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Gaurav Ahuja, a 2022 Under 30 Venture Capital lister, often came across founders he admired in his role as general partner at Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital—and usually, those founders sought him out. But one entrepreneur, Daragh Murphy, earned Ahuja’s special attention.

In 2020, Murphy was toying with the idea of launching a fintech startup, though he wasn’t quite sure of the exact direction. Perhaps something to support credit unions, he thought. But word around town was that Murphy was the type of entrepreneur who would "give every last drop of blood" to bring his vision to life. Intrigued, Ahuja reached out—not to lead a check into Murphy’s company, but to launch one with him.

That year, Ahuja and Murphy, along with ex-Thrive employee Michael Pechman, founded Imprint, a fintech startup helping brands launch credit cards. The idea was Ahuja’s: a platform enabling businesses to offer personalized rewards (such as points, discounts, or exclusive deals) for their top customers, using data to send highly targeted offers based on individual preferences and behaviors—something traditional systems couldn't do.

It worked. This year, Imprint made its debut on Forbes’ Fintech 50 list for its significant growth. The startup has attracted large clients like Brooks Brothers and Turkish Airlines, counting over 400,000 customers by the end of 2024. Imprint has now raised more than $300 million from investors such as Thrive, Khosla Ventures, and Ribbit Capital. Earlier this month, Imprint also secured $500 million in debt financing from banks like Mizuho, Truist, and HSBC, bringing the fintech total lending capacity up to $1 billion.

Imprint’s revenue hit $70 million in 2024, up from $15 million in 2023. How is the five-year-old startup competing with branded-card issuers like Capital One? Find out here.

See you next week,

Alex and Zoya

Things Are Bad At Tesla. They’re About To Get Much Worse.

In California, Tesla's main U.S. market, sales dropped 31% in January, while European sales fell 43%. In China, Tesla's most profitable market, sales plunged 29% through February. The company's stock has also taken a major hit, down 34% this year. Elon Musk’s leadership is facing increased backlash, and protests at Tesla stores are becoming more common. Can Tesla return to its days of glory? Read more here.

Lister Lowdown

-Under 30 alumni Spencer Hewett’s retail startup Radar announced this week a new client was added to their roster. Radar, which develops RFID, AI and computer vision technologies to track items across retail stores, will now be used in 1,200 Old Navy stores nationwide. They’ve raised more than $100 million to back their expansion.

-OpenAI, founded by Under 30 Venture Capital alumni Sam Altman, is reportedly eyeing a $40 billion funding round. Alleged to be led by SoftBank, this would be the largest single fundraising round in history, according to Bloomberg. Altman is also a member of the Forbes Billionaires list, with a net worth of $1.5 billion as of this week.

-Arman Jaffer, the face of 2025’s 30 Under 30 Education category, announced this week a $15 million Series A for his startup, Brisk Teaching. Brisk offers an AI agent for K-12 schools, and is already used by one in five teachers across the U.S. This funding round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with additional funding from Owl Ventures, South Park Commons, and Springbank Collective, and will go toward improving AI-led learning opportunities and supporting more teachers across the country.

On Our Radar

-The egg aisle at the grocery stores are seeming really out of the ordinary lately: Some are costing up to $20 a dozen, others are selling “loosies” (or three eggs in a clear baggie), while many are just completely empty. That’s where beauty brand the Ordinary stepped in. Last weekend, they sold cartons of “ordinarily priced” eggs at their Manhattan stores in Nolita and on Fifth Avenue. (The Cut)

-While tequila was once the product of choice for celebs looking to build a brand, it’s seemingly shifted to sports drinks. Earlier this month Alex Cooper’s Unwell Hydration was named the official partner to the National Women’s Soccer League. And this week, NBA star Steph Curry and former first lady Michelle Obama teamed up to launch a sports drink of their own: Plezi. With no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, less sodium, and a daily dose of vitamin C, they’re positioning the bev as a health and wellness drink. (CNBC)

-Looking for some rest and relaxation? So is everyone else. In fact, it’s become a more sought after descriptor for vacations than even having “a fun time.” And Gen Z and millennials are at the forefront of the White Lotus-like trend. And some are spending thousands to achieve their self-care-cations. (Business Insider)

Under 30 On-Air: How Tessa Barton Turned Influencing Into A Bootstrapped Tech Startup