Dayana Yermolayeva is the Co-founder and CEO of JiPay, a fintech focused on domestic workers. They just raised a $1.3M seed led by East Ventures.

👋🏼  How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

Giving access to financial services to migrant workers excluded by traditional banking systems.

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🧐  What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I'm a certified pilot, and before starting JiPay, I was beginning my career in aviation consulting. I am still a massive airplane nerd, but my career took a massive 180!

🏆  What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Last month, during a user testing session, one of our helper clients told me JiPay has allowed her to save money. I asked her "How? The feature you've been using is just for your employer's groceries!". But she explained that before JiPay, the employer had used cash to manage grocery spending.

She said that sometimes she would lose receipts and that she used to feel so awkward bringing this up with her employer that she would compensate for "unreconciled" transactions with her own funds. During some months, she would lose 5% of her salary just compensating for these transactions. This is the kind of stuff you don't find in market research reports... It's the hidden cost of being an FDW (foreign domestic worker).

For me, instances like this are daily reminders that our work at JiPay truly matters. Sometimes we don't even realize how our product helps people — meaning that our current solution only solves the tip of the iceberg. This is the best motivation to keep going and keep building!

🔍  What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

Food tech and more specifically, cultured meat products. I think stem cell meat is the future; I even wrote my college thesis on it!

I'm super excited that companies in this space are moving out of the R&D phase and commercializing their products. And I can't wait to taste the meats myself!

💼  What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Buckle up!

🗣  What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

All the creative ways people "adapt" the JiPay app to suit other use cases. Recently, someone left an App Store review saying the app was perfect for sugar babies. 👀

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🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show?

I consider myself a relatively intelligent person, but I refuse to watch anything mildly serious or meaningful when it comes to TV. Netflix is for tuning out!

So my latest favorite: Working Moms.

🍨  What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Can I have two? Hazelnut and Pistachio!