Charlie Youakim

Charlie Youakim is the Executive Chairman and CEO of Sezzle, a fintech company specializing in buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) payment solutions. He co-founded Sezzle in 2016, building on his extensive experience in technology and entrepreneurship. Prior to Sezzle, Youakim founded Passport, a mobile payment app for parking, in 2010, which significantly disrupted the transportation industry.

Youakim holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, where he also completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. His career spans nearly 14 years in the fintech sector, during which he has focused on creating consumer-friendly financial solutions aimed particularly at younger, new-to-credit consumers. Under his leadership, Sezzle has grown to serve over three million active users and has partnered with more than 40,000 merchants, including major retailers like Target.1245

Youakim is known for his commitment to transparency and social responsibility, positioning Sezzle as a certified B-Corp that prioritizes a triple bottom line approach—people, planet, and profits. His vision includes expanding Sezzle's services beyond BNPL to become a comprehensive financial services hub, appealing to the values of Gen Z consumers who seek trust and ethical practices in financial services.243