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In the words of our judges
“Charlie is a serial entrepreneur who helps the next generation achieve financial independence. His innovative platform is redefining ethical finance as it builds credit histories, encourages responsible spending and expands access to payment options.”
Many young people face a Catch-22 when trying to prove their creditworthiness. They need to establish a solid credit rating to obtain a credit card or loan, but that’s almost impossible when their access to credit is limited.
Charlie Youakim recognized this conundrum soon after founding Sezzle in 2016. When his original concept of a debit-based payment processor didn’t take off, he transformed Sezzle into one of the first Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms in the US. Knowing the difficulties many young adults have in establishing financial independence, he set out to offer tools that level the playing field. With Sezzle, younger consumers can make purchases using interest-free installments to help them build a solid loan-payment history.
Since then, Sezzle has expanded into a global operation, offering point-of-sale financing options and digital payment services to millions of customers. Under Youakim’s guidance, Sezzle has embraced a core mission of helping consumers manage spending responsibly, take charge of their own finances and achieve financial independence.
When Sezzle had trouble securing financing in US markets due to regulatory hurdles, investor skepticism and a lack of awareness about alternative payment solutions, Youakim sought financing by going public on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2019. That financial backing, aided by a later listing on NASDAQ in 2023, gave the company the runway to introduce new product offerings. One of these is Sezzle Up, which allows users to report on-time payments to credit bureaus, transforming short-term purchases into long-term credit improvement opportunities.
That offering jibes nicely with Youakim’s goal of helping consumers make purchases without falling into debt traps, furthering his overarching conviction that financial access should be a fundamental right, not a privilege.