Why this Californian founder moved to Minneapolis to build a B2B fintech

Minneapolis-based fintech was founded in 2015 and it’s now one of the fastest growing companies in the Midwest. Its founder, Atif Siddiqi, is a Southern California transplant who first relocated to the Twin Cities to participate in the Target Techstars accelerator program. He hasn’t looked back since. Siddiqi has spent the past seven years building…

Published

4 years ago

September 8, 2022

CYBER TECH TV

Siddiqi has spent the past seven years building up Branch from its roots as a Midwestern upstart focused on earned wage access into a formidable Series C-stage business with $75 million in funding from investors such as Addition and General Atlantic and clients including Uber and Walmart.

Branch, which has seen over 2,000% revenue growth in the last three years, helps contractors get paid faster through a wide range of product offerings today. Siddiqi and early Branch investor Ryan Broshar of Minneapolis-based Matchstick ventures explain how the city’s venture ecosystem has evolved over the years and share their tips for founders outside coastal tech hubs looking to raise capital, bring in customers and make an impact on their industries far beyond their immediate locales.

People & Blogs

Running a marathon? Here’s what your brain has to look forward to. #TEDTalks

Published

9 hours ago

October 24, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

CNET

We’re Folding the iPhone Duo Until It Breaks (ASMR)

Our custom-built Fold-A-Phone machine is folding the iPhone Duo constantly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, up until either one breaks. Catch the livestream every Monday through Friday on CNET’s YouTube from 1pm to 5pm ET. #foldaphone #iphoneduo #torturetest #foldablephone #allthingsmobile Video Credits: Shot and edited by Faith Chihil Add CNET as a…

Published

10 hours ago

October 24, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Video Credits:
Shot and edited by Faith Chihil

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CNET

Meet the Machine That Will Break the iPhone Duo, Eventually | All Things Mobile

Get a behind-the-scenes look at CNET Labs, where our team of engineers built a machine that folds and unfolds phones exactly like a human would, and measures exactly how many folds a folding phone can be folded. How many folds will the iPhone Duo handle? Read more about the Fold-A-Phone on CNET.com The iPhone Duo…

Published

17 hours ago

October 24, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Read more about the Fold-A-Phone on CNET.com
The iPhone Duo Is Now in Our Custom-Made Foldable Phone Test Machine. Will It Beat the Galaxy Z Fold 8?

00:00 Introduction to Louisville Labs
00:17 Meet the Fold-A-Phone
00:22 Louisville Labs Testing Facility
00:53 Engineering the Fold-A-Phone Machine
1:26 Testing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
2:29 Replicating Human Folding Speed & Pressure
3:30 iPhone Duo Fold Count Predictions
4:15 How to Watch the Live Stream Test

Video Credits:
Host: Dillon Payne & Matthew Murray
Producer: Dillon Payne, Stephen Beacham & Owen Poole
Camera: Dillon Payne & Faith Chihil
Video Editor: Owen Poole
Thumbnail Designer: Tharon Green