Rachita Guthrie, Shrub Finance: Crypto is the biggest revolution in money in centuries

Please start with an overview of the career that led you to founding Shrub Finance.

My journey began in India, where I earned my degree in electrical engineering. But after graduating, I knew I wanted to pivot into software engineering—that’s where the opportunities were, and it felt like a better fit for my passion. I worked with some of India’s top tech companies like Infosys, IBM, and Microsoft, but I always had this entrepreneurial spark. I wanted global exposure, so I came to the U.S. for an MBA, which opened a lot of doors for me.

After my MBA, I dove into software development, working for companies like Georgia Power and VMware. Around 2016, I started hearing about cryptocurrency. It fascinated me, probably because I’d read Atlas Shrugged as a teenager, and its ideas about the free market had stuck with me. When I discovered Satoshi Nakamoto’s work, it felt like stepping into that fictional world I’d loved. I knew I needed to be part of it.

I was drawn to BitPay, an Atlanta-based crypto company. Even though there wasn’t a job opening, I quit my stable role at VMware and applied anyway. They brought me on a month later, and I dove into learning everything I could about crypto. I truly believe it’s one of the most transformative financial shifts we’ve seen in centuries.

In 2020, I used Uniswap for the first time, and it was a turning point. I realised that this was what I wanted to focus on. It felt like all my experiences—everything I’d learned—were leading me here. I think of it as a blend of skill set and mindset aligning. Sometimes, your skills shape your mindset; other times, your mind pulls you towards something, and you develop the skills to match.

When I felt that alignment, I knew I had to follow it. That’s how I ended up starting my own venture. I can honestly say I’m living my dream now.

How do you see decentralised finance evolving in the broader financial ecosystem in the coming years?

When I started my journey in DeFi in 2022, I was inspired by projects like Uniswap and the story of how Hayden built something so impactful from scratch. It showed me that you can make a difference, even as an underdog, with a good idea and conviction. Once I moved from just a user to a creator, I quickly realised how niche DeFi still is. We, as developers, often feel like the entire world is aware of it, but in reality, only a tiny fraction of people actively use DeFi.

As I started my own project, I saw how challenging it can be to bridge the gap between this complex world of DeFi and the mainstream audience. There’s a big learning curve, and while it’s easy for developers to create and experiment in this open market, the general public hasn’t caught up yet. Before diving into product creation, it became clear that we needed to understand where people are in their journey. DeFi can attract a lot of speculators because of its financial nature, but to make a lasting impact, it’s about building real connections with users.

So, we prioritised growing our community. Last year, we launched an NFT series, which was an incredible way to engage people and build a solid base. My goal was always to create a DeFi product that could bring value and empower people toward financial freedom, but I’ve learned that establishing trust and community is just as essential.

The past few years have been a wild ride for DeFi, especially with all the shakeups from events like FTX and Celsius. It’s a volatile space, and projects come and go quickly, much like the early days of the internet. To succeed, you must balance innovation with a deep understanding of your audience, even if they’re anonymous wallet addresses. Building that connection is key to achieving something meaningful in this space.

How do you stay motivated in such a fast-paced industry?

In building our startup, we knew we had to define our North Star—what we really stood for. As a bootstrapped early-stage company, it was essential for us to stay true to our core values, especially in a fast-paced space like crypto. It’s easy to get distracted, but we’ve focused on being research-driven. When we launched our Genesis series in 2022, it was a way for us to connect casually with our community, building a foundation of co-creation rather than diving straight into DeFi. This approach helped us engage with people who resonated with our vision and gave us insight into what they truly wanted.

Through this project, we learned a lot. Our “seeds,” which our community planted and nurtured over months, gave us a deeper understanding of the journey from idea to reality. It also reinforced our commitment to creating something beneficial and meaningful. We knew we didn’t want just to throw buzzwords around to attract attention; instead, we focused on understanding our niche and the real needs in this space. Our goal was simple: make DeFi more accessible, stripping away complexity so our users could actually benefit.

This drive for simplicity is something we’ve embraced. Many DeFi projects lean into being cutting-edge, but that often alienates the audience. For us, it’s about breaking down those barriers and helping people see DeFi as another tool to enhance their financial lives—like real estate, gold, or cash. We want users to see digital assets in a way that’s tangible and useful for them.

Our motivation is about building something we can be proud of. In the traditional web world, you’d start by finding the product-market fit; in Web3, it’s different. You start with an idea, fund it, and then find the fit. It’s more about setting standards and pioneering in an evolving landscape. We want to bring knowledge from Web2 to Web3, making sure that what we build is not just innovative but also something that truly serves the needs of people as they transition into this new digital frontier.

How did you overcome obstacles, and what lessons have you learned?

My journey as a woman started in India, where I was lucky to be raised in a family with strong values and a father who taught me the power of resilience. He never let me give up on anything, even when I wanted to. Those lessons shaped me and helped me see myself not through any particular lens but as someone who could set goals and achieve them. I’ve learned that while obstacles are inevitable, the most important thing is having clarity about what you want and staying determined, no matter what setbacks come your way. Every time you fall, you gather yourself up and keep moving; over time, you build confidence and strength.

