Thomas Foley and Adam Draper, co-founders of Xpert Financial, appear on “The Valley Girl Show” this week and discuss some of the challenges and advantages of being young, first-time entrepreneurs. “It’s a ride,” Draper says. To him, entrepreneurship is “a series of epic fails that lead to one epic success.”
Xpert Financial, their startup, is attempting to revolutionize financial markets for private companies. Through their registered broker-dealer subsidiary, they offer an online marketplace where companies and approved investors can buy and sell shares of privately held companies. They have three main products that are designed to help startups and private companies interact with potential investors. “The overall thought of what our company can do for the economy or for private companies or entrepreneurship in general is really exciting,” Foley says.
Like many entrepreneurs, Foley and Draper put in long hours together at the office, and on the show, they play Newlywed-style game for business partners. They answer questions ranging from how each of them likes their coffee to what each of their nervous habits are. It’s incredible to see how many answers they get right about each other, and it goes to show how important relationships and company culture can be for startups.
How far would Foley and Draper go for their company? “We’d go pretty far,” Foley says. Draper interjects “It’s hard to put a limit on it… I’d probably saw off my arm and replace it with my company.” They even agreed to eat insects off the floor to demonstrate the pure passion they have for their company, but when real, edible cockroaches actually get pulled out and put on the table, they end up compromising. They lick them. Yes, the co-founders of Xpert Financial lick cockroaches to prove that they’d do anything for their company. That’s commitment.
You can watch the full “Valley Girl Show” interview below or see it on ValleyGirl.TV.
For more information on Xpert Financial, check out our Q&A with co-founder Thomas Foley.
