Kate Rooney anchors CNBC’s fintech coverage from San Francisco, specializing in payment systems, venture capital flows, and regulatory shifts shaping financial infrastructure. Her work consistently identifies technological inflection points before they reach mainstream awareness.
“The most compelling stories live where technology reshapes money movement itself.”
We’ve followed Kate Rooney’s trajectory as one of CNBC’s most incisive voices on fintech and venture capital. Her reporting blends macroeconomic trends with granular analysis of emerging technologies, making her a critical resource for understanding the intersection of finance and innovation.
Rooney joined CNBC in 2015 as a news associate, quickly ascending through roles as a producer for Squawk Box and markets reporter. Her 2019 move to CNBC’s San Francisco bureau marked a strategic pivot toward fintech—a beat she’s since redefined through groundbreaking coverage of payment systems, cryptocurrency infrastructure, and venture capital trends.
Rooney’s 2023 interview with Plaid CEO Zach Perret dissected the fintech infrastructure company’s strategic reset after its failed Visa acquisition. Through forensic analysis of Plaid’s API adoption metrics and revenue diversification, she revealed how the company rebuilt investor confidence despite macroeconomic headwinds. The piece became essential reading for understanding post-ZIRP valuation dynamics in financial technology.
This 2024 exploration of Beijing Betavolt’s coin-sized nuclear battery demonstrated Rooney’s ability to bridge deep tech and financial implications. By contextualizing the innovation within global supply chain debates and ESG investment trends, she crafted a blueprint for covering energy breakthroughs without speculative hype.
Rooney’s 2022 investigation into Miami’s blockchain initiatives combined urban policy analysis with venture capital tracking. Her interviews with Mayor Francis Suarez and local startups revealed the complex reality beneath the “Bitcoin City” branding—particularly around talent pipeline challenges and energy infrastructure needs.
Rooney prioritizes companies transforming financial plumbing over consumer-facing apps. A successful pitch might highlight a blockchain protocol reducing cross-border settlement times by 80% for institutional traders, mirroring her coverage of FedNow’s implementation.
Her nuclear battery report demonstrates interest in hardtech solutions with clear paths to commercialization. Pitches should quantify potential market impacts—e.g., “Our carbon capture SaaS reduces underwriting risk for coastal REITs by 40%.”
The Plaid CEO interview showcased her knack for regulatory analysis. PR professionals should flag upcoming SEC rulings or state-level legislation that could unlock new fintech verticals.
“Rooney’s work exemplifies how to make technical financial concepts accessible without sacrificing depth.” — Medill School of Journalism Review
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Fintech, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
