An Airwallex Program

Built Finance From Zero and Moved Kindred to Per-Trip Profitability

Kindred is a Series C home-swapping network where verified members host and book stays in homes around the world. Mehta joined as Head of Finance in early 2026 to build the company's Finance and Accounting function from the ground up, establishing forecasting, annual and long-range planning, and a review cadence that delivers ongoing insight into business performance.

Her team runs ROI and strategic trade-off analysis across the business, from sizing roadmap investments to calibrating marketing incentive spend, delivering a clear read on where each dollar generates the most impact.

She ran unit economics analysis to trace trip margins, built the case for automating support workflows, and steered unit economics to turn durably positive for the first time. Mehta leverages AI across planning and scenario modelling, enabling her lean team to deliver outsized output.

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Richa Mehta

Kindred

What Startup Finance 30 is

Finance is one of the most under-leveraged growth levers a startup has.

The best finance leaders don't just keep the books. They extend runway, structure capital that changes what a company can do next, and build the systems that let it scale across borders.

Startup Finance 30 is the first list built to recognise that work. Beginning in 2026 and continuing annually, we name 30 finance leaders at venture-backed, globally ambitious startups. The operators shaping how the next generation of companies grow.

Who's doing the most consequential finance work in the startup world right now?

This list is the answer.

FAQ

More information on how SF30 works.

Who's behind Startup Finance 30?

Startup Finance 30 is published by Airwallex. We built it because we work with globally ambitious companies every day, and the finance leaders driving that growth deserve more recognition than they get. Selection sits with the committee.

Who selects the final 30?

A committee of operating CFOs and finance leaders. They score every candidate against a five-part merit rubric and ratify the final list. See the full selection methodology.

Is there a fee? Can I pay to be included?

No. It's free to enter, and recognition is earned on merit.