Interview Series: Alex Pelin

The Ultra-Connected Founder of the Financial Club DJ Mixes questions for us.

In the constellation of fintech stars, few shine as distinctly as Alex Pelin. As the co-founder of Financial Club, his ultra-connected network spans founders, VCs, technologists, regulators, and anyone who dares think differently about money. With an unconventional knack for solving problems—often by throwing a party no one forgets—Alex blends streetwise intuition with systems-level strategy. Born outside the mainstream (literally—he’s an immigrant who built his influence from the ground up), he now stands alongside industry titans like David Birch, Sanjib Kalita and Simon Taylor, but in a more behind the spotlight role. Together, this quarter forms the holy tetrad of fintech: brains, vision, creativity and charisma in no respective order. We’re thrilled to share this conversation with the man who puts the “network” in network effects.

The Delivery Man (DM): You grew up in Moldova—what’s a formative memory from that time that later influenced how you build global fintech communities?
Alex Palin (AP): I played drums in a ethno-rock band and at some point we had 9 musicians in it. Managing our rehearsals, gigs, radio appearances and recordings was probably the best experience that prepared me for what I am doing with the Financial Club today. Best days of my life!

DM: Arriving in the U.S. 15 years ago , what was your mindset, and how did those early months shape your perspective on ambition and belonging?
AP: Stage 1 mindset - curiosity. Stage 2 mindset - survival. Stage 3 mindset - build something you like.

DM: From launching the Fintech Retreat in 2020 to leading a premier global professional network - The Financial Club, what was the breakthrough moment that made you realize these gatherings had global impact?
AP: It was after the retreats expanded to APAC in 2024, it was clear that the network we started building in 2020 has now hit global scale.
There wasn’t anything, and still isn’t really like the Financial Club. As a product centric founder, you jump on the opportunity.

DM: You’ve grown a curated community including regulators, VCs, founders—with rooms emphasizing quiet, responsible leadership . What was a turning point that taught you this value?
AP: The way we set up the retreats early on really taught me that the only conversations worth having are those that drive actionable outcomes. The only conversations that drive actionable outcomes are those that include all of the stakeholders in the industry.

DM: What’s the single piece of startup or community-building advice you wish someone had passed on during your early days?
AP: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and don’t lose confidence when you end up making them.

DM: The Financial Club emphasizes “honesty over spin” —how will this ethos help shape the fintech landscape in the next few years?
AP: All of my global work in the past 6 years in fintech was focused on curated conversations held under the Chatham House rule. In 2020 I launched the original intimate, off-the-record platform for conversations in the industry that had a global scale. Since then Fintech Retreat and DeFi Retreat have inspired dozens of local and international events, small and large conferences and even industry associations to adopt our approach. Being in a position when others start to copy your products leads to two results:
1. The reinforcement of your product market-fit
2. A forced need to innovate
The last one is particularly important as it keeps the business evolving and setting the trends rather than following them. The ethos of the organization didn’t change over the years and won’t change in the future, we’re laser focused on: Delivering Value.

DM: If Fintech Fest were a band, would it be punk, classical, or disco—and would your DJ set lean Monty Python-style absurdity or slick techno?
AP: Fintech Fest would be a tasteful Melodic House and Indie Dance DJ.

DM: Which fintech or policy leader would you stash in your suitcase for a desert-island Fintech Retreat—and why?
AP: No comment :)

DM: What’s your most unapologetically “controversial” fintech stance—something that would raise eyebrows at a traditional VC dinner?
AP: In 2021 I refused to adapt every single NFT pitch I got in our organization (NFTs for events were all the craze). The reason was simple, I didn’t hear one strong argument about value that we weren’t already providing outside of it being “the thing”.

DM: Finish this: “If I weren’t building global fintech communities, I’d probably be…” (DJ, diplomat, stir-crazy couch-potato?)
AP: If I weren’t building the global fintech community, I’d probably be living a simple life on an island in the Caribbean.

DM: Alex, thank you for generously sharing your time, your story, and your insights. Your journey is not just inspiring—it’s a roadmap for what’s possible when bold thinking meets relentless action. Whether it’s building bridges in fintech or building unforgettable events, you’ve proven that heart, hustle, and a little humor go a long way. À bientôt, friend—and see you at the next Fintech Club soirée.