John Collison, cofounder and president of Stripe, is one of the youngest self-made billionaires in tech, helping build the financial infrastructure that powers much of the modern internet economy. Alongside his brother Patrick, he launched Stripe in 2010 to simplify online payments for developers and businesses, growing it into a global platform used by millions of companies—from startups to industry giants like Amazon and Lyft. Known for his product discipline, engineering rigor, and long-term focus on expanding digital commerce, Collison has positioned Stripe as a cornerstone of global fintech, enabling seamless payments and financial services across over 100 countries.

Jim McKelvey, cofounder of Square (now Block), is an entrepreneur, inventor, and investor whose work has reshaped modern payments and small-business commerce. A glassblower by training, McKelvey partnered with Jack Dorsey in 2009 to create Square’s iconic card reader after losing a sale because he couldn’t accept credit cards—sparking a multibillion-dollar fintech revolution. Beyond Square, he founded LaunchCode to expand access to technology careers and authored The Innovation Stack, distilling insights from building category-defining companies. Known for his product intuition, creative background, and commitment to economic empowerment, McKelvey remains a major force in American entrepreneurship.

Jed McCaleb, pioneering software developer and blockchain innovator, is best known as a cofounder of Ripple and Stellar, two of the most influential protocols in the digital asset ecosystem. A serial entrepreneur with a long history in early crypto infrastructure, McCaleb created the first major cryptocurrency exchange, Mt. Gox, before selling it in 2011, and later launched Stellar to promote low-cost, decentralized cross-border payments. Beyond blockchain, he founded aerospace company Vast to pursue long-term visions in space habitation. Known for his technical creativity and unconventional path, McCaleb has helped shape multiple generations of internet and financial technology.

Jared Isaacman, entrepreneur and pilot, is the founder and CEO of Shift4, the payment processing company he launched as a teenager and later scaled into a multibillion-dollar publicly traded enterprise serving restaurants, hotels, stadiums, and major global brands. A skilled aviator with thousands of flight hours, Isaacman gained worldwide attention as commander of Inspiration4—the first all-civilian orbital space mission—funded largely by his own philanthropy in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Combining bold entrepreneurial vision with a passion for aerospace and charitable impact, he has emerged as one of the most dynamic business leaders of his generation.

Chris Larsen is the San Francisco–born entrepreneur and co‑founder of Ripple Labs, the blockchain firm transforming cross-border payments. Previously, he founded E‑Loan, one of the first online mortgage platforms, and Prosper Marketplace, the peer-to-peer lending pioneer. A radical pro-consumer advocate, Larsen introduced free FICO credit scores for borrowers and championed digital privacy reforms in California and beyond.