Do Fewer Things.
Fintech focus with Layer’s $6.6M raise, the art of doing less but better, how to turn your open roles into a public career page, and the new Brex × Notion Day Zero Stack for founders building from scratch.
Welcome to The Startup Stack - where we cut through the noise to bring you the real talk, tactical tools, and startup trends that matter. What does it take to build smarter, not busier? This week, we’re digging into how focus fuels momentum - from fintech infrastructure to hiring systems to your first startup stack.
Featuring:
- Fintech focus: Layer’s Justin Meretab on why vertical specialization wins
- Build your team faster: Turn your hiring page into a public Startup Job Board
- Start strong: Explore Brex’s new Day Zero Stack and the custom Brex × Notion template
The stack is set — let’s get focused.
“It’s an ongoing muscle and you can really never have too much customer insight and feedback, and it’s just always good to work that into your day-to-day. It allows us to see patterns in the market and understand customer needs even faster.” — Justin Meretab , Co-founder & CEO of Layer
Justin Meretab , Co-founder & CEO of Layer , joins Atulya Pathak , Notion’s Head of Revenue Transformation, to share how he turned years at Square into a new kind of infrastructure play – embedded accounting for the platforms that power small businesses. From spotting the same pain point across industries to raising $6.6M led by Emergence Capital , Justin breaks down why vertical focus is the future of fintech.
Three founder lessons from Justin:
- Vertical focus wins → Tailored tools outcompete one-size-fits-all software.
- AI behind the scenes → Automation works best when users don’t have to see it.
- Design your time → Zoom out often to stay focused on what really moves the needle.
The Startup Job Board: Turn your open roles into a public hiring hub
- Showcase open roles → Create a public Notion site where candidates can browse positions by team, location, and posting date
- Share your story → Highlight your mission, values, and culture to attract the right talent
- Simplify applications → Include clear details and direct links so candidates can easily apply
Day Zero Decisions
Every founder remembers Day Zero - that moment when your idea becomes a company. The first tools you pick, the systems you set up, the habits you form - they quietly shape how fast (and how far) you’ll go.
That’s why we were excited to partner with Brex on their newly launched Day Zero Stack, a curated lineup of the tools (and special offers!) the most ambitious startups use from day one. Think of it as a startup-in-a-box designed to help founders start strong.
As part of the stack, we created a custom Brex × Notion template - your all-in-one startup hub for company OS, tracking new hires, managing your social media calendar, and more. It’s how thousands of early-stage teams are building smarter foundations from day one.
Because momentum doesn’t happen by accident - it’s built through the decisions you make early.
Mark your calendar - Notion for Startups is hitting the road.
Join us for bold ideas, lively conversations, and access to founders you'll want to meet.
October 19 | Austin: Afterhours, a monthly founder community dinner. A special edition of Afterhours, hosted by Sara Loretta , a Notion’s Solutions Partner, to talk shop, get advice, and network with a curated group of founders during Austin Tech Week. RSVP.
October 23 | Mexico City: First Block Live - From Zero to Latin America’s Fintech Rocketship: Inside Clara. Notion’s CFO Rama Katkar joins Gerry Giacomán Colyer , Co-Founder & CEO of Clara , to explore how the company went from solving a simple spending pain point to becoming the #2 fastest-growing company in the Americas. Request to join.
November 5 | London: Make with Notion Showcase, Pop-Up for Startups & Creators. Practical founder-to-founder sessions, real AI workflows, and demos from builders to help you scale smarter and faster. RSVP.
Notion Startups Team is growing - we’re hiring globally!
The Startup Market Developer is a key driver of Notion’s growth and adoption across the startup ecosystem in Korea. You’ll be the lead operator in one of our most exciting and high-potential markets, responsible for building strong partnerships, running high-ROI campaigns, and capturing the attention of top early-stage founders. Are you the ultimate startup super-connector - or know one? Apply here
The AI workspace that works for you. Startups move fast - and Notion helps you move faster. From idea to exit, build docs, manage projects, and run your team and startup in one connected workspace powered by Notion AI. Apply now to get up to 6 months of Notion’s Business plan with Notion AI included - a $12,000 value.
Till next week - time to prioritize.
co-Founder @ Convelio | Forbes 30U30
1moWorst company ever, we paid our bill a month ago, now they just shut down our access @ Convelio, we need urgent attention, no-one is answering in your team
Accelerating Capital-Efficient AI Data Centers | Assistant to the CEO @ Iozera.ai – Minimizing Investor Risk, Maximizing Predictable Returns
1moLove how this issue cuts through the startup noise and focuses on leverage, not just hustle. Justin’s point about vertical focus really resonates; fintech and SaaS in general succeed when they go deep, not wide. The Brex × Notion Day Zero Stack is also a helpful reminder that the systems you choose early define your scale later. Building smarter is better than building faster.
I help brands, creators & coaches turn ideas into content systems that attract clients using AI-powered funnel content and human storytelling.
1moVertical focus really is the future of fintech. I’ve seen the same while writing for SaaS and fintech brands niche problems need tailored solutions, not generic tools. Loved Justin’s insights here.
Financial Analysis ◆ Business Valuations ◆ Elegant Financial Modelling ◆ Mergers & Acquisitions ◆ Director ◆ Senior Business Analyst ◆ Investment Manager ◆ Master of Applied Finance ◆ Big4 Consulting
1moLibby ticket
Sr. Vice President, Office Leasing
1moso cool Justin Meretab!