Unlocking Healthcare Lending: Sharmeen Aqeel on Building a Fintech Platform for Clinics
Thu Jan 29 2026
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Welcome to another episode of The Uprising Show! In this episode, host Vivek sits down with Sharmeen Aqeel, the founder of Lyyvora, a healthcare-focused lending platform based in Calgary, Canada. Sharmeen Aqeel shares her inspiring journey from her international upbringing - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, France, and finally Canada - to her leap from a secure product design career into the world of entrepreneurship.
Together, they dive deep into the unique challenges healthcare clinics face when securing funding, why traditional banks often miss the mark, and how alternative lending platforms like Lyyvora are disrupting the space by prioritizing vision and growth over risk aversion. Sharmeen Aqeel opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, balancing business with family life, her drive to build stakeholder-centered products, and the importance of trust, transparency, and continuous feedback in building a successful company.
Whether you’re a founder, a healthcare professional, or just curious about the intersection of fintech and healthcare, this candid conversation offers valuable lessons on building, scaling, and evolving a mission-driven business. Tune in and get inspired to take your own uprising!
Timestamps:
00:00 "Alternative Lending Overcomes Bank Risk"
06:12 "Challenges of Starting Entrepreneurship"
09:00 "Empathy and Problem-Solving in Design"
12:20 "Flawed Funding Application Processes"
14:50 "Building a Healthcare Lending Network"
17:24 Healthcare Financial Operations Challenges
20:45 "Stakeholder-Centered Entrepreneurship"
26:23 Client Outreach and Consistent Engagement
29:01 "Prioritize Morning Productivity"
31:37 "Importance of Timely Feedback"
34:05 "Mastering Healthcare Funding Vertical"
37:59 Building Healthcare's Marketing Channel
40:23 "B2B Social Media Growth Potential"
44:27 "Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship"
48:48 "Trust Yourself and Your Pace"
50:52 "Thanks, Sharmeen - Partner Info"
The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/
Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/
Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks
TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/
“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”
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Send us a text Welcome to another episode of The Uprising Show! In this episode, host Vivek sits down with Sharmeen Aqeel, the founder of Lyyvora, a healthcare-focused lending platform based in Calgary, Canada. Sharmeen Aqeel shares her inspiring journey from her international upbringing - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, France, and finally Canada - to her leap from a secure product design career into the world of entrepreneurship. Together, they dive deep into the unique challenges healthcare clinics face when securing funding, why traditional banks often miss the mark, and how alternative lending platforms like Lyyvora are disrupting the space by prioritizing vision and growth over risk aversion. Sharmeen Aqeel opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, balancing business with family life, her drive to build stakeholder-centered products, and the importance of trust, transparency, and continuous feedback in building a successful company. Whether you’re a founder, a healthcare professional, or just curious about the intersection of fintech and healthcare, this candid conversation offers valuable lessons on building, scaling, and evolving a mission-driven business. Tune in and get inspired to take your own uprising! Timestamps: 00:00 "Alternative Lending Overcomes Bank Risk" 06:12 "Challenges of Starting Entrepreneurship" 09:00 "Empathy and Problem-Solving in Design" 12:20 "Flawed Funding Application Processes" 14:50 "Building a Healthcare Lending Network" 17:24 Healthcare Financial Operations Challenges 20:45 "Stakeholder-Centered Entrepreneurship" 26:23 Client Outreach and Consistent Engagement 29:01 "Prioritize Morning Productivity" 31:37 "Importance of Timely Feedback" 34:05 "Mastering Healthcare Funding Vertical" 37:59 Building Healthcare's Marketing Channel 40:23 "B2B Social Media Growth Potential" 44:27 "Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship" 48:48 "Trust Yourself and Your Pace" 50:52 "Thanks, Sharmeen - Partner Info" The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/ Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/ Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/ “Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”