Pioneering Fintech,
Building the Future of AI.
From inventing global card-based remittances to architecting the next generation of intelligent applications, a career spent leading at the frontier of technology.
A Proven Leader With World-Class Organizations
iKobo
From Nuclear Reactors to Neural Networks
Marvin R. Johnson's career is defined by a unique trajectory: the mastery of progressively complex, high-stakes systems at the vanguard of technology. It's a journey that began not in a garage, but in the zero-failure environment of a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine. As the #1 rated officer, he honed a rare discipline in managing mission-critical technology where the margin for error is nonexistent.
This foundation in systems-level thinking propelled a transition from nuclear engineering to financial engineering. He didn't just join the fintech industry; he helped create it. By co-founding iKobo, he pioneered the very concept of delivering global remittances to prepaid cards, earning a presentation to the Federal Reserve.
Today, that pattern of pioneering continues. From leading global product development at Mastercard and Western Union to independently building a portfolio of generative AI applications, Marvin operates at the frontier where technology creates new paradigms. This is not a series of disconnected roles, but a coherent career dedicated to identifying and leading at the edge of disruption.
The iKobo Story: How We Revolutionized Global Remittances
In the early 2000s, sending money across borders was slow, expensive, and analog. We saw a different future.
iKobo - A Fintech Pioneer's Snapshot
- Role: Co-Founder & CEO
- Core Innovation: First global platform for delivering remittances to reloadable Visa prepaid cards.
- Key Technology: Utilized a rules-based AI system for real-time fraud management.
- Venture Funding: Raised from TTV Capital, Silicon Alley Venture Partners, and more.
- Global Reach: Served customers in over 120 countries.
- Key Partnership: Visa Inc.
- Outcome: Acquired by M2 Payment Solutions after presenting our model to the U.S. Federal Reserve.
iKobo was born from a simple but revolutionary idea: what if you could bypass expensive agent locations and transfer money directly onto a payment card? We built a platform that did just that, allowing senders to use a credit card online to instantly fund a reloadable Visa prepaid card for a recipient anywhere in the world.
This "send-to-card" model was a paradigm shift. We leveraged Visa's ubiquitous global infrastructure to create a faster, cheaper, and more efficient channel for remittances. Securing a direct partnership with Visa and raising significant venture capital validated our vision.
Under the hood, we were innovators in advanced risk mitigation, developing a sophisticated rules-based system for real-time fraud detection. iKobo wasn't just a company; it was a foundational block in the modern fintech ecosystem.
Generative AI Lab: Building with Intent
Credibility comes from creation. This is a portfolio of hands-on innovation, exploring the potential of generative AI across diverse applications.
AskWali.ai
A B2B SaaS platform allowing local businesses to create custom AI chatbots trained on their own data using RAG technology.
Visit ProjectPeppi.ai
A personalized, app-less AI companion for emotional support, delivered via text message for frictionless access.
Visit Project1800calljesus.com
An AI-powered Bible companion applying conversational AI to the sensitive, nuanced domain of faith and spirituality.
Visit Project As seen on CNNKopykat.ai
A parody AI celebrity impersonator showcasing expertise in voice and personality synthesis for the creator economy.
Visit ProjectVibe Coding: Rapid Prototyping & Development
Our Lightning Dev methodology is about capturing the essence of an idea and translating it into a functional prototype at incredible speed. We focus on rapid iteration, creative problem-solving, and building with 'vibe'—ensuring the end product not only works flawlessly but also feels right. From interactive video experiences to dynamic web applications, we bring concepts to life in days, not months.
Cinegram
An interactive video card creator. Cinegram allows users to craft personalized, cinematic messages that blend video with dynamic text and effects.
Visit ProjectMix Mob
Your virtual Jukebox. Everyone at the party can be the DJ. Start a party, partygoes scan the QR code an add songs from Youtube to the playlist. Songs with the most votes move to the top.
Visit ProjectAI Storyteller: Animated Video Creation
Beyond static applications, I leverage generative AI to bring narratives to life through animated video. This involves using AI tools for scriptwriting, character generation, voice synthesis, and animation to create compelling visual stories from concept to final cut.
Building Ecosystems, Mentoring Innovators
Leadership extends beyond a title. It's about building value, scaling organizations, and investing in the next generation of founders.
Leadership Experience
U.S. Navy
Nuclear Submarine Officer
Rated #1 Officer by Commanding Officer, demonstrating leadership in a zero-failure, mission-critical environment.
Western Union
Head of US Ecosystem Product
Led product, design, and GTM for a cross-border digital banking app, surpassing onboarding and usage targets.
Mastercard
Global Director, Product Development
Directed global product development for debit and prepaid programs, securing Tier 1 banks and major fintechs as clients.
iKobo
Co-Founder & CEO
Founded the company, raised venture capital, and scaled the prepaid remittance service to over 120 countries.
Advisory & Ecosystem Building
Sharing expertise with mission-driven startups and global accelerators to foster community leadership and create positive social impact.
Blog
Leadership extends beyond a title. It's about building value, scaling organizations, and investing in the next generation of founders.
Accolades & Programs
Participation and recognition in world-class programs for mentorship and startup acceleration.
Techstars Anywhere
Mentor
Google for Startups
Graduate
Google Sales Academy
Graduate
Education
Georgia State University
MBA, Decision Sciences
University of Florida
BS, Materials Engineering