The Startup That’s Taking On The Banks To Make The 99% Richer | Ep 65

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Michael, co-founder of Q Branch and Populace, who shares how he's helping international startups enter the U.S. and launching a fintech platform to fight financial inequality. From federal contracts and government culture to empowering underserved Americans through passive investing and discount networks, Michael breaks down the hard truths of money, persistence, and building in Austin. What You’ll Learn: - Why Most Startups Fail to Enter the U.S. Market - The Broken Banking System and a Grassroots Fix - Real Talk on Financial Literacy - Startup Persistence & the 18-Month Grind - What U.S. Founders Can Learn From International Builders Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & How They Met 00:30 - What Is Q Branch? 01:30 - Helping International Startups in the U.S. 02:10 - Government Contracts & Go-to-Market 03:20 - Populist: A Fintech for the 99% 05:00 - Breaking Down Financial Literacy 06:00 - How Populist Reverses the Bank Model 07:40 - Making Passive Investing Accessible 09:10 - Michael’s Entrepreneurship Origin Story 11:00 - Lessons From Federal Contracting 13:00 - How Q Branch Got Its First Deal 15:00 - Founder Persistence & Mentality 17:00 - Talking About Ideas Early 19:00 - U.S. vs International Founders 21:00 - Austin’s Startup Community 25:00 - Picking the Right Ecosystem 29:00 - Building Populace: From Idea to Launch 32:00 - Real Cost of Building a Fintech Startup 34:00 - Launch Strategy & What’s Next 35:00 - Final Advice for Founders