In today’s fast-paced financial ecosystem, fraud remains a persistent and costly problem, siphoning billions of dollars annually from institutions and individuals alike. In a recent episode of the Ignite Podcast, Zach Bijesse, CEO and co-founder of Archer, delved into how his company is addressing this challenge head-on. Zach’s journey—from math teacher to serial entrepreneur—is as compelling as the vision behind Archer.
Zach’s Entrepreneurial Journey: A Path Paved by Problem-Solving
Zach’s career has been defined by his desire to solve complex problems. Before founding Archer, he co-founded PayHippo, a Nigerian fintech company that tackled the lack of access to credit for small businesses. His journey started humbly, teaching math and founding a weight-loss app called SlimmerMe. While the app didn’t succeed, it planted the seed for his passion for entrepreneurship.
This drive led him to Nigeria, where he launched a nonprofit to help startups secure funding. Living with a Nigerian family, Zach learned the intricacies of a market underserved by traditional banking. He later co-founded PayHippo, leveraging technology to bring lending solutions to small businesses. His experiences laid the foundation for Archer, a company tackling fraud prevention on a global scale.
The Birth of Archer: Solving a Universal Problem
While running PayHippo, Zach encountered the immense challenge of fraud. As he described on the podcast, “Fraudsters go where the money is, and that’s FinTech.” Archer was born out of the realization that existing systems like Know Your Customer (KYC) checks and fraud detection rules were insufficient. Even with robust internal controls, fraud persists because institutions lack the ability to share data effectively.
Archer’s solution is a shared fraud detection network. By enabling financial institutions to pool their data on fraudulent activity, Archer strengthens fraud prevention across the industry. This approach not only enhances security for individual companies but also contributes to a safer financial ecosystem.
Why Fraud Prevention is So Difficult
Fraud detection is a daunting task for several reasons:
High Stakes: Lenders face the paradox of needing to issue loans to grow while avoiding high-risk borrowers.
Complex Data Needs: Effective fraud prevention requires comprehensive data, which many institutions don’t have access to in isolation.
Cross-Border Challenges: International transactions introduce additional risks, with limited visibility across borders.
Fraud’s Evolving Nature: Fraudsters continually adapt, exploiting loopholes and developing new strategies.
Zach explained that Archer’s value lies in its ability to aggregate data from multiple institutions, making it easier to detect patterns of fraudulent activity. “Fraud exists because individual institutions don’t have enough data to make the rules work,” he said.
The Archer Advantage
Unlike other solutions, Archer isn’t just another fraud management tool—it’s a network. Archer integrates seamlessly with existing systems, providing institutions with actionable insights powered by collective intelligence. Zach highlighted Archer’s potential to become the go-to fraud prevention layer for financial institutions worldwide.
Key features of Archer include:
Data Sharing: Securely and compliantly connects institutions to share fraud-related data.
Machine Learning Models: Leverages predictive analytics to flag suspicious activity.
Scalability: Designed to work across both emerging and developed markets.
The Bigger Vision: Eliminating Fraud Globally
Zach’s vision for Archer extends far beyond today’s challenges. He imagines a world where fraudulent activity is reduced to near zero, thanks to a globally connected fraud detection network. “Fraudsters thrive on gaps in the system. Archer’s goal is to close those gaps,” Zach said.
In the long term, Archer aims to serve not only fintech companies but also traditional banks, governments, and any organization dealing with financial transactions. By charging institutions a SaaS fee for access to the platform, Archer ensures sustainability while delivering immense value.
Why Archer’s Mission Matters
Fraud prevention is about more than safeguarding profits; it’s about protecting trust in financial systems. As Zach pointed out, even small improvements in fraud detection can have a massive impact. For example, reducing fraudulent cross-border transactions from 5% to zero would save billions globally.
How to Connect with Archer
If you’re a fintech or financial institution interested in joining Archer’s fraud detection network, Zach invites you to connect on LinkedIn or email him at zach@archerprotect.com.
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Chapters:
Introduction to Zach Bijesse & Archer (00:01 – 02:00)
From Teaching Math to Founding SlimmerMe (02:01 – 06:30)
Exploring Education Reform and Teaching Insights (06:31 – 10:20)
Moving to Nigeria and Launching PayHippo (10:21 – 14:30)
The Complexities of Lending and Underwriting (14:31 – 18:00)
Founding PayHippo and the Y Combinator Journey (18:01 – 22:00)
Challenges of Lending Businesses and Raising Capital (22:01 – 25:00)
Techno-Optimism and the Future of Innovation (25:01 – 28:00)
Introduction to Archer and Tackling Fraud in FinTech (28:01 – 32:00)
How Archer Reinforces Fraud Prevention Systems (32:01 – 35:00)
Archer’s Vision to Eliminate Fraud Globally (35:01 – 39:00)
Closing Thoughts and Connecting with Archer (39:01 – 40:03)
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