Anyone who has ever borrowed money from a family member or a close friend knows the feeling: that awkward, uncomfortable moment of asking for financial help. The anxiety of whether they’ll say yes, the uncertainty around repayment expectations, and the fear of damaging the relationship—it’s all incredibly stressful. I’ve been through it, and I know so many others who have too.

When my team and I came together to work on Pari, we weren’t just looking to build another fintech solution. We were trying to solve a real problem we had all witnessed firsthand: how difficult it had become for millennials to navigate financial independence while living in an economy that wasn’t built for them.

Borrowing money from family and friends is something I’ve had to do more than once in my life. It’s not easy to ask for help, and it always comes with a mix of emotions—gratitude, anxiety, and sometimes even guilt. But looking back, these moments shaped my understanding of financial relationships and, ultimately, led to the creation of Pari.