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Cj MacDonald

Founder & CEO at Step

CJ MacDonald is the Founder and CEO of Step, a financial services company focused on providing banking solutions for teenagers and young adults.12 He founded Step in 2018 with the mission of improving the financial future of the next generation by offering a free all-in-one banking solution with a personalized Visa Step Card that has no interest or fees and helps teens build positive credit.2

Prior to founding Step, CJ was a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in launching early-stage startups across multiple industries.1 Some of his notable achievements include:

  1. Co-founding Gyft, a digital gift card platform that was later acquired by First Data Corporation.2
  2. Serving as VP of Business Development at Luminate Inc., which was acquired by Yahoo.2
  3. Working as Director of Sales and Business Development at LiveOps, a leader in distributed workforce and contact center solutions.2

CJ MacDonald graduated from Wesleyan University, where he studied Government and Economics.2 He has demonstrated an exceptional ability to bring innovative products to market, attract large clients, and deliver rapid consumer expansion throughout his career.1

In 2023, CJ MacDonald was recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs at its Builders and Innovators Summit.1 Under his leadership, Step has grown to serve more than 4 million customer accounts and has raised over $500 million in funding from prominent investors such as Coatue, Crosslink Capital, General Catalyst, and Stripe.1

Highlights

Feb 10 · TechCrunch
MrBeast’s company buys Gen Z-focused fintech app Step
MrBeast’s company buys Gen Z-focused fintech app Step
Feb 23 · youtube.com
Step CEO CJ MacDonald on building the leading Gen-Z ... - YouTube
Step CEO CJ MacDonald on building the leading Gen-Z ... - YouTube
Nov 9 · leadiq.com
Step Company Overview, Contact Details & Competitors - LeadIQ
Nov 9 · Yahoo Finance
Step Revolutionizes Rewards Card Industry With The Launch Of Step Black - Yahoo Finance
Step Revolutionizes Rewards Card Industry With The Launch Of Step Black - Yahoo Finance
Oct 18 · step.com
Step's Founder & CEO CJ MacDonald honored by Goldman Sachs
Step's Founder & CEO CJ MacDonald honored by Goldman Sachs
Oct 16 · step.com
Better Banking For All – About Step
May 4 · step.com
EY Announces CJ MacDonald of Step as an Entrepreneur Of The ...
EY Announces CJ MacDonald of Step as an Entrepreneur Of The ...
Feb 8 · fintechnexus.com
Podcast 340: CJ MacDonald of Step - Fintech Nexus
Podcast 340: CJ MacDonald of Step - Fintech Nexus
Apr 27 · step.com
Step

Related Questions

What inspired CJ MacDonald to start Step?
How did CJ MacDonald's experience at Gyft influence his approach at Step?
What are some of the key innovations CJ MacDonald has introduced at Step?
How has CJ MacDonald's leadership style impacted Step's growth?
What challenges has CJ MacDonald faced as the CEO of Step?
Cj MacDonald
Cj MacDonald, photo 1
Cj MacDonald, photo 2
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Location

San Francisco, California