As a founder, I’ve understood that ideas live and die in our minds. We started our company during a bull market, and we’ve weathered a bear market since then. But in the end, it’s not the market or lack of a perfect idea that will determine a company’s fate—it’s the founder’s mindset. Many businesses fail because their founders give up internally, long before external factors take their toll. Once I commit to a goal, I’m clear on why I’m doing it, and I persist until I achieve it.

Coming to America was another first for me. I was the first woman in my extended family to make that move. I didn’t know where I’d stay on my first night, but I bought my ticket, arrived, and figured it out as I went. I try to keep that sense of adventure alive because when you’re young, you’re driven by dreams without worrying about the “how.” But as we grow older, it can be harder to take risks. The identities we build and the achievements we attach to them can become barriers to new paths. It’s like our own past successes can hold us back if we let them.

As we advance in our careers, shedding those previous accomplishments and stepping into new challenges can feel daunting. When we’re students, we’re fearless and willing to take risks with nothing to lose. Later, our prior achievements can become obstacles, and the real challenge becomes learning to embrace change without letting the comfort of past successes stand in the way.

What challenges have you encountered as a woman in these industries? How do you envision the role of women evolving in the tech and crypto sectors moving forward?

I don’t recall any one specific moment, but throughout my life, I have always had to fight for what I wanted. It’s been a continuous journey. Even my decision to come to America was challenging because my family didn’t have the financial resources to support it. But I had my father—an invaluable ally—who understood the importance of my dreams and found a way to make them possible. I’ve learned that in life, you have to find your allies, those few people who will support you, especially when others doubt you or wait for you to fail.

When you step out and do something unfamiliar, people often call you crazy or wait for you to give up. But if you genuinely believe in yourself, you have to find a few supporters who also believe in your vision. For me, once I’ve decided to pursue something, there’s no turning back. I am committed, and I go all in. That conviction keeps me going.

My upbringing also played a huge role. I grew up in an environment where gender roles were fluid, and the focus was simply on doing what was right. This unconventional mindset gave me a certain freedom, which is rare in India, where people often expect you to conform to societal roles. I was raised to believe I could pursue whatever I wanted, empowering me.

For instance, when I went to engineering college, I encountered hazing and restrictive practices that felt completely wrong. I couldn’t understand why we accepted those conditions. In my final year, I rallied my classmates and questioned the status quo. I asked them what kind of legacy we wanted to leave. We were treated like second-class citizens, and I felt we needed to stand up and assert ourselves. Together, we managed to establish an activities club and put an end to hazing. That experience taught me a lot about self-advocacy.

Ultimately, you must stand up for yourself and decide your path. External voices will always try to define your place, but what matters most is defining it for yourself and fighting for it. If you don’t stand up for what you want, the world will dictate it for you. So, the key is to stay true to your vision, nurture your space, and protect it fiercely.

The crypto space is dynamic and complex. How do you stay informed about industry developments and trends?

I have a set routine for staying informed, especially in the fast-paced world of crypto. I rely heavily on Twitter and Telegram for my updates. I’ve joined some groups that provide curated information, so I can just spend about 30 minutes a day scrolling through them to see if anything new on the technical front could improve our work or make life easier.

However, with the sheer volume of information out there, especially in crypto, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. It can be distracting if you don’t know what you’re specifically looking for. As a founder, you’re already managing so many aspects of the business, so it’s crucial to ensure that whatever new developments you incorporate are genuinely beneficial and not just distractions. The challenge is staying focused and filtering out the noise so you can zero in on tools and innovations that truly add value.

As a female leader in a tech-driven industry, what advice do you have for other women aspiring to enter the industry?

One thing I’ve observed, especially with women, is this persistent need for perfection, self-scrutiny, and seeking approval. Imagine if we could just let go of these pressures and instead ask ourselves, “Why am I doing this?” It’s important to think on a psychological level and consider: if I knew I’d gain nothing in return, even if it ended in complete failure, would I still pursue this path? If the answer is yes, then that’s where you find the courage to push forward.

When you’re going through transformations, whether you’re male, female, or anyone else, the conviction you need has to come from within. Approval isn’t always going to be there; people aren’t going to see the sacrifices you make or understand the journey you’re on because they’re on the outside. And that’s fine because you’re not doing it for external validation. You’re doing it for yourself and those who genuinely understand and share your vision.

At the beginning of any endeavour, it’s crucial to look inward for strength, rely on your own clarity of purpose, and use feedback for growth. Over time, if you’re sincere and committed, things will start to fall into place. Self-affirmation is key here: remind yourself that your past achievements and the hurdles you’ve overcome can inspire you, but this new challenge is a different story. Success shouldn’t be the ultimate goal; instead, focus on self-satisfaction and making an impact.

You need to think in the long term, especially when you’re working on something meaningful. It’s easy to get discouraged if you only look at short-term results, but when you zoom out, you realise there’s so much more at stake. As I have on my journey, you’ll meet incredible people and have the chance to create lasting impact and inspire others. Ultimately, this journey is about personal growth, where you’re heading, and the legacy you’re building along the way.