As co-founder of Sherman Oaks-based fintech firm PayScout, Cleveland Brown has spent years building payment systems spanning continents and cultures. Beyond fintech, Brown’s story is rooted in philosophy and mentorship.
- Brown approaches business like a philosopher. He describes himself first and foremost as a philosopher – a mindset he says shapes how he solves problems in business and in life. A philosophy major at UCLA, Brown credits the works of philosopher and author Immanuel Kant, particularly Kant’s “Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals” and “The Metaphysics of Morals,” for shaping his thinking on ethics, leadership and decision-making.
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Brown dubs himself “a UCLA Bruin through and through.” In addition to graduating from UCLA, he has lectured
on culture and entrepreneurship and serves on the board of visitors for the university’s economics department. -
His fintech career has been a gateway to global business. Through PayScout and his broader work in the payments industry, Brown has built business relationships across the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. One of his earliest international experiences came while working in Antigua, where he collaborated with financial institutions and governments on fintech implementation and risk systems tied to tourism economies.
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Youth sports coaching has long been a rewarding commitment. Away from the office, Brown has spent roughly two decades volunteering as a youth sports coach throughout the San Fernando Valley. He has coached basketball, baseball and flag football programs, including at Sherman Oaks Little League and the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Recreation Center. Brown said coaching allows him to connect sports lessons with life lessons. “It’s really important to volunteer time to the youth,” he said. The role also carries personal meaning: his high school freshman son currently plays on both the varsity basketball and baseball teams and recently earned an invitation to the Hank Aaron Invitational hosted by Major League Baseball and USA Baseball.
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Golf is also Brown’s preferred escape from the office. He picked up the sport roughly a decade ago and was drawn to it for its demand for personal accountability. Unlike team sports, he said, golf leaves no room for excuses – success depends entirely on the individual. The game also offers a break from the pace of L.A., providing time outdoors and a chance to reset mentally. “It’s just a great getaway,” Brown said.
