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