This episode reveals how embedded payments can unlock massive untapped revenue for SaaS and vertical software companies. Brandon Lloyd, CEO of Forward, shares his 20-year journey in payments, explaining why most platforms capture less than 20% of their payment potential and how to transform payments from a bolt-on feature into a major revenue stream. Essential listening for any ecommerce operator looking to monetize their platform more effectively.
Key takeaways
Evaluate your current SaaS platform's payment integration to identify if you're capturing less than 20% of potential payment revenue; prioritize embedding payments as a core revenue stream, not just a feature.
Explore AI applications for risk management, operations, and settlement within your payment infrastructure to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Investigate continuous, 365-day settlement models to decrease reliance on traditional credit facilities and enhance financial flexibility.
Learn from the evolution of payments (banks/processors, e-commerce, embedded software) to strategically position your business for future monetization opportunities.
Develop robust contingency plans for payment system outages and cultivate founder resilience to navigate hypergrowth challenges, drawing parallels from live-event experiences.
At the first-ever Fintech NerdCon in Miami, Dan Rosen sits down with Brandon Lloyd, founder and CEO of Forward, for a candid conversation about the past, present, and future of embedded payments. Brandon shares how a “side problem” in an early software company turned into a 20-year journey building payments-powered businesses, including a prior exit to Fiserv, and why those scars led him to start Forward to better serve vertical software companies.
They break down the three eras of payments (banks and processors, e-commerce, and now embedded software), why most SaaS platforms are still capturing less than 20% of their payments potential, and how Forward helps founders turn payments from a bolt-on feature into a major revenue line. Brandon also explains why he’s bullish on AI for risk, operations, and settlement, but skeptical about near-term “true” agentic commerce, before sketching his vision for continuous, 365-day settlement without relying on credit facilities. Along the way, he shares lessons from live-event outages, raising four kids while scaling a hypergrowth company, and what it really takes to persevere through the hardest days as a founder.
Frequently asked about this episode
What does this episode say about embedded payments?
Evaluate your current SaaS platform's payment integration to identify if you're capturing less than 20% of potential payment revenue; prioritize embedding payments as a core revenue stream, not just a feature.
What does this episode say about entrepreneurial journey?
Explore AI applications for risk management, operations, and settlement within your payment infrastructure to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
What does this episode say about fintech innovation?
Investigate continuous, 365-day settlement models to decrease reliance on traditional credit facilities and enhance financial flexibility.
What does this episode say about saas monetization?
Learn from the evolution of payments (banks/processors, e-commerce, embedded software) to strategically position your business for future monetization opportunities.
What does this episode say about embedded payments?
Develop robust contingency plans for payment system outages and cultivate founder resilience to navigate hypergrowth challenges, drawing parallels from live-event experiences.
