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Possible Team Oct 2019

Possible Reviews – November 2019

Possible App Reviews – November 2019

Every month, we highlight some of our favorite reviews along with things we can improve on. We’re always looking to improve our product and experience for our customers so if you have additional feedback, please let us know at [email protected]

Looking for our app? Download the Possible app to borrow money and build credit.

 

Feeling the love

“I want to work on my credit so I saw the ad for Possible on Facebook. I decided to give it a shot. The application process was a breeze. Sent them a copy of my driver’s license submitted everything asking for 100 dollars and within 30 minutes I was approved with no issues whatsoever and 10 minutes later the 100 was in my bank account so yes Possible so far is great and will continue to use them!” -Anonymous review

 

“Best app ever!” -Simon R

 

“I am glad I found this app and it let’s me get my money in as soon as hour? I hope that stays free because this app just saved me until my next check I literally had no other fast way to get my money. The application was easy as well. Please keep this app easy and stress free as it was! Also the payback wasn’t as high as other loan companies big 5 star to that as well.” -Vanessa

 

“It was fast and easy and its helping me re-establish my credit in the process. Thank you for approving me when noone else did!!!” -Ruby G

 

“You’ve made a believer out of me. Thank You Possible Finance. My credit has climbed up faster than I ever thought it would. Went from upper 300’s to now 588-612 range and still climbing. I will be a loyal customer of yours and highly recommend your company. You’ve made a real difference in improving my credit in record time. Keep it up!” -Derrick B

 

“Really needed some extra cash for some emergency expenses. This made taking a personal loan easy and affordable to pay back. Thanks Possible!” -Anonymous review

 

“I downloaded this app a few weeks ago, but as I work part time I hadn’t applied because I thought I wouldn’t be approved. I ended up having a flat and needed to buy a used tire for $50. I applied and was approved about 5 hours later, and I got the loan in my account about an hour after that. My credit is NOT great, but I was still approved. I also appreciate the weekly payments, instead of having to repay the full loan on one paycheck. Thumbs up from this girl” -Jodie S

 

“I’m impressed by how low-fuss and simple it really is. this is a well built app, all about a quick loan process. Days after my loan closed, my credit showed a paid account and my credit score raised.” -Anonymous review

 

“Please keep up the awesome work Garett and Possible – you guys are helping and changing people’s financial situations for the good!!!!” -David

 

“A friend at work told me about Possible Finance. So happy he did. Very easy to apply, they work with you if your unable to make the payment on the scheduled due date. Recommend this to Anyone.” -Anonymous review

 

“This was super easy, and I didn’t have to interact with a person. I thank whoever made this app. I have very bad credit, but they still approved me. I will be keeping this app to help me if I’m ever in a bind again.” – Anonymous review

 

“This is my first time getting a loan with them so I don’t have much to say other than they came thru for me like a champ … I didn’t get as much as i asked for but i understand i am a new customer and a history is in order to check my worthiness… Thank you possible finance for coming thru for me during my emergency need for funds… im giving them a 5 star rating because they gave me the option to get the funds sooner than scheduled: one has to appreciate that in their time of need.” -Anonymous review

 

“Love this app I did this because it reports to transunion I had no credit ai noone will loan or if they will they want 1000 back in interest NO THANK YOU!! Possible finance I feel is very fair on interest rate and it’s in your account immediately. My score has went up 43 pts in just the last 8 weeks from this app alone definitely recommended.” -Anonymous review

 

“Man you guys saved my butt. I just paid my rent and car insurance, next thing I know my tire blows and I had to use my savings to get me back on the road. Well about 200 miles later my brakes had gone out and I needed brakes asap, I have a 3 year old and I cant have him in my car if it can’t stop. So thank you possible loan. You saved my butt, I was able to get the brakes I needed to keep moving forward!!!” -Anonymous review

 

“I literally just downloaded the app from Facebook! Need asap emergency help and not even 5 mins had an answer. I wish I would of known about this app a month ago. Thank you so much for the help!” -Anonymous review

 

“Thank you so much for your help. You really don’t understand how much this means to my kids and I!” -Anonymous review

 

“Cody was very helpful in resolving my issue. Wish more customer service agents were like him!” -Megatron

 

“I talked to two different people in regards to the issue I was having with the App and you guys were BOTH AMAZING !!!!! Consistent and fast with responses and were incredibly professional and knowledgeable! I LOVE the app by the way, great job Possible! SAMUEL MEIER (YOU’RE LITERALLY THE BEST YOU DESERVE A RAISE !) thanks again for everything ! If i could speak to your supervisor and praise you for what you’ve done for me I would :)” -Alana

