In this Grownlearn episode, Sal Rehmetullah (co-founder of Stax Payments and now Worth) breaks down how he and his sister Suneera scaled Stax to 500 employees and $200M ARR, sold it for $1B, and then turned their attention to the broken world of small-business credit.
We dig into Worth’s AI-powered underwriting plus onboarding stack, why they don’t touch fund flows, and how they’re partnering across global data sources so banks and lenders can understand real-time business risk—think “Credit Karma for business,” but built for enterprise adoption first. Sal also gets candid about purpose post-exit, minority-led entrepreneurship, the $25M seed led by TTV Capital, and what SMB owners can do today to become more lendable.
About the guest:
Sal Rehmetullah is the co-founder of Stax Payments (one of the first minority-led fintech unicorns) and co-founder of Worth, which is rebuilding the financial infrastructure for SMBs with real-time compliance, onboarding, and underwriting.
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GrowNLearn, led by Zorina Dimitrova, connects select VCs, Family Offices, and Strategic Investors with precisely matched, high-growth ventures across Europe and the U.S.
We also support founders with strategic growth advisory—helping you transform your business model, increase valuation, and prepare for investment or exit.
🎯 No random pitches. No wasted time. Just targeted growth and curated deal flow.
📌 Want Curated Investment Deals?
👉 Book Your Private Briefing: https://grownlearn.org/
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🎧 Listen to the GrowNLearn Podcast
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/grownlearn/id1515759956
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1bUIDGbSQl4BlHeNeeJfva
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/grownlearn
All platforms: https://grownlearn.onpodium.com/
📲 Follow Us on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grownlearn
X (Twitter): https://x.com/grownlearn1729
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healnlearn_grownlearn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healnlearn_grownlearn/
Success Mindset Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@healnlearn
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📈 Tools for Investors & Founders
Tax Optimization for Real Estate Investors:
https://mavencostseg.referralrock.com/l/ZORINA/
FREE LinkedIn Profile Audit:
https://ps.linkedvanow.com/r5wgf
AI-Powered Lead Generation for Dealmakers:
https://ps.linkedvanow.com/tjnia9mrkt85
💬 Ready to connect with investor-ready ventures or expert advisors?
Schedule your 1:1 session → https://grownlearn.org/
Chapters
00:01:12-00:05:46: From Family Business to Fintech — Sal’s Early Journey & Stax Origins
00:05:47-00:09:03: The Billion-Dollar Exit & Finding Purpose After “Founder”
00:09:04-00:20:24: Worth’s Vision — Real-Time Business Credit, Data Partnerships & Actionable KPIs
00:20:25-Video End: Enterprise First, WorthScore.com, Global Coverage & Advice for SMBs + Founders
We dig into Worth’s AI-powered underwriting plus onboarding stack, why they don’t touch fund flows, and how they’re partnering across global data sources so banks and lenders can understand real-time business risk—think “Credit Karma for business,” but built for enterprise adoption first. Sal also gets candid about purpose post-exit, minority-led entrepreneurship, the $25M seed led by TTV Capital, and what SMB owners can do today to become more lendable.
About the guest:
Sal Rehmetullah is the co-founder of Stax Payments (one of the first minority-led fintech unicorns) and co-founder of Worth, which is rebuilding the financial infrastructure for SMBs with real-time compliance, onboarding, and underwriting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GrowNLearn, led by Zorina Dimitrova, connects select VCs, Family Offices, and Strategic Investors with precisely matched, high-growth ventures across Europe and the U.S.
We also support founders with strategic growth advisory—helping you transform your business model, increase valuation, and prepare for investment or exit.
🎯 No random pitches. No wasted time. Just targeted growth and curated deal flow.
📌 Want Curated Investment Deals?
👉 Book Your Private Briefing: https://grownlearn.org/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🎧 Listen to the GrowNLearn Podcast
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/grownlearn/id1515759956
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1bUIDGbSQl4BlHeNeeJfva
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/grownlearn
All platforms: https://grownlearn.onpodium.com/
📲 Follow Us on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grownlearn
X (Twitter): https://x.com/grownlearn1729
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healnlearn_grownlearn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healnlearn_grownlearn/
Success Mindset Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@healnlearn
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
📈 Tools for Investors & Founders
Tax Optimization for Real Estate Investors:
https://mavencostseg.referralrock.com/l/ZORINA/
FREE LinkedIn Profile Audit:
https://ps.linkedvanow.com/r5wgf
AI-Powered Lead Generation for Dealmakers:
https://ps.linkedvanow.com/tjnia9mrkt85
💬 Ready to connect with investor-ready ventures or expert advisors?
Schedule your 1:1 session → https://grownlearn.org/
Chapters
00:01:12-00:05:46: From Family Business to Fintech — Sal’s Early Journey & Stax Origins
00:05:47-00:09:03: The Billion-Dollar Exit & Finding Purpose After “Founder”
00:09:04-00:20:24: Worth’s Vision — Real-Time Business Credit, Data Partnerships & Actionable KPIs
00:20:25-Video End: Enterprise First, WorthScore.com, Global Coverage & Advice for SMBs + Founders
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