Nneka Ukpai

She’s Harnessing the Power of the People to Fuel Innovative Startups

As the co-founder of not one but two apps, Nneka Ukpai knows just how hard it can be for early-stage startups to access funding. That’s why she’s passionate about her latest position, leading the strategy, go-to-market, and customer expansion for Pop Venture, a new investment platform that allows non-accredited investors (aka, anyone) to fund innovative private companies with as little as $25. The app is intended to make private investment both accessible and engaging by blending education and entertainment. Features include celebrity interviews, surveys, and live debates that allow investors to weigh in on which companies should receive funding, à la Shark Tank. Ukpai, who worked in big law before pivoting to fintech, previously served as the Head of Innovation at direct-to-consumer digital lender Better, which she helped take public in 2023. She launched some of Better’s biggest financial products, including the Equity Unlocker, a first-of-its-kind illiquid asset-backed mortgage, and One Day Mortgage, a fully digital homeownership experience that reduces the mortgage commitment process from several weeks to 24 hours.

By Audrey Goodson Kingo