# Darren Bassman

> Darren Bassman is a New York-based entrepreneur and Microblink executive chairman. A former Janney Capital Markets finance professional and Villanova graduate, he helped found JSwipe and BlinkReceipt and was Microblink’s co-founder and CEO at its $60 million institutional investment in December 2020.

- **Role:** Executive Chairman at Microblink
- **Organizations:** Microblink, BlinkReceipt, JSwipe, Smooch Labs, Windfall, LiveCard, Janney Capital Markets, iMentor
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BSBA, Finance and Economics, Villanova University
- **Known for:** Co-founded JSwipe, whose owner Smooch Labs was acquired by Spark Networks in 2015., Co-founded BlinkReceipt, a long-term Microblink partner that combined with the company around its 2020 investment., Led Microblink as CEO at its first institutional funding, a $60 million minority investment in December 2020.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2013** — Worked in finance at Janney Capital Markets; his public profile dates his departure from finance to 2013.
- **2011–2014** — Volunteered as an iMentor mentor in New York City.
- **2014** — JSwipe, which Bassman helped found, launched in April.
- **2015** — Spark Networks acquired Smooch Labs, owner of JSwipe, on October 14.
- **2017** — Listed as Head of Product, BlinkReceipt, and a presenter at FinovateSpring with Izet Ždralović.
- **2020** — Became Microblink CEO as the company combined with long-term partner BlinkReceipt and announced a $60 million minority investment led by Silversmith.
- **2021** — Appointed a director of Microblink Ltd on May 1.
- **2022** — Celebrated Microblink’s inclusion in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500.
- **2026** — Microblink’s current leadership page lists Bassman as Executive Chairman and Hartley Thompson as CEO.

## Achievements

- Co-founded JSwipe, whose owner Smooch Labs was acquired by Spark Networks in 2015.
- Co-founded BlinkReceipt, a long-term Microblink partner that combined with the company around its 2020 investment.
- Led Microblink as CEO at its first institutional funding, a $60 million minority investment in December 2020.
- Passed all three CFA examinations in 2011, according to his LinkedIn profile.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Research check: Microblink’s leadership page lists Bassman as Executive Chairman and Hartley Thompson as CEO. This is an observation date, not an appointment date.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-bassman-009a1321

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/darren-bassman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27