Payment Expert’s ID Check: Payments Professionals offers insight from industry leaders and experts on how they got their start in the financial industry, from their early years in education, to how they have been able to climb the corporate ladder.
This week, Aymeric Monod-Gayraud, Co-Founder of LoanTube, embraces the uncertainty and reveals how his extensive history in banking at Bank of America, as well as his time at University at Cambridge and Oxford, helped mould him into a person that always takes the shot.
Where did you go to university and what did you study? What impact did this have on your current journey?
University was, first and foremost, a proving ground – a test of my ability to adapt, excel, and assert myself in a new country. It demanded resilience, problem-solving, and the capacity to navigate complex, multidisciplinary challenges.
At Sussex, I proved I was numerate and had what it takes to rise to the top. Cambridge sharpened my ability to hold my own in high-level discussions and confirmed I could operate confidently among the best. Oxford reinforced that the right network can be just as powerful as knowledge itself.
Most importantly, it was a reminder that you never know where people will end up – former classmates have gone on to become senior ministers, senior business professionals, and other influential figures. The real takeaway? You build high-powered relationships before you need them, all while signalling to the outside world that you’re ready for a demanding, long-term career where challenges aren’t obstacles – they’re stepping stones.
Were you part of any sports clubs or societies at university and has this influenced your educational and professional development?
I played Varsity Volleyball at both Sussex and Oxford, served as president of Sussex Volleyball Club in my final year, and earned a Half-Blue at Oxford while placing 3rd in the BUCS (formerly BUSA) Men’s Volleyball Championship.
The thing about volleyball is – no matter how good you are, you can’t win alone. It’s the ultimate team sport, where strategy, communication, and trust matter more than individual talent. That’s exactly how I approach business. I thrive in dynamic interactions, where collaboration drives results. In my world, 1+1 isn’t 2 – it’s always 3, if both parties are willing, of course.
What was the first job you had in the industry and are there any lessons from this you still draw on?
Investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch – a baptism by fire. It was a pressure-filled crash course in M&A and equity/debt financing transactions, C-level decision-making, and navigating egos. You either adapted or got left behind – there was no in-between.
Excel and PowerPoint quickly became my best friends, but more importantly, I learned to think critically under pressure, communicate with precision, and operate effectively in high-stakes environments.
All this while experiencing and surviving the height of the 2008-09 credit crunch – watching my Lehman Brothers peers pack up their belongings and leave the office in a single morning. A stark reminder that nothing in corporate finance is guaranteed, and that resilience, adaptability, sharp decision-making and the occasional bit of luck are the only constants.
Who was your biggest role model – inside or outside of your industry – who continues to inspire you in your current career?
I don’t believe in idolising a single person as every role model has flaws, and more importantly, staying true to yourself is essential. We all have our own ways of driving positive change, and the right attitude is what ultimately makes the difference.
That’s why I’d say I’ve learned the most from the people I’ve worked with. My first boss in investment banking played a crucial role in helping me navigate the complexities of a high-stakes professional career and multidisciplinary challenges, equipping me with the confidence and adaptability needed to thrive.
My entrepreneurial journey, in turn, has been shaped by my business partners. Right now, Gurprit Singh Gujral, my current business partner and original founder of LoanTube, stands out – his grit, judgment, and attention to detail define what true entrepreneurship is about.
When was your first big break in the industry? Why was this such a significant moment for you?
Walking away from banking to build something of my own.
There’s no perfect timing, no roadmap – I just knew it was time. I took the leap and landed in Poland, where my mother is originally from and where I spent my teenage years, to build my first business.
I quickly realised that no guaranteed salary package can match the thrill of creating something from scratch. Once you embrace that, everything changes.
Was there a moment you faced in the industry that really challenged you? How did you overcome this?
I’ve faced a multitude of obstacles, but that’s the reality of entrepreneurship.
Selling my first business, Freebee, was a crash course in make-or-break negotiations with a multi-billion pound telecom operator – Vodafone’s Polish asset – with the deal going down to the wire before we finally got it over the line.
Then came Covid-19, which forced us to put my then-business, ZIPZERO, on hold and relaunch a year later – an incredibly tough call, but ultimately the right one.
More recently, bootstrapping LoanTube until we proved product-market fit – and, beyond that, reaching profitability – was a major strategic decision. It gave us the freedom to test, iterate and refine our solution without unnecessary external pressures.
Challenges in the startup world are unavoidable, but they’re also the best testing ground for strategic thinking, adaptability, and resilience; all non-negotiables in this space.
What are some of the skills you deem essential to starting in your industry and how have yours developed over the years?
To succeed in entrepreneurship, you generally need three things:
- Naivety – Knowing too much can be a disadvantage. Overanalyse every risk, and you might never take the leap.
- Grit – You’ll face scepticism at every turn; if you don’t back yourself, no one else will.
- A bit of madness – Rational people don’t willingly dive into startups, given the odds. This usually comes down to personality.
At LoanTube, we didn’t reinvent the wheel – we just focused on making it perfectly round.
Real-rate loan comparisons didn’t exist in the UK before us, and once we proved the model worked, incumbents scrambled to follow. The lesson? Innovation isn’t always about creating something entirely new. Sometimes, it’s about fixing what was broken and making things work the way they should have all along.
Lastly, what is some advice you would give to an aspiring person looking to get a start in your respective industry?
Just do it. Overthinking kills more ideas than failure ever will.
Michael Jordan put it best: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Entrepreneurship works the same way – you take the shot, you miss, you learn, and you take the next one, all to give yourself a real shot at winning big. The only real difference between those who make it and those who don’t? The ones who make it… they keep shooting.
And General Patton said it right too: “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”
Success in business isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment or flawless execution. It’s about moving fast, making decisions, and adapting as you go.
And yes, you need to be a little bit crazy. Most people will choose stability – a steady job, a mortgage, a predictable path. But if you’re wired to embrace uncertainty, take calculated risks, and bet on yourself when no one else will – then welcome to the game.
