Forbes 30 Under 30 2026: Finance and Media Trailblazers Reshape Their Industries

AI, Fintech, and Compliance: Young Founders Take On Wall Street

Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 list is more than a roll call of youthful achievement—it’s a snapshot of tomorrow’s leaders and the problems they’re solving today. In its 2026 edition, the Finance category features a cohort of entrepreneurs, traders, and investors who aren’t just keeping pace with change; they’re driving it.

Kalyani Ramadurgam’s journey, for instance, began at Apple, where she confronted the analog grind of financial compliance—an arduous process involving thousands of pages of documentation and a reliance on manual oversight. “Organizations were just throwing bodies at the problem,” she recalls. In 2023, Ramadurgam joined forces with Ashi Agrawal, formerly of Affirm, to launch Kobalt Labs. Their mission: to bring compliance into the machine-learning era. Kobalt’s AI-powered models now sift through vast amounts of regulatory paperwork, helping banks ensure their partners meet legal standards—whether it’s blocking transfers from sanctioned nations or swiftly reporting security breaches. With $13 million in funding and more than 20 customers including Celtic Bank and fintech upstart Bilt, Kobalt is proof that fresh eyes and technical savvy can turn tedious necessity into competitive advantage.

Victor Cardenas and Kevin Bai, both university dropouts, exemplify the “industry-specific” approach that’s gaining ground in fintech. Their startup, Slash, offers tailored digital banking for businesses, from corporate cards to stablecoin payments. Unlike generic solutions, Slash focuses on the unique needs of each sector, helping 2,500 customers process $6 billion in annualized transactions—five times last year’s volume. It’s a telling sign that innovation often means narrowing focus, not broadening it, and that agility can outpace tradition.

Generative AI is making inroads into investment banking too. Gabriel Stengel and his cofounders at Rogo have automated financial analysis for dealmakers, freeing up time for strategic thinking. Their $50 million funding round and clientele—including Lazard and Moelis—demonstrate how even the most established corners of finance can be reimagined.

Crypto’s New Guard: Security, Scale, and Seamless Integration

The volatility of digital assets hasn’t discouraged the next wave of crypto innovators. Forbes’ list features eight crypto founders, including Asta Li, whose company Privy developed embeddable wallets now used by thousands of businesses and millions of consumers. Privy’s $42 million in backing and subsequent acquisition by Stripe speaks to both the promise and consolidation happening in the sector. Li’s path—from engineering at Uber and Aurora to crypto—illustrates the cross-pollination of skills between tech’s hottest fields.

Security remains a top priority. Giovanni Vignone’s Octane scans smart contracts in real time, using AI to catch bugs before they become costly exploits. With $186 billion in assets protected and backing from the Winklevoss twins and Circle, Octane is shifting the norm from reactive patching to proactive defense.

Traditional Finance: Diversity, Machine Learning, and Global Vision

While fintech and crypto draw headlines, the largest contingent on Forbes’ finance list are leaders in established institutions. Arkin Gupta, now at Citadel, blends machine learning with portfolio management, pushing forward the intersection of quantitative research and human judgment. His “Prediction-Enhanced Monte Carlo” framework is a nod to how deep learning is reshaping risk analysis.

Annika Kim’s story adds a global dimension. After stints at Goldman Sachs, Carlyle, and Apollo, Kim now manages almost $1 billion at the Texas Municipal Retirement System. She’s building a $2.5 billion Asia-focused portfolio, scouting managers across Korea, Japan, and India. Her track record—from leading Carlyle’s $500 million PIPE investment in Hyundai’s Glovis to current strategy work—shows how institutional capital is being deployed with an eye toward geographic and sector diversity.

Forbes notes the demographic evolution of its honorees: 30% are women, 41% identify as people of color, and 73% are founders. All must have been 29 or younger as of December 31, 2025, and new to the Under 30 lists across Europe, North America, and Asia. The selection process, involving nearly 800 nominees and judges from SentiLink, Ariel Investments, EQT, and Paradigm, underscores the rigor behind each name.

Media’s Rising Voices: From Newsrooms to Digital Platforms

Forbes’ media list for 2026 turns the spotlight on storytellers and creators who are redefining what it means to inform and connect. Tyrah Majors, a 2019 graduate of USC Annenberg, embodies this shift. Now the lead on-air anchor for KOMO News in Seattle and a professor at Seattle University, Majors has accrued two Emmys and a Golden Mike Award—impressive for someone who, by her own admission, never took a break. “A lot of my friends were taking summer vacations in Europe or studying abroad. I said, ‘Nope, I’m gonna go straight to grad school.’ Then after that, it was my first market in Bakersfield and TV news, and then right after that, coming to Seattle,” Majors reflects. Her drive has led her to launch new journalism courses and the digital show “Major Moves,” spotlighting millennial entrepreneurs. For Majors, giving a voice to the unheard is not just a slogan—it’s a vocation.

Heran Mamo, also a USC alum, made history as Billboard’s first dedicated African music writer. As senior R&B/Hip-Hop/Afrobeats writer since 2021, Mamo’s reporting aims to leave “an authentic, diverse legacy on Black music and culture for the diaspora.” Her journey from editorial intern to industry authority signals the value of early opportunity and relentless focus.

Both Majors and Mamo underscore how recognition doesn’t arrive overnight. It’s earned through persistence, creative risk, and a commitment to amplifying stories that matter.

What the 2026 List Reveals About the Future

The 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 is, at its core, a reflection of the changing guard. The honorees are not just inheriting industries; they’re rewriting the rules—from automating compliance and securing crypto assets to expanding the reach of authentic journalism. As technology and diversity shape the next chapter in finance and media, this year’s list stands as a challenge to institutions everywhere: adapt, or risk irrelevance.

Forbes’ 2026 30 Under 30 list shows that innovation is no longer the domain of a select few—it’s being democratized by young leaders who combine technical mastery with a drive to address real-world problems. Their stories remind us that progress is not linear, but made through bold bets, relentless curiosity, and a willingness to give voice to those who might otherwise go unheard.