How Samir Vasavada Built a $1B AI Startup by Age 19

From cold calls to billion-dollar success: How Samir Vasavada transformed rejection into Vise.

February 07, 2025

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Welcome to Money Making Story,

Today, we’re thrilled to share the story of Samir Vasavada, who dropped out of high school to build Vise, a $1 billion AI-powered investment platform.

In this discussion, we’ll discuss his:

  • Top Advice

  • A Bold Start

  • The Early Years

  • The Birth of Vise

  • ChatGPT Cheat Sheet for Making Money

  • Overcoming Early Challenges

  • Lessons in Failure and Resilience

  • Rapid Growth and Growing Pains

  • Core Values Driving Success

  • From Grit to Glory

  • Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

  • A Story Worth Reading

Top Advice:

"Success doesn’t come from playing it safe—it’s about risking everything to pursue your passion and learning from failures along the way."

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In an era defined by disruption and innovation, the journey of Samir Vasavada, co-founder and CEO of Vise, is a story that stands out for its audacity, grit, and vision. From dropping out of high school to leading a billion-dollar company, Samir’s story is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance.

A Bold Start: Dropping Out of High School

At just 16, Samir Vasavada made a life-changing decision: he dropped out of high school to pursue his passion for technology and entrepreneurship. Despite growing up in a traditional Indian immigrant family in a small town, Samir’s decision wasn’t up for debate.

“I didn’t give my parents a choice. My decision was final—this was my calling.”

Samir moved to the Bay Area, living in the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco’s roughest neighborhoods. For him, the real risk wasn’t dropping out—it was the risk of living a life without pursuing his passion.

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The Early Years: Building and Learning

Samir’s love for building started young. Inspired by Steve Jobs and armed with curiosity, he attended a summer program at Northwestern University, where he met his future co-founder, Rounik Singh. Together, they decided to make use of their free time by building apps for small businesses.

After learning to program, they built their first startup—a platform using AI to automate app creation. The idea was ambitious: users would type an app concept, and the system would create a working app in seconds. However, the project proved technically unfeasible for two teenagers.

“The challenge was too big, but we learned so much in the process.”

Their efforts didn’t go unnoticed. A former investment banker mentoring them suggested they consult large investment banks on how to use AI and machine learning for operational efficiency. Charging up to $1,000 an hour, Samir and Rounik found their niche in consulting, gaining insights into the financial industry.

The Birth of Vise

Through consulting, they discovered a significant opportunity in the wealth and asset management space. While financial advisors were seen as investment experts, they often lacked the tools to manage portfolios effectively.

“What if we could automate portfolio management workflows for independent financial advisors?”

They built their first prototype at just 15, but their initial target—large financial institutions—proved hard to crack. A chance encounter with Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, changed their direction. Jamie advised them to focus on independent financial advisors, a growing market. Inspired, Samir and Rounik created Vise, a platform to automate portfolio construction and management for advisors.

ChatGPT Cheat Sheet for Making Money

Overcoming Early Challenges

Starting Vise wasn’t easy. Samir cold-called and emailed hundreds of investors between ages 16 and 19, facing constant rejection. While Samir lived on floors in the Bay Area, Rounik pursued college, which strained their partnership. Determined to keep the company alive, Samir moved onto Rounik’s dorm floor and convinced him to drop out—with one condition: they had to raise $1 million.

“We didn’t know where the money would come from, but we believed in our idea.”

After relentless effort, they secured their first investment from Nat Turner and Zach Weinberg of Flatiron Health, who gave them $100,000. This initial funding gave them the momentum to secure an additional $2 million from Founders Fund, allowing Rounik to leave college and fully commit to Vise.

Building Vise: Lessons in Failure and Resilience

Samir’s journey with Vise was filled with failures, which he embraced as opportunities to learn. They rebuilt the platform 5 to 7 times before launching a product. Looking back, Samir regrets not releasing earlier.

“You should be embarrassed by your first product. The feedback you get from users is invaluable.”

To understand their customers, Samir spent hours observing financial advisors use their platform, building a mental model of their workflows and challenges. This hands-on approach shaped Vise into a platform tailored to advisors’ needs.

Rapid Growth and Growing Pains

In just 18 months, Vise grew from a seed-stage startup to a $1 billion company, making Samir the youngest founder in history to achieve this milestone. However, rapid growth brought its own challenges. Vise hired employees who weren’t aligned with its scrappy, problem-solving culture.

“We had to make tough decisions to let people go and rebuild our culture. We realized the top 20% of performers drive 80% of results, so we focused on hiring and retaining only the best.”

Samir developed a hiring framework emphasizing qualities over credentials. He looked for individuals who were hardworking, adaptable, and driven, rather than those from prestigious universities.

Core Values Driving Success

Vise’s success is rooted in three core values:

  1. Burn the Boats: Total commitment to the mission.

  2. 1% Better Every Day: Continuous improvement through small, incremental changes.

  3. Customer Obsession: Putting the customer at the center of every decision, even at personal cost.

From Grit to Glory

Samir’s journey wasn’t without sacrifices. He recalls stealing food from a Whole Foods buffet during his toughest moments. These hardships built grit and gave him a relentless drive to succeed.

“If you truly love what you’re doing, it’s a no-brainer to become a founder. The process will teach you more about yourself and the world than anything else.”

Today, Vise is transforming the wealth management industry, using technology to modernize portfolio management for advisors. Samir’s vision is to build the world’s largest asset manager powered entirely by technology, revolutionizing a legacy industry.

“The journey is long, but it’s worth it. As long as you keep going, you will get there.”

Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

  • Take Risks Early: Leverage youth to pursue your passion with fewer responsibilities.

  • Embrace Failure: Learn from missteps to improve rapidly.

  • Customer Obsession: Always stay close to your customers to refine your product.

  • Quality over Quantity: Focus on hiring top performers who align with your mission.

  • Resilience is Key: Push through challenges and keep evolving.

Samir Vasavada’s journey is a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial path is as much about personal growth as it is about business success. From struggling to make ends meet to leading a billion-dollar company, his story demonstrates the transformative power of resilience, passion, and an unrelenting drive to solve meaningful problems.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, his advice is clear:

“If you truly love it and it’s what makes you happy, it’s a no-brainer to start a company. You’ll learn so much about yourself and the world. Just keep going, and you’ll eventually get there.”

A Story Worth Reading

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