Building Scalable FinTech Compliance: From Startup to Enterprise with Jamie Uppenberg | #26

In this episode of The Entrepreneur's Logbook Podcast, host Zachary Bernard sits down with Jamie Uppenberg, co-founder of Runway Group, a specialized firm helping FinTech startups navigate complex regulatory landscapes while building scalable compliance programs. As a former chief compliance officer at five different FinTech companies, Jamie brings rare operational expertise to an industry often dominated by theoretical approaches. Jamie shares her hard-won insights on the two critical mistakes that sink most FinTech startups: either over-investing in product perfection while neglecting marketing, or the inverse—building impressive marketing campaigns without a solid product foundation. She emphasizes the importance of finding the MVP sweet spot and maintaining disciplined spending, especially as investment dollars have tightened in recent years. The conversation dives deep into Runway's unique methodology for building compliance programs from the ground up. Unlike traditional consultants who come from legal or regulatory backgrounds, Jamie's team has actually lived inside FinTech operations, understanding how these fast-moving companies actually function. Rather than overwhelming clients with every compliance gap at once, they create prioritized roadmaps that tackle the highest-risk areas first—typically starting with anti-money laundering and financial crimes prevention—while ensuring companies can maintain revenue and growth momentum. Jamie explains how her approach differs from document-heavy compliance programs, focusing instead on operational excellence: "Can you do what this document says?" This practical methodology helps FinTech companies build programs that actually work when regulators and banking partners come asking for proof of compliance activities, not just policies on paper. The discussion also explores Runway's integrated model, where compliance consulting works hand-in-hand with specialized FinTech legal counsel and strategic advisory services. This collaborative approach eliminates the common problem of conflicting advice from different vendors, allowing the team to synthesize legal requirements, operational realities, and strategic positioning into cohesive recommendations. For founders considering building compliance programs in-house, Jamie offers crucial hiring advice: look for professionals who can build systems "with a Google Suite and a dream"—not just those accustomed to enterprise-level resources. She stresses the importance of objective reporting and clear communication about program progress, warning against purely anecdotal updates that leave leadership in the dark about their actual compliance status. Whether you're launching a payments platform, building lending infrastructure, or creating the next generation of financial services, this episode provides actionable insights for navigating the regulatory challenges that can make or break FinTech ventures in today's environment. Contact Information Jamie Uppenberg – Runway Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-uppenberg Website: https://rnwy.group/ Zachary Bernard – We Feature You PR Chapters (00:00:00) - The Entrepreneurs Logbook Podcast(00:00:51) - Fintech Compliance Expert Jamie Uppenberg(00:01:45) - What's the One Thing All Startups Get Wrong?(00:03:57) - How to Find The Right Balance For Your Company(00:04:47) - Have You Got the Money to Grow?(00:06:05) - How To Get Fintech Companies To Be Compliant With the(00:11:26) - WSJD Live: The Fintech Compliance Program(00:16:38) - What to Know Before Hiring a Compliance Program Designer?(00:19:21) - Expertise in Fintech at Runway Consulting(00:24:58) - How to Reach Jamie Uppenberg on Podcast