From Banking to Building Mozrt: Jeff Althaus on His Entrepreneurial Journey and Key Learnings

In the world of entrepreneurship, there are those who meticulously plan their journey and those who stumble into it by chance. For Jeff Althaus, founder of Mozrt, it was always a planned event. "Throughout my career, I’ve been looking for that opportunity," he shares. "I've been involved in a lot of what I’ve always felt were really good ideas, and I’ve been able to lean into them, help grow those businesses, and even lead some to acquisitions or going public. But I always knew I wanted to start my own company someday."

Althaus's entrepreneurial journey didn’t begin with Mozrt; it started with a series of roles that allowed him to hone his skills within the confines of other companies. "It’s true, I was essentially on the entrepreneurial journey within other companies before doing it for myself," he says. "But looking back, if I had jumped into launching my own company too early, I wouldn’t have been ready. There’s a lot that goes into building a business that you don’t even know you don’t know. Learning through those experiences was crucial."

This gradual accumulation of knowledge is a key theme in Althaus's story. His career spans decades in banking, high-tech startups, and global payments—a mix that laid the groundwork for Mozrt’s success. "My time in banking exposed me to the massive scale of cross-border transactions," he explains. "We’re talking trillions of dollars moving globally, mostly through banks and credit unions using outdated, 30- to 50-year-old systems. That’s where I saw an opportunity to make a real impact."

Althaus identified that financial institutions, especially smaller banks and credit unions, were struggling to keep up with the demands of modern clients. "Even the biggest banks in the U.S. haven’t fully figured out how to handle these challenges, so for smaller institutions under $10 billion in assets, it’s almost impossible," he notes. This realization became the driving force behind Mozrt’s mission: to modernize and simplify cross-border and domestic payments for financial institutions of all sizes.

Mozrt started by focusing on the heavy lifting of global payments, but it didn’t stop there. As Althaus and his team engaged with their clients, they uncovered a broader need for improved payment capabilities. "Our clients began asking us for help with other types of payments, like domestic payments and real-time transactions. This feedback guided us to evolve our platform beyond just cross-border payments," he says. "We’ve expanded into areas like instant payments, FedNow & RTP, and even pay-to-card and pay-to-wallet solutions. It’s all about continuously evolving to meet the needs of our customers."

Navigating this rapid growth while maintaining focus is one of the biggest challenges Althaus faces. "It’s easy to get distracted by new opportunities," he admits. "We call it 'the noise.' Almost daily, we see chances to add new features or explore different markets. But we’ve had to develop a stringent internal process to prioritize. We ask ourselves: What’s going to move the needle the most for our current and prospective clients? Those are the projects we pursue first. The rest, no matter how appealing, go on the back burner."

This disciplined approach ensures Mozrt remains focused on solving the most pressing problems for its clients, rather than chasing every shiny new idea. "It’s about making the right prioritization decisions to ensure that we’re not overextending ourselves," Althaus says. "We want to be proactive, not reactive, in our growth strategy."

Althaus’s journey also underscores the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. "Throughout my career, I’ve learned the value of identifying areas where I’m not the expert and bringing in people who are," he reflects. "Building a strong team that complements your strengths and fills in your weaknesses is critical. At Mozrt, we’ve been very intentional about bringing in people who are not just good, but better than me in those key areas."

Beyond business strategy, Althaus emphasizes the importance of resilience and self-awareness in entrepreneurship. "One thing I’ve realized is that if you wait until you’re 100% ready to start your own company, you’ve probably waited too long," he shares. "There’s never a perfect time. For me, it was about feeling mostly ready and recognizing that I had the core experience in place, while also being aware of the gaps that needed to be filled by others."

As someone who has been deeply immersed in the startup world for years, Althaus is no stranger to the challenges of work-life balance. "It’s definitely not easy," he laughs. "But I’m fortunate to have a very supportive spouse who understands the demands of this kind of work. It’s a team effort, and having that personal support system is invaluable."

For other entrepreneurs looking to find balance, Althaus offers practical advice: "You have to be disciplined not just in your work, but in taking time for yourself and your family. It’s easy to let the business consume you, especially when you’re passionate about it, but it’s important to set boundaries and stick to them."

As Mozrt continues to grow, Althaus remains focused on the company's core mission: helping financial institutions modernize their payment systems. "We’re not just building a company; we’re building a platform that can truly change how banks operate and serve their customers," he says. "That’s what drives us—knowing that what we’re doing is making a real difference."

Jeff Althaus’s journey from banking executive to fintech entrepreneur is a testament to the power of preparation, learning, and the courage to take calculated risks. "Entrepreneurship is about embracing the unknown and being willing to learn every step of the way," he reflects. "It’s a challenging path, but for me, there’s nothing more rewarding than creating something that has the potential to change an entire industry."

For Althaus, Mozrt is more than just a company; it’s the culmination of a lifelong journey of learning, adapting, and striving to make a lasting impact. As he continues to lead Mozrt into the future, his focus remains clear: solve real problems, stay true to your mission, and never stop evolving.