Gavin Tan is Co-founder and CEO of Brick, an open finance startup that closed an $8.5M seed earlier this year. Before Brick, he was General Counsel and also handled Partnerships at Aspire.

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

I'm a data plumber. I do the unsexy work of building data pipes (infrastructure) so that you can move your data safely and easily from one place to another.

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

I'm still surprised by how helpful successful startup founders are. The problems that startups go through are surprisingly similar.

Brick would not be where we are today without the generous help, advice and guidance of amazing entrepreneurs who have already walked in our footsteps.

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

The biggest highlight will always be people. We are 73 Bricksters today — the trust, common mission and combined talent of the 73 Bricksters is truly gratifying.

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

The sustainability of the 'buy-now-pay-later' model is a development I am watching with close interest.

After the collapse of BNPL public equities in Australia and the US, I'm curiously watching how local BNPL players will make the unit economics work with the help of new payments infrastructure being introduced.

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

Go join a high-growth startup. It will be a great learning opportunity whether you aspire to be an entrepreneur or build a career in tech.

There is no way to know what fast execution is without experiencing it yourself — experience the pace, the uncertainty and the mess that comes with it.

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

Anything fintech! I'm a big nerd.

🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Billions!

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

Chocolate mint — fresh, cool and sweet.