Max Levchin

Max Levchin is a prominent software engineer and entrepreneur, best known as the founder and CEO of Affirm, Inc., a financial technology company that provides a payment network aimed at empowering consumers and supporting merchants. He co-founded Affirm in 2012, emerging from his innovation lab, HVF (Hard, Valuable, Fun), which he established to explore data-driven business opportunities.13

Early Life and Education

Born on July 11, 1975, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Levchin moved to the United States in 1991, settling in Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in 1997. During his time at university, he was involved in several technology startups, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit early on.3

Career Highlights

Levchin's career began in earnest when he co-founded PayPal in 1998, where he served as Chief Technology Officer. His work at PayPal included significant contributions to the company's anti-fraud efforts, and he co-created the Gausebeck-Levchin test, an early CAPTCHA technology. After PayPal's acquisition by eBay in 2002, Levchin was recognized as one of the top innovators by Technology Review.13

Following PayPal, he founded Slide, a personal media-sharing service, which was acquired by Google in 2010. Levchin also played a key role in the founding of Yelp, serving as chairman of its board from 2004 until 2015, and has been involved with various other companies and boards, including Mixpanel and Yahoo!.23

Current Endeavors

As of now, Levchin continues to lead Affirm, which has gained prominence as a competitor to traditional credit card companies by offering alternative financing options. He is also the co-founder and chairman of Glow, a fertility-focused company, and has invested in numerous startups throughout his career, reflecting his ongoing commitment to innovation in technology and finance.13

Levchin's influence extends beyond his direct business ventures; he has been an advocate for the tech industry's engagement with regulatory bodies, particularly following his tenure on the advisory board of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.3

Personal Life

Max Levchin is recognized not only for his business acumen but also for his philanthropic efforts and investments in over 100 startups, underscoring his role as a significant figure in the Silicon Valley ecosystem.3