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In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host and founder of Voalyre, Tedd Huff sits down with Victor Lombard, CEO and Co-Founder of Notes. Known professionally as DIVINE, he brings a rare mix of real-world grit and sharp financial insight that has made him a three-time fintech founder.

DIVINE doesn’t spend time talking about hypotheticals. As someone who lived through being denied basic banking services and now builds financial tools from the ground up, his point of view comes with clarity. He explains, “Most creators are excluded before they even get a chance. If your income doesn’t fit a template, you’re labeled a risk.” That’s where his company, Notes, steps in.

The discussion centers around the real-world blockades creators face. Tedd breaks it down clearly: “Banks and financial platforms still rely too heavily on credit scores. But they don’t tell the full story.” The conversation peels back the outdated systems holding people back and how Notes is working to rebuild the infrastructure with community needs at the core.

Notes focuses on the basics: giving artists the tools to manage money, learn financial discipline, and understand the real implications of their contracts. “We’re not trying to fix a broken system,” DIVINE says. “We’re building around it to give people what they’ve always deserved: fair access.”

The tools in Notes go beyond checking accounts. They help artists understand their cash flow, track spending, and forecast future earnings. According to DIVINE, “Most people don’t need fancy features. They need someone to finally design products that reflect how they actually live.”

Tedd doesn’t just listen. He adds critical insight from his decades in global payments. He explains how compliance and regulatory friction can block even the best ideas. “You can have the perfect product,” he says, “but if it doesn’t pass compliance, it doesn’t ship.”

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They both agree: compliance is not optional, it’s strategic. DIVINE learned early that credibility with banks comes from knowing the rules. “You have to train like you’re going pro,” he says, “because nobody’s going to teach you.”

The episode also breaks down how a criminal background or lack of financial history creates additional hurdles. DIVINE’s perspective is direct. “The system flags people like me, not because we’re unqualified, but because it wasn’t built with us in mind.” Instead of avoiding those issues, he includes them in the mission.

Mentorship plays a big role in DIVINE’s approach. From partnering with respected figures in finance to learning from legal experts, he explains how he built a strong team by leaning into honesty and communication. “Soft skills can’t be outsourced,” he says. “They’re the reason we get in the room, and why we stay.”

Tedd builds on this, emphasizing how founders must become fluent in more than just product development. “If you can’t explain your business clearly, if you can’t build trust, you won’t make it in this industry.”

The idea of product design surfaces again, this time framed by usability. Tedd challenges the way traditional platforms are created. “Who are these tools actually for?” he asks. “If they’re not built with real user behavior in mind, they’re built wrong.”

DIVINE shares how Notes is built differently. Every feature is tested against how artists actually earn and spend. That includes income from shows, brand deals, merchandise, and streaming, not just biweekly paychecks. “You can’t create with outdated rules,” he says.

AI and automation also come up, not as trends but as necessary tools. DIVINE points out that the platforms of the future will need to adapt fast, especially if they want to serve those traditionally left out. “It’s about creating access, not hype.”

Both agree that there’s a serious problem with financial data being stripped of context. “Just because it’s structured,” Tedd says, “doesn’t mean it’s accurate.” They advocate for systems that incorporate real-world complexity instead of ignoring it.

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As the discussion shifts toward practical advice, Tedd asks DIVINE what new founders need to know. The answer is clear. “Don’t wait until you scale to put structure in place. Do it early.” That discipline, according to DIVINE, is what turns ideas into real products.

Tedd pushes on team building. He explains that bringing on people who understand the regulatory landscape is not just helpful, it’s required. “There’s no room for guesswork when you’re dealing with financial systems.”

DIVINE talks about the value of partnerships and alignment. It’s not about networking for the sake of exposure. “Every relationship has to be rooted in shared goals,” he says. That’s how he’s gained support from respected names across the industry.

What stands out is how each piece of the conversation ties back to real outcomes. Whether it’s financial education, access to capital, or product readiness, there’s no fluff. Just tested methods and insights that anyone building in fintech can apply.

They talk about risk: not just financial but reputational. DIVINE explains, “People like me don’t get to fail quietly. So we have to be twice as ready.” That urgency drives every decision he makes.

Notes continues to expand its offerings, but DIVINE is careful not to move too fast. “Every feature we launch has to work. No second chances when your users already feel overlooked.”

Tedd agrees. He shares how often founders think more features will save their company, but it’s the fundamentals that keep it alive. “If you don’t understand your customer and your risk,” he says, “you’re building on sand.”

They end on mindset. DIVINE sums it up simply: “Have the courage to do what seems impossible.” That belief powers everything he’s building.

