jellyjelly
jellyjelly jellyjelly

Why we're building jellyjelly

FEB 13, 2026

Hi i'm Iqram

Iā€™m the cofounder of Venmo, jellyjelly & Immigrant Groove.

Hi i'm Iqram

Thank you, AlleyCon, for having me

I love the energy of the room and believe it or not a lot of my first few team mates at Venmo went to Columbia. So, it feels like home here.

What I will cover

  1. The History of Venmo
  2. What it's like being an immigrant
  3. How I'm spending the rest of my life bringing humans closer, and why it matters
  4. Work with people you love

Chapter 1

The History of Venmo

It all started with me and Kortina

It all started with me and Kortina

At a concert the first version of Venmo, including the name was conceived

At a concert the first version of Venmo, including the name was conceived

But we knew we wanted something thar reached all humans, so we made this slide

But we knew we wanted something thar reached all humans, so we made this slide

Once we had a prototype and the initial vision, we needed our first investor and partner. That was Sam Lessin, who is, imo, among the best of the best investors on this Planet from Slow Ventures

Once we had a prototype and the initial vision, we needed our first investor and partner. That was Sam Lessin, who is, imo, among the best of the best investors on this Planet from Slow Ventures

The first version worked on a blackberry over SMS

The first version worked on a blackberry over SMS

Simultaneously we explored what if it was a lightweight POS. Wasn't as interesting tho, but Square did it

Simultaneously we explored what if it was a lightweight POS. Wasn't as interesting tho, but Square did it

Ironically, Before long, Bryan Johnson, the founder of Braintree shut down Venmo's ACH

Ironically, Before long, Bryan Johnson, the founder of Braintree shut down Venmo's ACH

But we persisted and found a partnership with Wells Fargo

Ultimately when we we're at our near death moment, Braintree saved Venmo's Life

Ultimately when we we're at our near death moment, Braintree saved Venmo's Life

Once we had more backing, we matured and did this photo shoot :)

Once we had more backing, we matured and did this photo shoot :)

it all started with two best friends, and one simple idea

it all started with two best friends, and one simple idea

Chapter 2

What it's like being an immigrant

meet my fam

meet my fam

here's kortina with the boys

here's kortina with the boys

When i first came here, everything seemed good and welcoming for immigrants like me, but now, not so much

When i first came here, everything seemed good and welcoming for immigrants like me, but now, not so much

So i am using music to bring positive vibes to immigrants like me and my parents

i've always had a band, but it didn't really have a name but i now call it "immigrant groove"

i've always had a band, but it didn't really have a name but i now call it "immigrant groove"

come see us at shrine tonight

come see us at shrine tonight

Chapter 3

How I'm spending the rest of my life bringing humans closer, and why it matters

i'm building jellyjelly because AI is infultrating our feeds, it's hard to decipher what's human and humans are feeling disconnected. we need to be real again, not locally but globally

Chapter 4

Work with people you love

The team that built Venmo

The team that built Venmo

The Immigrant Groove Band

The Immigrant Groove Band

The tema that's building jellyjelly

The tema that's building jellyjelly

Come party with us at shrine tonight, scan the QR Code

Come party with us at shrine tonight, scan the QR Code