CJ MacDonald

CJ MacDonald is the Founder and CEO of Step, a financial services platform aimed at improving the financial literacy and independence of teens and young adults. He has over 20 years of experience in launching and leading startups across various industries. Before founding Step in 2018, he co-founded Gyft, a digital gift card platform that was acquired by First Data in 2014. His career also includes significant roles in business development and sales at companies like Luminate, which was acquired by Yahoo, and LiveOps.

MacDonald has been recognized for his entrepreneurial achievements, including being named one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2023 by Goldman Sachs and a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the Bay Area.14 He aims to fill the gap in banking products designed for younger users, providing them with tools to build credit, save, and invest through a user-friendly app and a Visa card with no fees.13

He holds a degree in Government and Economics from Wesleyan University and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. His vision for Step is to create a financial platform that not only provides banking services but also educates the next generation on personal finance fundamentals.23