Monzo co-founder Gary Dolman joins new fintech

Monzo’s alumni are spreading fast into the world of fintech. Gary Dolman, a co-founder of Monzo, has joined  a new start-up Tip Jar as an advisor to its board.

Tip Jar is aiming to upend the world of tipping for the digital, increasingly cashless, age.  Aimed at pubs, bars and restaurants the firm’s platform processes tips paid by a customer ‘digitally’ – i.e by card or smartphone –  and by-passes the business connecting directly with the tip's recipient. Earlier this month, the platform was cleared by HMRC.

Companies using the service include Brew Dog, Honest Burgers, Mission Mars, Punch, Qoot Co, Rose Pubs and Yard Sale Pizza. 

Dolman will join the firm’s co-founder James Brown, who is also MD of Brew Dog, its chairman Alex Moore (co-founder of Rosa’s Thai) and CEO Ben Thomas, on Tip Jar’s board, acting as an advisor.

Dolman, a former PwC qualified chartered accountant, was part of the Monzo founding team who exited Starling Bank in its early days to set up the digital bank. He further helped get Monzo’s bank license back in 2016 before leaving the digital bank two years ago in March 2019. Since then he has joined venture capital outfit Antler as well as joining impact investment fintech Tickr as its chairman.

Prior to his time with Monzo, Dolman was CFO and COO for ABN AMRO Global Transaction Banking, a business with a turnover of more than €5bn handling payments across 40 countries.

“When I met James, Alex and Ben and heard their story, their mission and passion for solving the problem of tipping for millions of tipped workers, I was impressed and knew this was a project I could add value to as they scale their product around the world,” Dolman said.

Tip Jar co-founder James Brown, said: “Gary joining our team will help us navigate the fintech world and reach our potential.”