 

“The process was so fast and easy, and required no faxing of any documents! A few questions, linking my checking account, and a quick picture of my ID and my loan was approved at a much lower rate/fee than a payday loan. All with the added benefit of positively reporting to all 3 credit bureaus. A great service to offer your customers…thank you!” -Anonymous review

 

“Possible gave me a chance when I couldn’t get one anywhere else. Thanks.” -Anonymous review

 

“I really love your prompt attention to my personal requests. I give you 5 stars. excellent customer service.” – Mary

 

“So far so good! Easy application process and approval without all the paperwork. Did from my bed!!” -Anonymous review

 

“I been using you all for a year now to give the credit score a nudge in the right direction.” -Anonymous review

 

“I am happy with the quality of the site and like that they wont just give you a 500 dollar loan if they dont think you will be able to make payment but are good about having some money available and if your bank account has good history they approve you for more” -Anonymous review

 

“Thank you guys for giving me the chance to take a loan out with you guys. Very hard when i was fighting cancer and lost everything i really appreciate it happy Thanksgiving to you all as well.” -Thawanna

 

“I’m so happy that I chose to use Possible for my loan. Emails like this prove that you guys really care. I’ve already seen my credit score improve in just one month! Thank you for everything you guys do!” -Michelle

 

“Yall know i tried my best yall have been great to me when ever body else has just done me wrong i am truly grateful for the great service yall have gave me!” -David

 

“I wanted to let you know I received the funds this morning sometime before I got up:) It was in my account and available. My wife was on my Facebook the other day and I had her look to see if you had a facebook page for the company and I found it. Would you mind if I had her write a comment about you on the reviews? We had talked about your determination, amazing customer service skills and the fact that you go way beyond most to make sure that the customer is taking care. It’s hard to find customer service like that anymore. I noticed that Possible Finance is gaining a great customer base very fast. Great Customer service goes a long way!” -Kenneth

 

“I have terrible credit I have literally tried every loan option out there. This was the only company willing to take a chance on me and I am forever grateful. With rent and car note due I was falling about $200 short since I’ve been on work leave pay so I have been really struggling to get by. I came across this app on Facebook and within minutes I was approved for a short term loan of $200!! Exactly what I needed to make due and at the same time it will help me improve my credit it’s a win win for me! Thank you again!” -Anonymous review

 

Thank you to our customers for trusting us and giving us a chance to improve your financial health. If you haven’t tried a Possible loan yet, you can apply for your loan today! For additional content, you can read more about payday loans or the Possible mission.

 

Feeling the burn

“It’s not available in Georgia but it looks like they got great reviews. We need help in Georgia so please hurry up and make it available here.” -Anonymous review

 

“This is ridiculous. I have applied for, been approved for and paid off a total of three previous loans. I go to apply for another one recently and it says I am unsupported or it won’t allow me to apply. This is LAME. Be consistent!…” -Anonymous review

 

“It would be nice if you would support Green Dot Bank. That’s how I get my direct deposit. You would think that prepaid cards would be supported seeing how you cannot overdraft on them. Maybe you should.make it a case by case scenario. If you looked at my deposit history, you would see i have been getting direct deposits every friday for a yr! i have never been negative, and it’s very frustrating that you do not support it.” -Anonymous review

 

“Is it me or does this just not work? It says we’ll have your answer in 24 hours. It’s been 16 exactly….” -Anonymous review


Thanks to both our current customers and prospective customers for feedback. It is honest and transparent feedback that helps us improve our product. We will strive to make things better, easier, and simpler for you. Please leave additional feedback or apply for a loan directly in the Possible app.

Justin-customer

Journey to Financial Independence

Journey to Financial Independence

 

Here at Possible, we’re focused on improving our customers’ lives through financial empowerment. Roughly 12 million Americans need a short term loan at some point in the year to pay for their healthcare, to cover rent, or even to throw their kid a birthday party — we all deserve a celebration no matter our situation. Unfortunately, many believe the only option to turn for cash are payday loan centers. These lenders can charge up to 500% APR, which we would consider highway robbery. Some even require good credit. Due to the speed in which borrowers need to repay payday loans, they often find themselves in a debt cycle, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.

 

Possible’s short term loans only charge 150%-200% APR, and we allow our customers to repay over multiple payments. Our payment schedules are flexible, and people are allowed to reschedule as they need without any financial penalty from us. We understand that those in need of short term loans likely don’t have good credit, so we don’t require good credit for a loan approval; we don’t judge! Even better, we help our users build their credit by reporting on time payments to the credit bureaus.

