Brad Stroh, co-CEO and co-founder of Achieve, shares how he's built one of the most impactful fintech companies by taking a completely different path from the typical Silicon Valley playbook. Through bootstrapping rather than chasing venture capital, Brad and his co-founder have created a mission-driven business that has served over 1.5 million people and resolved $18 billion in debt since 2002.
• Understanding the information asymmetry in financial services that disadvantages consumers making major financial decisions
• How Achieve flips traditional asset management by focusing on liability management for the underserved
• The evolution of consumer debt over two decades through multiple economic cycles
• Applying AI to create "zero-click financial services" that automatically optimize consumer finances
• The importance of saying no to opportunities that don't align with core mission
• Brad's leadership philosophy centered on being intentional and deliberate
• Making the shift from viewing monthly payments to understanding total cost of debt
• How economic uncertainty and inflation are affecting consumer financial stability
• The importance of balancing regulation with innovation in financial services
When everyone else was chasing venture capital and quick exits back in 2002, Brad and his Stanford Business School classmate Andrew Hauser made the radical decision to bootstrap their company. Their reasoning was profound yet simple: they wanted to build something meaningful that would last decades, not just until the next funding round. This patient approach has paid extraordinary dividends.
Brad shares how banks leverage vast data resources and experience to maximize profits from consumers who may only go through major financial transactions a handful of times in their lives. By flipping this dynamic and democratizing financial knowledge, Achieve helps struggling and striving families navigate their way to stability.
The conversation explores how consumer debt has evolved through multiple economic cycles – from the dot-com bust through the Great Recession and pandemic. Brad offers fascinating insights on current economic conditions and the transformative potential of AI in financial services.
If you've enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and comment on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Brad Stroh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfordstroh/
Brad Stroh, the Co-CEO and co-founder of Achieve, starting the company back in 2002 out of Stanford Business School. Over the past 20-plus years, Achieve has served over 1.5 million people, resolved over $18 billion in debt, and funded over $10 billion in loans. Achieve is approaching a billion dollars in annual revenue with over $7 billion in cumulative revenue and 2,800 employees.
Before embarking on this entrepreneurial journey, Brad graduated from Amherst College in 1996 with majors in Literature and Economics, and then graduated from Stanford Business School in 2002.

Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/
Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/
Sandeep Parikh: https://www.instagram.com/sandeepparikh/

Email us with any feedback for the show: [email protected]