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Fizz is the credit card for college students

The financial ally you can feel good about

We empower college students to achieve the financial freedom they deserve, and the credit score to secure a better future... without the risk of getting screwed over by credit cards.

How it all started

It all started when we got to College in 2018. Carlo and Moritz tried to get a credit card, but couldn’t get approved because they were international students. At the same time, a roommate fell in the trap of unintentionally racking up credit card debt. Scott, meanwhile, noticed many of his friends didn’t know about the importance of credit, or even how to budget. Unlike learning algebra and the humanities, financial literacy isn’t core to any high school or college curriculum. So, if you didn’t learn at home, it’s easy to fall into credit card debt... even for Harvard students.

Your credit is impacting your mental health

We were irritated, so we did a bunch of research. What we learned was terrifying: 90% of 18 - 20 years olds are credit-invisible, and still, the majority of college students go on to graduate with $3000 or more in credit card debt. To make matters worse, 3 in 4 Americans under the age of 30 say keeping their personal finances on track is their largest source of anxiety.

You shouldn’t be underestimated

Most banks do nothing to prevent their young users from (unintentionally) taking on extremely expensive credit card debt (why isn’t Autopay the default). On top of that, the FICO score model is ancient, and we believe it underestimates the financial responsibility of young borrowers, because it relies primarily on credit history. A great credit score is vital for getting approved for apartments, refinancing student loans (saving you thousands later on), securing a mortgage, and even landing some jobs; however, building credit can be risky and inaccessible, and the need for cosigners and security deposits is a hassle.

Frustrated with the unfair complexity of building credit as students, we decided to do something about it. So, we created Fizz.

With the mission of being the financial ally for young adults, Fizz empowers college students to achieve the financial freedom they deserve, and the credit score they need to secure financial freedom... without the risk of getting screwed over by credit cards.


#GiveYourselfCredit

Our values

Fizz family first

Creating a healthy environment isn’t automatic. It’s important that every member of the team is lifting each other up, celebrating each others wins, holding themselves accountable to the group, teaching each other and giving each other feedback. We should enjoy being around each other and make an effort to get to know each other. We win as a team, and we attack problems as a team, and never shut each other out. We’re a family - not just “employees” or “colleagues.”

Collaborate relentlessly

Being part of a team takes effort. We work to keep our lines of communication open and accessible. There are no stupid questions at Fizz and respectful confrontation is a huge part of how we make progress. We’re never afraid of a discussion, because everyone knows something you don’t.

Think beyond ourselves

Our goals are greater than any one person, and it takes all of us to be successful. Different viewpoints and backgrounds aren’t just necessary to our success as a team - they’re an essential piece of what allows us to be the financial ally of young adults. We go out of our way to make sure that all of our voices are heard and everyone’s opinion is considered. Diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility are key to building a company that looks like the world.

Hold ourselves to high standards

We compete with ourselves to be the best we can be. This means knowing what we bring to the table and using that information to move the ball forward. We’re never on autopilot, always presenting new ideas, and looking to minimize the distance between what we say and what we do. We are all here because we want to build something exceptional.

Always solve problems

We find ways to make less work for others, never using two words when one will do. We analyze our performance honestly and objectively. When we’re bringing questions to the table, it’s important that we’ve thought about answers as well.

Act with intention

Our passion for financial freedom and literacy connects us all. In order to best serve our community, we set clear goals and take well-defined steps to achieve them. We take ownership and give credit where it’s due in order to deliver the best possible outcomes.

The team

Scott Smith

Co-founder / COO

Carlo Kobe

Co-founder / CEO

Moritz Pail

Co-founder / CTO

Kyle Prue

Social Media

Alejandro Fischer

Software Engineer

Will Berger

Design

Andy Lebowitz

Software Engineer

Christopher Kinyua

Software Engineer

Sam Lipscomb

Growth

Ariane Lee

Design

Creg

Mascot / Chaos Incarnate

Scott Smith

Co-founder / COO

Carlo Kobe

Co-founder / CEO

Moritz Pail

Co-founder / CTO

Join the Fizz team

We’re young, determined, and celebrate brilliance. Working at Fizz, you’ll be empowered to own your projects end-to-end. Still, you’ll need to check your ego at the door.

See open roles

Our investors