Kyle Vallans

The Silent Killer of Fintech Startups

I’ve been in fintech for a while—eight years in the markets, worked for multiple fintech companies, and used hundreds of tools as both a trader and a builder.

And if there’s one thing that gets consistently overlooked but makes or breaks the user experience?

Documentation.

Not sexy. Not a “next big thing.” But absolutely vital.


Why It Matters

Good documentation drives signups, reduces churn, and makes users happy.

Bad documentation?
It does the opposite:

It’s a mess.


Here’s the Reality

Most fintech companies don’t have bad docs because they’re lazy.
They have bad docs because they’re building too fast, shipping half-baked features, and forgetting to slow down and clarify what the hell they actually offer.

So what happens?

And the cycle repeats.


Who’s Doing It Right?

A few stand out:

But the vast majority?
Cluttered, outdated, or just plain missing.


The Fix Is Simple (But Rare)

Before you chase the next “big idea,”
document what you’ve already built.

Clarify how your product works.
Create fewer support tickets.
Make your users feel confident.
And stop burning so much on churn.

It’s not a feature.
It’s not a redesign.
It’s just writing things down clearly—and it might be the single highest-leverage move your fintech company can make.


Done right, your documentation becomes your best salesperson and your best retention tool.

Ignore it, and you’ll keep watching your users quietly (and many not so quietly) disappear.


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