Straddle is led by top-tier operators, engineers, and product minds with deep roots in fintech, infrastructure, and risk. We’re pragmatic builders, not hype merchants - and we’re here to fix what’s broken in how money moves.
Leadership
Keith Raphael
Co-Founder & CEO
Drives company vision, growth strategy, and hiring. Focused on long-term direction, building an exceptional team, and sharing Straddle's story with the world
Chad Willard
Co-Founder & President
Leads strategic direction, execution, and leadership development. A longtime entrepreneur with deep roots in payments and operations
Engineering
Elijah Johnson
VP of Engineering
Leads engineering, focusing on building secure, scalable systems and fostering a high-performing, collaborative team. He's passionate about clean architecture, reliability, and enabling fast-paced development without compromising quality.
Manish Dalwani, PhD
Head of Data Science
With a PhD in Biostatistics, deep experience in advanced analytics and modeling, and a proven track record of translating complex data into real-world insights, Manish leads our data science organization to unlock actionable intelligence across payments operations.
Oliver Armfelt
Principal Engineer
Drives high-level architecture and team-wide development efficiency. A veteran engineer known for clarity, simplicity, and mentorship.
Ben Cummins
Founding Engineer
Guides engineering, infrastructure, and product innovation. Brings decades of experience across telecom, fintech, and fraud prevention.
Roberto Menegais
Founding Engineer
Specializes in core infrastructure, automation, and debugging. Known for his directness, speed, and building tools that make systems run better
Alex Deveaux
Founding Engineer
Focuses on frontend systems and customer-facing applications. Prioritizes user experience and simplicity in design
John Harney
Founding Engineer
Oversees onboarding tools and customer support infrastructure. Background in fintech ops and unstructured data processing
Christian Moxon
Senior Software Engineer
Experienced in full-stack development and technical leadership. Passionate about writing clean code and driving modern engineering practices.
Vasilia Themis
Senior Software Engineer
Focuses on backend systems, API design, and cross-functional collaboration. Brings deep technical expertise and a product-minded approach to engineering challenges.
Curtis Harding
Senior Software Engineer
Experienced in full-stack development and technical leadership
Douglas Delefrati
DevOps Engineer
DevOps and SRE engineer specialized in cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes, and observability — ensuring high reliability, scalability, and performance across Straddle’s systems.
Product
Liz Haynie
Product Lead
Leads product at Straddle, where she drives product strategy, design, and execution. Focusing on creating simple, impactful experiences that solve real user problems and align closely with Straddle’s long-term vision.
Design
Brian Whitebread
Head of Product Design
Leads product design at Straddle, shaping experiences that are clear, fast, and grounded in user needs. He brings a systems-thinking approach to design, with a focus on clarity, accessibility, and thoughtful interaction across every surface of the product.
Risk and Compliance
Kayla Fitzgerald
Compliance & Risk Lead
Leads regulatory compliance, onboarding oversight, and risk mitigation. Detail-oriented and driven by proactive problem-solving.
Christina Valentín
Onboarding & Risk Analyst
Manages new customer onboarding and post–onboarding risk. Known for her attention to detail, strong communication, and structured approach.
Stan Fowler
Controller
Oversees finance, payroll, budgeting, and reporting. Balances analytical rigor with a calm,collaborative presence
Top Tier Teammates
Work with the best. Everyone here brings experience, ownership, and a high bar. We move fast because we trust each other to get it right.
Real Impact
Build what matters. We’re solving real problems in payments, compliance, and infrastructure - the kind that shape how modern businesses move money.
Clarity Over Chaos
No fluff, just focus. Clear goals, crisp communication, and low politics. We value execution and getting the hard things done right.
