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Conversation
Highlights
Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Matt Watson, CEO & Founder of Origin, a financial wellness platform for the modern workforce that has raised over $70 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
- From Wall Street to Startup: Matt transitioned from a corporate role at Citigroup to becoming a successful tech founder, driven by a desire to bring professional money management to employees everywhere.
- Early Entrepreneurial Lessons: Starting with a snow shoveling business at age 12, Matt’s entrepreneurial journey was heavily influenced by his small business owner parents.
- Indio’s Success: Matt’s first company, Indio, was a vertical SaaS company that provided workflow management for commercial insurance agents, achieving a significant exit and returning over 100 times initial capital to early investors.
- Financial Wellness Vision: Origin aims to offer the same level of financial advice and management to everyday employees that CEOs receive, addressing the widespread stress and complexity associated with money management.
- Conviction in Vision: Despite early rejections, Matt’s unwavering belief in the necessity of financial wellness benefits for employees helped secure initial customers and drive Origin’s growth.
- Market Adaptation: When faced with a downturn in benefits spend, Origin successfully pivoted to focus on core financial services, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
Actionable
Takeaways
Embrace Conviction and Adaptability:
Have a strong belief in your vision and be ready to adapt your business model based on market conditions. Origin’s pivot to core financial services during a downturn is a prime example.
Focus on Customer Experience Early:
In the early stages, deliver exceptional service even if it means manual work. This helps build a strong reputation and creates a foundation for scaling.
Simplify Your Message:
Ensure your value proposition is clear and easily understood in two sentences. This is crucial for capturing and maintaining the attention of potential customers.
Target the Right People:
Building a team with the right skills and mindset is critical. Look for individuals who are not only skilled but also aligned with the startup’s mission and prepared for the challenges.
Leverage Technology for Accessibility:
Use technology to democratize services traditionally reserved for high-income individuals. Origin’s platform provides comprehensive financial management tools at a lower cost, making them accessible to a broader audience.
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