How Gusto Built a Platform for SMBs

In this episode of Finch’s Developer Chat series, Runae Lee (Head of Partnerships at Finch) sits down with Matt Smallwood, Head of Partner Development at Gusto, to explore how Gusto evolved from a payroll provider to a full-fledged SMB people platform.

They discuss:

• How SMB needs have changed in HR tech over the past decade
• The growing importance of integrations in employer purchasing decisions
• The role unified APIs like Finch play in scaling partner ecosystems
• Real-world use cases for embedded payroll data in 401(k), benefits, and compensation benchmarking
• AI’s role in shaping the future of HR and payroll software

Whether you’re in product partnerships, HR tech, or building developer tools for SMBs, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to scale impact through ecosystems and integrations.