We’ve all had moments where we imagine the parallel universe of our highest achieving multi-verse selves. In that universe, we’re all entrepreneurs. We’re recognized not only for our ideas but also for the effortless way in which we, as dreamers, function as seamlessly as a Fortune 500 C-Suite at the tail end of a quarter. We’re navigating payroll, deposits, and bills without flinching (at least, in this dream scenario).
Then, we return to reality and remember it’s just a farfetched fantasy. Or is it? What if our ideas were simply the very start of our futures? If we could visualize the type of brand that could change the world, could technology do the rest?
The fintech leader in personal and small business banking, Oxygen, would say yes.
While most young startups have no shortage of ideas, they are typically operating with fewer resources than their established counterparts. So, we tapped Oxygen Banking’s CMO, Rob Brown, to learn more about how the app is changing the industry and making it possible for all of us to actualize our dreams.
Leya Kaufman: What’s Oxygen Banking’s mission?
Rob Brown: “To breathe life to your (our consumers’) future. As a company, we aspire to inspire and give life to the community, create opportunity, and promote new technology. We believe in moving with this kind of purpose because, like the air we breathe, opportunity and upward mobility are for everyone, and with a bit of sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, this shouldn’t be left up to chance or access.
“Oxygen as an element can be both constructive and destructive, and our approach is similar. To build something better, sometimes we will take what exists and strip it to the bare elements, only to reconstruct it with what is meaningful. That’s what we’re doing with the banking side of our business and offering what consumers are asking for in today’s economy: cash back in their pockets and a promise of a strong financial foundation and future.”
"To build something better, sometimes we will take what exists and strip it to the bare elements, only to reconstruct it with what is meaningful."
LK: When was Oxygen Banking founded and why? How has its mission changed?
RB: "Although Oxygen was founded in 2017 and has had some tremendous success, we have an entirely new leadership team running it today and a much broader vision and strategy. And the team is world class! Folks from Square, Google, Barclays, CapitalOne, AmEx and BBVA and we’re on a mission to develop a better banking experience for our customers. With the 2008 financial crisis and the recent pandemic and recession, the generation at large knows that the economy and their income aren’t certain. Layoffs and downsizing happen; having a financial foundation can be difficult to achieve in times like these.
“As a result, consumers are naturally supplementing their incomes with side hustles, entrepreneurial efforts, and small businesses to better prepare for their own financial futures. We’re enabling entrepreneurs, particularly in the immigrant communities in the US to fuel their financial future. Watch us in this space, there is a lot more to come."
LK: How does the app itself work?
RB: “The app is tied to our banking and savings platforms for small businesses and everyday consumers looking for a better banking service. An amazing app is only part of what we offer, and it’s incredibly easy to navigate.
“We are building a community site around our consumers called Oxygen Community. Think of it as an oxygen tank for our consumers to learn and share inspirational stories of consumers going from dreaming to doing and taking their first leap into growing their side hustle into a sole proprietorship and beyond.”.
LK: Who could benefit from Oxygen Banking’s services?
RB: “We offer a wide range of checking and banking products (and more to come), so everyone and anyone who needs a bank account, including business owners and to-be entrepreneurs, can take their side hustle to the next level.”
LK: Getting personal here, what made you want to work for Oxygen Banking? How is the company changing the space?
RB: “I’ve had incredible opportunities in my career with some of the biggest banks in the world, as Global CMO with BBVA in Spain and Global Head of Design with Barclays in London. I was recruited back to the United States for a role at Google. I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work for one of the most innovative and biggest brands in the world. I knew I’d learn a ton at Google, and I did for 2+ years.
“When I left Google in January 2023, I took the first break of my career, essentially taking the summer off. I rode my bike in the mountains. I got back into oil and acrylic painting. I hung out with my wife, my teenage daughter, and my son (home from college abroad). It was glorious, but I missed work. I missed building and launching things. The time away gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I enjoyed most about my previous roles, where I’ve been most successful, and where I can be of most value. I kept coming back to financial institutions, specifically to start-ups. It's hard not to have incredibly fond memories from my startup days at Juniper Bank in the early 2000s, helping to build that business leading up to its ultimate sale to Barclays Bank.
“Over and over, my search kept returning to Oxygen. David Rafalovsky (Oxygen’s CEO) and his world-class team (literally based all over the world) jumped off the page and drew me in. They are poised for success and, for me, represent another exciting journey. And while we’ve been in business since 2017, we’re building something much bigger, something that ties communities, technology, and entrepreneurship together.”
"The time away gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I enjoyed most about my previous roles, where I’ve been most successful, and where I can be of most value."
In conclusion:
If you’ve been looking to break into FinTech or to launch a small business of your own, download the Oxygen banking app, join the Oxygen community, and perhaps even consider applying for a role on their team. Your future awaits.