 

Our commitment to doing the right thing is echoed through our customers’ stories. We wanted to highlight a particular customer today that wanted to share his story with others and what our product has made Possible for him. You can read about what other customers say in their app store reviews as well.

 

This is Justin.

 

He recently moved out on his own and has made budgeting his number one priority to stay financially independent. This means that from time to time he needed to borrow cash to help him between his paychecks. Specifically, Possible was able to help him cover an emergency car repair expense. 

Interestingly, Pew research finds that 16% of payday loan borrowers use the cash for the same purpose covering unexpected expenses while 69% use the loan for recurring expenses.

 

“Right now I’m trying to find myself as a young individual. I’m trying to figure out what works for me, what doesn’t work. I’m definitely still in a learning process with learning to manage my finances.”

 

Justin wants to ensure that other young people striking out on their own know about the products available to them to maintain their financial independence. Due to the credit building nature of Possible loans, Justin also uses Credit Karma to check his credit score regularly. The average score in 2017 was 652 for 18-29 year olds. Staying on top of his credit score by proactively paying his bills, helps him build good financial habits and stay ahead of the curve. In 2015, the CFPB found that 50 million adults had no credit score at all. 

 

“I really think Possible helps out the millennials of my generation. People my age are not as concerned about credit because they don’t have credit. They don’t know what to do to increase their scores.”

 

Since payday loan centers carry a negative connotation especially for millenials, Justin searched for mobile apps that could help him. A few payday advance services surfaced, but not all of them were able to provide him the amount he needed. Possible, however, was able to provide a short term loan that was large enough to cover his car repair expense to keep him on schedule for his bills.

 

Possible is proud to be a part of Justin’s journey towards personal independence and would love to be a part of yours! Money is difficult, or even taboo to talk about, but the more open we are with our finances, the more we can empower each other. We’re always looking for customer stories to share. If our loans have made something Possible for you, we’d love to hear about it! Please contact us at [email protected] if you have your own story to share!

prasad

A Life Made Possible

 

By Prasad, Co-Founder at Possible.

 

I was born in Sri Lanka, a small island off the coast of southern India. Sri Lanka at the time was a poor third world country mired in conflict. It still is in many ways and from about the mid 80s to the mid 90s during my time there, the country suffered from deep political and economic turmoil. My family lived in Jaffna which is in the northern part of Sri Lanka and for part of my time there, the area was under civilian control but had a heavy Sri Lankan military and police presence. However, for much of that time, a now defeated separatist outfit called the Tamil Tigers actually held sway in the area. The Tigers as they were often called routinely got into armed conflicts with the Sri Lankan military and the police. One time, even the Indian Army was deployed to the area on a peace keeping mission against the Tamil Tigers.

prasad

I have two younger sisters and a younger brother. My youngest sister would be born much later and away from the conflict zone. But for the oldest three of us, it was normal to hear the sounds of gunfire, of aircraft overhead firing their high caliber guns or rockets, or of the high pitched sound of artillery as it shrieked overhead approaching the target and exploding in a loud bang. Sometimes as children we would spend our spare time witnessing these events live as they unfolded from a relative distance. Most often we could only hear these events and anything visual usually involved aircraft overhead.  We would watch these aircraft as if they were part of a game, guessing the number of bombs they were going to drop, trying to predict where they were going to land, or trying to predict if supplies being parachuted in to a besieged old dutch fortress turned military camp would land on target within the fortress. Initially, it all seemed so distant, as if watching a film unfold.

 

One time we were watching an Indian army helicopter firing its high caliber guns and crude rockets at something. This was nothing out of the ordinary as there had been a recent escalation of the conflict between the Tigers and the Indian army. Little did we know, the target was a car full of civilians that included my uncle, his wife (my mom’s sister) ,his brother and two of his relatives. They had been trying desperately to get out of the area and decided to do so during a lull in the fighting. The car was spotted by a helicopter gunship and was chased and hit. The car flipped over and caught fire. Multiple people inside the car were hit, including both my aunt and uncle. My aunt miraculously survived with two bullet wounds. My uncle’s brother would later succumb to his injuries at a makeshift hospital. Two others had relatively minor injuries.

 

I still vividly remember to this day my terrified, wailing uncle in his blood soaked shirt running to our house to find help to take the injured to the hospital. We were terrified. What we were witnessing didn’t feel real. As children we watched from a distance too afraid to find out what had really happened. What had started as an amusing hobby of aircraft spotting and a series of emotionally disconnected events for us as children had finally become real and hit close to the heart. The conflict became front and center in my life.

