EPISODE INTRODUCTION

Michael Bantigue and Walter Boo are the dynamic co-founders of Invesko, a Filipino-founded investment platform, Invesko's growth was driven by a $1.6 million seed round from regional VC firms in early 2023. The company allows investors to build diversified portfolios with minimal capital by offering fractional shares, SIPC protection, and instant portfolios, thus promoting financial growth and security. Michael shares his journey from working with global brands like Starbucks and Lululemon to leading tech efforts in New York and Hong Kong. Walter, starting fresh in Singapore's startup scene, quickly rose to COO of Invesko. Together, they discuss their inspiration for Invesko, their mission to democratize investments in the Southeast Asia, and the challenges of building a user-friendly stock trading platform.

Episode Timeline: 

[00:04:06] - Invesko: The Investment Company

[00:07:07] - Walter and Miko’s Origin Story

[00:10:14] - The Pull to Return to the Philippines

[00:13:31] - The Role of Brand in FinTech

[00:17:03] - Miko's Perspective on Hiring and Team Building

[00:20:24] - The Challenges of Hiring Fast

[00:27:44] - Tackling the Investment Problem in the Philippines

[00:30:31] - Early Steps and Pivots in Invesco's Development

[00:35:39] - Customer Interaction and Feedback

[00:41:03] - Iterations and Customer Journey Optimization

[00:45:59] - Building a Small but Effective Team

[00:47:29] - The Role of Marketing and Customer Acquisition

[00:48:05] - The Importance of In-House Branding

"We wanted to create a culturally relevant brand... something well-loved and iconic.” - Michael Bantigue

"It's a fun thing. You know, you have like different scratch cards, you can randomly, you know, you get a stock and then, oh, it's like a gift for you that you will always remember because this is like the first stock you have." - Walter Boo

Links: 

Michael Bantigue (LinkedIn): https://hk.linkedin.com/in/michaelbantigue

Walter Boo (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/thewalterboo/

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