How A High School Dropout Built $1B Startup At 23

amir Vasavada is the co-founder and CEO of Vise. Vise provides automated and personalized portfolio management services that have helped financial advisors scale their practices. Let's delve into how he conceived the idea for Vise and transformed it into a billion-dollar startup:

Samir believes it's about something other than going to Harvard or Yale. It's about understanding customer problems and operating at the right speed to make companies grow.

He believes you should not be scared when younger because that's the perfect time to fall. 

A 13-Year-Old Builder:

• Samir's passion for building and technology ignited at a young age.
• During a summer program in eighth grade, he met his future co-founder, and together, they explored entrepreneurship.
• Initially, they dabbled in creating mobile apps, envisioning using artificial intelligence (AI) to automate app development.
• They had too many technical challenges in their first startups.

Pivoting Toward Finance:

• Their ambitious vision led to their first startup, which proved too audacious for their age and expertise.
• A pivotal moment occurred when a mentor suggested they pivot toward helping large investment banks leverage AI for investment decisions.
• This marked the beginning of their journey into finance and investment management.
• "They made many cold calls until they secured investors."

Learning from Failures:

The best way to learn is by doing - Samir Vasadeva 

• Samir and his co-founder faced challenges, including rejection from potential investors.
• Their persistence paid off when they secured their first investment from Nat Turner and Zach Weinberg, co-founders of Flatiron Health.
• They learned that failures are valuable teachers and that perfectionism can hinder progress.

Customer-Centric Approach:

• Samir immersed himself in financial advisors' offices, observing their work and decision-making processes.
• This dedication to customer-centricity became a core principle for Vise.
• He says the most important thing is to talk to customers. 

Samir believes in building a company only when you are passionate about it.

Samir's journey exemplifies resilience, determination, and the power of unconventional paths in shaping groundbreaking ventures. 🚀