This episode gives a clear, honest look at what it takes to create financial tools that actually serve people. From compliance to communication, from design to delivery, it’s about precision, purpose, and persistence.

“You’re more than just your credit score,” DIVINE says. That belief shapes every move he makes, and it’s what makes this episode essential listening for anyone building with meaning.

TLDR:

Tedd Huff sits down with Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE) to unpack why most creators are shut out of the financial system before they get a chance. This episode breaks down how DIVINE is building tools that give independent artists real financial access without asking for permission. You’ll learn how bias in banking, outdated credit models, and weak platform design keep talented people from moving forward. It covers how to structure a fintech startup from scratch, why soft skills matter more than pitch decks, and how compliance can either slow you down or open doors. If you’re building in fintech, working with underserved groups, or trying to scale without sacrificing purpose, this is packed with real talk and strategies you can apply today. Includes insights on creator banking, access to capital, and how to design products that meet real-world needs.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders!

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Key Highlights:

Banks Block Creators Without Warning

Most people in the creative space are shut out of the financial system before they even get a shot. They’re labeled risky, inconsistent, or too complicated to deal with.

Stop Judging By Credit Scores

DIVINE isn’t interested in repackaging old systems. He’s focused on actual needs: getting past credit-score-only decisions, offering mentorship, and creating platforms that look at full financial behavior, not just a single number.

Why Most Platforms Fail Creators

The artists using it don’t need another platform that doesn’t understand them. They need tools that reflect how they live and earn.

Compliance Kills Startup Momentum

He also reflects on the friction between fast-growth startup culture and the pace of compliance in fintech. Tedd doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the real tension between ambition and regulation.

Access Beats Ideas In FinTech

The conversation goes into the gaps that the fintech industry has yet to close. DIVINE explains how regulatory scrutiny can shut down progress before it starts.

Soft Skills Decide Who Succeeds

Tedd emphasizes how soft skills make or break a founder. Communication, trust, and clarity are non-negotiable. In regulated industries, those skills carry more weight than most realize.

Old Financial Metrics Are Useless

Tedd highlights the issue with financial systems relying too much on data without context. He asks why we’re still using outdated ways of measuring worth.

Redemption Isn’t In The Resume

DIVINE shares how he worked through high-stakes hurdles like criminal background checks, regulatory caps on growth, and institutional resistance: all without giving up control of his company.

Mentorship Beats Background Checks

There’s also a strong discussion about partnerships. DIVINE credits his success to mentorship and his ability to connect with people.

Creators Need Business Education

The platform goes beyond transactions. It’s focused on education, planning, and long-term sustainability. It teaches artists how to manage money, read contracts, and make decisions that build wealth over time

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Takeaways:

1️⃣ Build Systems Before You Scale

Don’t wait until you grow to create structure. Set clear processes early to avoid chaos when momentum hits.

2️⃣ Use Compliance To Build Credibility

Mastering compliance early can help you gain trust with banks and partners before you even need funding.

3️⃣ Train Your Team Like Operators

Treat education as part of onboarding. Make sure your team knows the systems they’re up against.

4️⃣ Pitch Value, Not Your Backstory

Lead with what you’re solving. Your past is part of the context, not the main point.

5️⃣ Design Products For Real Use

Build features based on real workflows and behaviors, not what the tech industry expects creators to do.###

Links:

Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE)

Instagram: www.instagram.com/divine4thletter/

Notes

Website: www.notestechnology.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/notestechnology/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/notestechnologyinc

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@notestechnology

Instagram: www.instagram.com/notestechnology/

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://X.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Time Stamps:

Transform Your Merchant Applications with Under. The Under platform revolutionizes how you handle merchant applications, offering a seamless transition to digital forms. Say goodbye to outdated processes and hello to efficiency. Discover the future of financial applications at https://under.io/ftc 

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About The Guest:

Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE)

Victor Lombard, known professionally as DIVINE, is a fintech founder and hip hop artist focused on building platforms that empower independent urban music creators. As CEO and Co-Founder of Notes, he is working to provide capital access and financial education to artists traditionally left out of the financial system.

Notes

Notes is a fintech company built to support independent urban music artists by offering tools that combine financial literacy, capital access, and mentorship. The platform helps artists manage money, make better financial decisions, and grow sustainable careers.

About the Host:

Tedd Huff: 

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre, a professional services advisory firm focused on global payments and DD3 Media.

Over the past 26 years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer, providing strategic and tactical direction for Global Payments OpenEdge, Heartland Payments, Nuvei, and TSYS, among others, focusing on growth while delivering innovation, process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

DD3, Media: 

DD3 Media is a media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally

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