Ivey FinTech Club students travelled to Toronto this fall for an inside look at three companies shaping the city’s fintech sector: Brim Financial, Ramp, and Float.
Supported by Ivey’s Scotiabank Digital Banking Lab, the October 6 firm trip brought students into each company’s workplace for panel discussions, office visits and conversations with industry professionals. Across the three stops, students explored different sides of building and working in fintech — from combining technical and commercial expertise to entering new markets, understanding customers and taking ownership of new opportunities.
Brim Financial
The day began at Brim Financial, where students explored the importance of combining technical expertise with strong business relationships. Employees discussed how closely technical and commercial responsibilities are connected, with both skill sets playing a role in understanding client needs and improving products and services.
Students also gained insight into Brim's collaborative workplace culture, including daily roundtable discussions with the CEO, Rasha Katabi. The conversation offered a closer look at how open communication and access to leadership can shape the employee experience, particularly for professionals early in their careers.
For students, the visit highlighted the value of developing both technical knowledge and interpersonal skills needed to work effectively with clients and across teams.
Ramp
At Ramp, the conversation turned to the company’s expansion into Canada and what it takes to enter a new market.
The team emphasized the importance of staying close to prospective customers, asking questions and testing assumptions. Direct conversations can help surface customer needs, challenge early thinking and inform how a company positions its products.
For students, the visit offered a practical look at how customer research supports growth by helping teams refine their approach, respond to feedback and make more informed decisions.
Float
The final stop was Float, where students explored the company’s entrepreneurial culture and the opportunities available to employees who take ownership of their work.
One example shared during the visit involved a business development representative who identified potential in a smaller customer segment that Float had not traditionally pursued. By independently engaging prospective clients and demonstrating the segment’s potential, the employee helped establish it as a regular part of the company’s business.
For students preparing to enter the workforce, the story offered a concrete example of how taking initiative can translate into impact — identifying an opportunity, acting on it and building support for a new direction.
Across the three visits, students heard different perspectives on the skills and approaches shaping work in fintech, from technical and commercial collaboration to customer engagement and entrepreneurial ownership.
The smaller-group format also gave students opportunities to speak directly with industry professionals about internships, new graduate roles, career development and the experiences that shaped their own paths into the sector.
The trip gave students a closer look at the range of roles, skills and business decisions behind Toronto’s fintech sector.
The Ivey FinTech Club gratefully acknowledges the support of Ivey’s Scotiabank Digital Banking Lab for supporting the trip, and to the teams at Brim Financial, Ramp, and Float for sharing their time and expertise. Special thanks to Jacqueline Kahnert and Abe Katabi at Brim, Cecilia Cai at Ramp, and Victoria Smith and Kayvon Mihan at Float for helping organize and host these experiences.