Wizest
Investing with guidance
Location:
United States
Founded:
2019
Team Size:
5
Industry:
Finance, Financial Services, Technology, Personal Finance
Founders:
Axel Thibon, CEO
William Estoque, CTO
Lazaro Gonzalez, CMO
Rafael Vallina (Sloan MIT MBA 2012), CPO
Jeffrey Memnon, Head of Investments
About:
Many people, like young professionals, women and minorities struggle with financial stress and first steps in wealth building: lack of knowledge, support, and affordable solutions to save and invest. To help them and answer the questions “how to do?” and “where to start?”, Wizest is a collaborative and hybrid digital/human solution that makes saving and investing simple and accessible to all.
- Wizest is an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm, with bank level security and funds protected up to $500,000 (SPIC insured).
- Users can follow and invest in vetted financial experts by replicating their portfolios. The process is transparent and builds financial literacy along the way.
- High-interest savings offering great interest and excellent protection. Funds are safeguarded up to $5,000,000 (FDIC insured).
- Wizest is led by a diverse team of banking, finance and technology experts. Also, we have the backing of industry leaders like Karl Roessner (CEO, Vestmark & E*Trade), Mike Linton (CMO, eBay, BestBuy,…), APEX Clearing (backend provider for Ally, Betterment, Robinhood…), and top VCs like Aperture VC.
Wizest puts financial success within reach via a simple subscription model. It is accessible to individual consumers, or via partnerships with employers, as well as financial institutions. Examples among our first partners are the NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers, offering Wizest to their employees, or MassMutual, where we are working to launch a pilot in the next few months.
Describe your startup. What is your startup's mission, and what problem are you solving and who are your customers?
Many people, like young professionals, women and minorities struggle with financial stress and first steps in wealth building: lack of knowledge, support, and affordable solutions to save and invest. To help them and answer the questions “how to do?” and “where to start?”, Wizest is a collaborative and hybrid digital/human solution that makes saving and investing simple and accessible to all.
- Wizest is an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm, with bank level security and funds protected up to $500,000 (SPIC insured).
- Users can follow and invest in vetted financial experts by replicating their portfolios. The process is transparent and builds financial literacy along the way.
- High-interest savings offering great interest and excellent protection. Funds are safeguarded up to $5,000,000 (FDIC insured).
- Wizest is led by a diverse team of banking, finance and technology experts. Also, we have the backing of industry leaders like Karl Roessner (CEO, Vestmark & E*Trade), Mike Linton (CMO, eBay, BestBuy,…), APEX Clearing (backend provider for Ally, Betterment, Robinhood…), and top VCs like Aperture VC.
Wizest puts financial success within reach via a simple subscription model. It is accessible to individual consumers, or via partnerships with employers, as well as financial institutions. Examples among our first partners are the NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers, offering Wizest to their employees, or MassMutual, where we are working to launch a pilot in the next few months.
Who are the founders, and what sparked the idea for this venture?
I am the main founder and the idea comes from a personal frustration (before my MBA and working in banking, when I still was a mechanical engineer with limited financial knowledge) about not finding an adequate solution to start investing.
What makes your product or service unique in the market?
This is the only solution to access real financial advisors that will guide you, explain what they do and invest on your behalf with no required minimums and for the cost a a couple of coffee a month!
What milestones have you achieved so far if any, and where do you see your startup in the next 2-5 years?
Regulatory registration and exam
Developed and launched the product
Tested the B2C and B2B model to now focus on our B2B model to start growing
In the next 2-5 years, we expect to grow the company with its core offering, but also expanding to other markets internationally and add new products/features to our app.
What defines your company culture, and what type of talent are you looking for?
Team work and resilience
Are you currently open to investments or partnerships?
We are currently looking for both investment and partnerships!
How can interested investors, partners, or potential employees get involved or learn more?
What were the best and worst pieces of advice you received as a founder?
Worst advice: never change
Best advice: always think first about the clients, their need and how to solve their problem