At Grasshopper, we believe that every great business starts with a bold idea and a founder driven to bring it to life. But even the strongest vision needs the right support to thrive. Turning that vision into reality requires a banking partner who understands what it takes to build something from the ground up. That’s why we’re here—to back the builders, the problem-solvers, and the entrepreneurs creating what’s next with transparent, tech-forward digital banking solutions built to keep up.
Just ask Matthew Goldman, Founder of Totavi, a boutique consulting firm focused on helping founders navigate the complex world of financial technology (fintech). After nearly two decades navigating the highs and lows of fintech as a founder, executive, and operator, Matthew formed Totavi to offer no-fluff expertise to companies developing complex financial products. His expertise and vision represents the kind of entrepreneur Grasshopper was built to support. For Matthew, banking with Grasshopper wasn’t just a practical decision—it was a strategic one. He wasn’t just looking for fast transfers or low fees; Matthew wanted a banking partner that shared his values, understood the way he works, and had the flexibility to scale with him as his business evolved.
Results Over Rhetoric
Founded in 2023, Totavi is Matthew’s answer to a clear gap in the market: the growing need for practical, hands-on partners who can not only advise on complex financial solutions but build them from the ground up. With a team of six and a network of contractors, the company specializes in the complex—and often publicly overlooked—work behind-the-scenes that brings fintech products to market.
From compliance and card issuance to embedded payments, product marketing and public relations, Totavi has the capabilities to take an idea from concept to launch. “In my role, I am both the business owner and manager,” Matthew shares. “I do a lot of client work, and I’m involved in every client we have. A hands-on leadership style was important to me when I founded Totavi and still shapes my decision making.”
Whether helping launch a new credit card program or integrating payment rails, Matthew and his team don’t just advise, they build alongside their clients. “We don’t spend a lot of time making presentations. We’re very hands on. For many of our clients, we embed ourselves directly into their teams, working alongside founders and product managers. We join meetings with developers, attend standups, and help make key decisions on what the experience should be and how it should work. Then, we help build the product, work out bugs, and support marketing and publicity once it’s ready to launch.”
“It is truly an end-to-end consulting firm,” he adds. “Between myself, my staff and our contractors, I believe our expertise and high-level talent set us apart in a complex industry. Our focus will always be on proactively supporting our clients. We won’t just tell you what to do, and leave you to execute it alone. We will work alongside you through development and deliver together when going to market.”
This deep level of involvement and execution isn’t just Totavi’s value proposition, it’s a reflection of Matthew’s own philosophy. It’s also what led him to Grasshopper. Just as his clients rely on him to move quickly and deliver with precision, Matthew needed a banking partner who understood the fintech landscape and could keep pace with his business, allowing him to stay focused on bringing great products to market, not whether his bank was meeting his needs.
Practical Meets Principled
In any successful partnership, alignment in values and culture isn’t just nice-to-have, it’s essential. When your business is built on trust, speed, and delivering real results, every decision from the tools you use to the partners you choose, sends a message. And for Matthew Goldman, choosing the right bank wasn’t just an operational step. It was a statement.
“When I started this business, I needed a bank that would be a reflection of Totavi’s ethos,” Matthew explains. “Grasshopper, with its modern, digital-first experience and strong roots in the innovation economy, felt like the obvious choice. I was familiar with Grasshopper from just being in the industry, and I thought it was interesting that the bank has a direct-to-business operation that could service my business, but also offers true Banking-as-a-Service capabilities—providing embedded finance tools and infrastructure that supports fintech builders like me.”
Grasshopper’s dual capability spoke directly to both sides of Totavi: the practical need for fast, reliable small business banking, and the strategic value of working with a partner who truly understands the fintech ecosystem from the inside out. With Grasshopper, there was no trade-off. We offered familiarity, flexibility, and a sense that we’re building toward the same future.
No Friction, Just Forward
In a business where every hour counts and cash flow is critical, Matthew needed a bank that could move fast while offering the right level of support. “My previous experiences with larger banks, while they can be helpful in the right context, just didn’t fit where my business was or what my ambitions were,” he said. “In this instance, ease and transparency were non-negotiables.”
From the moment he opened his account, Grasshopper delivered—not just with modern tech and smooth functionality, but with the kind of quiet reliability that allows a founder to breathe easier. No roadblocks, no delays—just banking that works and is dependable in all the ways that matter most to a growing business.
I really appreciate the transparency. All the transfers run really fast in and out of the bank. It seems like everything you do is the next day. That speed really matters in a cashflow-dependent business.Matthew Goldman, Founder & Business Manager, Totavi
This level of dependability extended beyond just transfers. With transparent fees, smooth international payments, and the confidence knowing support was there when needed, Grasshopper made the financial back-end feel effortless. “I did an international wire, and it was an incredibly low cost, something around $5. That’s amazing.”
As Totavi grows, that sense of stability only becomes more important. “It’s definitely been helpful that I haven’t had issues with payments being frozen, or any of the roadblocks that could make rapid growth more difficult.”
Momentum That Matters
In the early days of building a business, every decision feels high-stakes—and every dollar matters. Having a banking partner that doesn’t slow things down or chip away at hard-earned revenue can be a differentiator. With little to no fees, competitive interest, and a 3x award winning digital platform, Grasshopper helps turn every dollar into an opportunity.
The whole fundamental approach of Grasshopper’s account is very low fees while paying a reasonable amount of interest. Those things are very appealing, especially with small businesses where you're really focused on every dollar. It allows me to invest back into the business, grow, and be flexible.Matthew Goldman, Founder & Business Manager, Totavi
As Totavi grew, so did the demands of running it, but one thing remained steady: digital banking that just worked. With Grasshopper, the financial side of running Totavi became one less thing to worry about, and that kind of stability helped fuel real growth. “I did a couple of thousand dollars in revenue month one. Now, I do a couple hundred thousand dollars in revenue some months. It’s pretty substantial growth, but Grasshopper has handled both.”
Perhaps the most telling part of the experience? It fades into the background, quietly doing its job without getting in the way. “I’ve had very few reasons to talk to the bank. I don’t have problems,” he says. “The lack of problems is the endorsement.”
The Quiet Backbone of Growth
Grasshopper has become the quiet engine behind Totavi’s growth—reliable, efficient, and always a step ahead. With fast transfers, seamless international capabilities, and full transparency around fees, it delivers a rare mix of speed and trust in a space where surprises are never good.
“There’s a lot of gotchas in the system, and I don’t experience that with Grasshopper,” Matthew shared. “It’s a relief to know that as business evolves, I won’t have to worry about switching banks. No one wants to do that. People only do it when they’re upset, and with Grasshopper I’ve been nothing but happy with my experience.”
That kind of dependable support has made all the difference in Totavi’s journey, eliminating distractions, removing roadblocks, and making it easier to stay focused on growth and clients. It’s the kind of foundation every business hopes for but few actually find.
A Foundation For What’s Next
Totavi’s story highlights what’s possible when a banking partner truly supports the pace and priorities of a modern business and the entrepreneurs who found them. With Grasshopper’s intuitive digital platform and consistent performance, teams can continue to build with confidence knowing they have a financial partner that’s built to grow with them, not hold them back.
