For Sasha Lockley, the founder of Money Sweet Spot, starting a fintech wasn’t about disrupting markets, it was about making fixing debt more human. Her mission is deeply personal: to create “the best place in the world to get out of debt,” a place where people facing financial stress can feel supported rather than judged.
Sasha’s journey as a founder has been anything but straightforward. It’s been about resilience, adaptation, and learning to dream bigger, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
Before joining the Creative HQ FinTech Accelerator, Money Sweetspot had already raised $1.5 million from impact investors and carried a strong social enterprise identity. But for Sasha, something was missing.
“I felt like I needed to be reminded that we’re actually a business, not a charity, and that we’re actually a fintech, not just a social enterprise.”
The accelerator offered exactly that: structure, accountability, and the space to reimagine what the business could become. Through workshops, mentoring, and peer collaboration, Sasha found herself challenged to step back, reassess, and reconnect with her ambitions as a founder.
“I saw that the system was really judgmental and quite harmful for people, especially when they faced unpredictable life events… I wanted to make the world of debt a more human place that people could feel confident moving through, rather than feeling panicked and scared.”
Sasha credits the programme with helping her embrace change rather than fear it.
“You reminded us to dream bigger, kind of against the grain of New Zealand’s tall poppy syndrome and to be bolder and not be scared of completely changing direction.”
During the programme, Money Sweet Spot pivoted from a direct-to-consumer lending model toward B2B lending-as-a-service and financial wellbeing solutions. Since completing the Fintech Lab accelerator, Sasha has doubled down on this approach, scaling back the company’s original product to focus on partnerships and long-term impact.
For Sasha, one of the most valuable parts of the accelerator wasn’t the curriculum, it was the cohort. Being surrounded by other fintech founders facing similar regulatory, compliance, and growth challenges created a sense of connection that has lasted well beyond the programme.
“Entrepreneurship can be lonely,” Sasha admits, “and it’s even lonelier if you’re in fintech or a social enterprise. Having this community of people who get it has been invaluable.”
She still collaborates with her fellow alumni, sharing knowledge and leaning on their expertise when navigating complex problems — a testament to the power of building a founder network.
When asked what advice she would give to new founders, Sasha doesn’t hesitate:
- Trust your gut. “You know the problem and what you’re trying to solve better than anyone else.”
- Find your tribe. “Surround yourself with people who understand your mission and will support you through the ups and downs.”
- Make space for growth. “You have to make time for opportunities like an accelerator. If you believe your own story that you’re too busy, you’ll miss the chance to grow.”
Sasha’s journey with Money Sweet Spot continues to evolve, but one thing remains constant: her determination to challenge the status quo and build solutions that put people first.
