Ethan Austin
Founder‑investor focused on fintech, financial inclusion, and founder‑first investing
ethanaustin
Colorado (Denver / Boulder area)
Joined April 2025
Network
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Summary
Founder → operator → investor trajectory: Ethan built GiveForward (an early medical crowdfunding platform), transitioned into accelerator leadership at Techstars, then into operator/strategy at Gig Wage, and now runs Outside VC — a pre‑seed fund. That path shapes his founder‑first approach: he invests with empathy for early founders and emphasizes brand, community, and long‑term founder support. chicagotribune+2
Fintech & financial inclusion focus: Across roles (Techstars fintech programming, Gig Wage, and Outside VC) Ethan centers his work on payments, money movement, and products that expand economic access — positioning his fund to back founders building infrastructure and consumer fintech for underserved segments. techstars+1
Community builder, teacher, and communicator: Ethan frequently speaks and writes about founder experience, mentors founders through accelerators, has taught/lectured in academic settings, and appears on podcasts — signaling a public, community‑oriented approach to investing and founder support. substack+2
Work
Education
Projects
Writing
Outside the Norm — Founding Partner of Outside VC (VentureFuel Visionary)
May 1, 2025Interview/profile covering Ethan's transition from founder to investor, his GiveForward experience, and the thesis behind Outside VC (backing outsider founders and financial inclusion).
S2E4: Outsiders Welcome — Ethan Austin on Building a Firm That Speaks to the Uninvited
May 1, 2025Podcast / longform interview in which Ethan describes his philosophy for building Outside VC, lessons from GiveForward, and the importance of founder empathy and brand.