to users across Canada, such as the Credit Builder loan, Secured Credit Card, and other ancillary pr…

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Michael Wendland

Work

Experience

  • Modeno Holdings Corp.

    Principal Advisor & Owner

    Feb 2013 - Present

    Product and strategy consultancy for various fintechs in North Amercia and the UK building strategic roadmaps, GTM planning, product development as well as revolving credit, card and subscription based products.

    • Researched and presented findings on an international market expansion assessment for a fintech spanning Brazil, Australia, India, UK and Canada to aid the executive leadership team in their growth plan.
    • Advised on the go to market execution and product strategy of a UK based D2C secured card program provider
    • Lead product strategy and design on MVP launch of the MoneyUp app, an Earned Wage Access LOC product for the underbanked in Canada.
  • Refresh Financial Inc.

    Refresh Financial Inc.

    Founder & CEO

    Aug 2010 - Jun 2021

    Refresh Financial pioneered innovative credit building and other financial products for underserved Canadians with a team of over 100 employees and contractors, amassing over 125,000 clients and $15M+ in ARR.

    • Established and grew a large network of over 50 retail and affiliate referral partners across Canada.
    • raising over $190 million in debt & equity financing with syndicated lines and private investors, ensuring successful capitalization through growth cycles.
    • Developed and launched a branded secured credit card program and corresponding force.com management platform in less than 4 months.
    • Scaled into one of the fastest growing tech companies in North America in 2017: #9 in Deloitte Fast50 and #40 in Deloitte’s Fast500, and Profit500’s Startup50
    • Led a digital transformation in less than 90 days during the pandemic of 2020 resulting in record loan originations.
  • Trinity Western University

    Trinity Western University

    Bachelors in Business Administration: Finance Specialization

    Aug 2000 - Mar 2003