If "Person of the Year" Was Your Neighbor
Time Magazine’s annual “Persons of the Year” list often celebrates world leaders, celebrities, and large-scale visionaries. But what if we shifted our focus closer to home? What if the transformative figures we idolize were not only on magazine covers but also in our communities? In this light, individuals like Gurhan Kiziloz, the visionary founder of Lanistar, deserve their place in the spotlight. With a journey defined by tenacity, innovation, and a refusal to back down, Kiziloz is a quintessential example of the modern-day entrepreneurial “hero.”
From Modest Beginnings to Fintech Stardom
Gurhan Kiziloz didn’t inherit a golden ticket to success. His journey began with a bold idea and a lot of grit. In 2019, he launched Lanistar, a fintech startup promising to disrupt traditional banking by putting the user at the heart of its design. Armed with a lean team and a vision to simplify personal finance, Kiziloz aimed to redefine how people interact with their money.
The road was far from smooth. Lanistar faced regulatory challenges, including a high-profile warning from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2020. Critics were quick to predict the company’s demise, but Kiziloz responded with characteristic resilience. He addressed compliance issues, refined the business model, and focused on delivering a product that met the evolving needs of a digital-first generation. By 2023, Lanistar was no longer an underdog—it was a fintech contender making headlines.
Brazil: A Fintech Frontier
In a bold strategic move, Kiziloz expanded Lanistar’s operations to Brazil, one of the fastest-growing digital finance markets in the world. Post-pandemic, Brazil has emerged as a hotbed of innovation in online payments and financial inclusion. With over 80% internet penetration and a booming digital economy, the nation presented an opportunity that was too compelling to ignore.
Lanistar’s entry into Brazil wasn’t just about market expansion—it was about meeting real needs. Millions of Brazilians remain unbanked or underbanked, relying on alternative financial solutions to manage their money. By introducing innovative, user-friendly fintech services, Lanistar is empowering individuals who’ve been excluded from traditional banking systems. Publications such as The Financial Times and Bloomberg have noted Brazil’s fintech renaissance, underscoring the country’s potential to become a global leader in digital finance.
Kiziloz and the New Face of Resilience
Gurhan Kiziloz’s story isn’t unique, but it is extraordinary. It echoes the journeys of entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, who returned to Apple after being ousted and built it into one of the world’s most valuable companies, or Howard Schultz, who bought Starbucks when it was just a local coffee chain and turned it into a global phenomenon. Like these visionaries, Kiziloz embodies a refusal to quit—a characteristic that often separates dreamers from doers.
Lanistar: A Movement, Not Just a Company
At its core, Lanistar represents more than fintech innovation. It’s a testament to community-driven growth and the power of believing in something bigger. With over $120 million raised in funding, the company’s rapid success is a reflection of its visionary leadership and its loyal community.
“The idea wasn’t just to create a product,” Kiziloz said during a recent interview. “It was to create a solution—a way to give people more control over their finances and their future.”
The Broader Picture: What Entrepreneurs Can Teach Us
The resilience demonstrated by Kiziloz—and other entrepreneurs who’ve faced similar challenges—offers lessons far beyond business. Whether it’s Jennifer Davidson rebuilding her events business post-COVID or Elon Musk defying skeptics to make Tesla a household name, these stories remind us that adversity is not the end. It’s an opportunity to adapt, innovate, and grow.
Why Gurhan Kiziloz is Our "Person of the Year"
As we celebrate global icons, let’s not forget the innovators in our own backyards. Entrepreneurs like Gurhan Kiziloz aren’t just building companies; they’re building legacies. Lanistar’s rise from a scrappy startup to a future fintech powerhouse is proof that resilience and vision can change the world—one market, one community, and one user at a time.
Next time you see a “Person of the Year” headline, think about the Gurhan Kizilozes of the world. They may not always make the front page, but their impact is just as profound.
This article was written in cooperation with LANISTAR