 

Fast forward a few months later we would find ourselves as refugees, forced to relocate to a camp, and a few months after that we would take a treacherous journey across the conflict zone and across no mans land, on rickshaws, on overcrowded and barely afloat fishing boats across a lagoon and on foot across landmine filled areas to reach safety within government controlled areas. We left with only what we were wearing and the little we could carry by hand. Once we reached the capitol Colombo we found ourselves with nothing. My parents eventually rebuilt their lives from nothing and made sure as children we were fed, clothed, educated properly and shielded from as much of their hardship as possible.  My siblings today are successful medical doctors. I went on to get a college degree in the U.S and went on to work as an early member of some of the iconic tech industry names of our time such as MP3.com, Napster, Axon and finally as a start-up founder at Possible. Today the U.S is my home.

 

This long journey from war refugees to a career in the US didn’t happen without a tremendous amount of help. All throughout my life’s journey, through the many twists and turns, the one consistent and recurring theme has been the countless number of kind human beings, institutions and enterprises that were willing to offer a helping hand when my family and I were desperately in need of help. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for all those people along the way who helped in countless number of ways, from the small things to the big. They may not think much of how they helped us but even the small helping hand here and there mattered tremendously for us and made all the difference in the world.

 

America is a great nation. Americans are hard working, kind and generous. As an immigrant and as a student I found Americans both kind and friendly. I was rarely asked where I was from – everyone sort of assumed I belonged here. I was able to integrate with relative ease and make lifelong friends. But life here isn’t without its own challenges. While I was at Axon I had the privilege of riding along with police officers in a number of cities and meet many folks from the communities they serve. I witnessed first hand the impact technology can have on challenges we face in this country. First hand accounts by tearful and thankful police officers as well as community members at the mercy of law enforcement showed how thankful they were for technology that provided better context and evidence for potentially tense police situation and helped saved lives.

 

Here at Possible I’ve heard from many of you the challenges you face in your financial lives. How difficult it is to make ends meet, to take care of your loved ones, pay rent or pay your bills. The banks that are in the best position to help you financially won’t even talk to you without good credit. The banks over burden you with overdraft fees and charges that put you in deeper financial trouble. You often find yourself taking out outrageously expensive payday loans and repeatedly keep borrowing to make ends meet. Here at Possible our mission is to use technology to offer you a kinder, softer alternative to payday loans. To help you in your time of need. We may not be able to solve all your financial problems, but like the people in my own life that offered help in achieving my dreams, we want to help you financially in your time of need. As a co-founder of Possible, I am hopeful that we can be the little boost in your life – the helping hand, the boat across the lagoon – to make your life Possible!



To get a loan with Possible, download the Possible app from the iTunes or Google Play Store.

Possible Team Oct 2019

Possible Reviews – October 2019

Every month, we highlight some of our favorite reviews along with critical reviews. We’re always looking to improve our product and put our customer first, so if you have additional feedback, please let us know at [email protected]

Looking for our app? Download the Possible app to borrow money and build credit.

 

Feeling the love

 

“I was approved while I laid in bed eating bacon and eggs. The approval process took no more than 15 minutes from the time I downloaded this app it was super easy I think this is a great option for anyone. Way better than Amscot or any other payday loan place and I don’t think I’ve ever been approved for anything as fast” -Anonymous review

 

“The help I got was really good. My problem was taken care of and now it’s all good. I give the service a 5” – Sheri

 

“I am very grateful to Possible for the opportunity to increase my credit score. I am saving to buy a house early next year and my credit score is the one thing holding me back. I plan to pay off a few old collection accounts with my loan, while also improving my credit score with a new loan. The process was extremely fast and easy and the rates are very reasonable and much less costly than using a credit repair service that may or may not work. Thank you Possible for helping me to reach my goal!”  -Anonymous review

 

“I have just moved and needed some extra cash to survive this month. The payment plan is flexible enough that I can pay it back without breaking my back doing so. Also with my credit score taking a beating after filling out several applications for a new place. It seems like the world is always working against us but with this app it really helps you get the upper hand with your finance. 4/5 stars for now, I will be back to update this review after I’ve completed my first few payments.” -Anonymous review



“Natalie was the best customer representative Ive ever had the opportunity to work with. She went way beyond helping me and even checked on me afterwards to make sure everything was done right. I recommend this company to all my family/friends. I absolutely love Natalie and her ability to problem solve and treat her customers 150 percent and above!! thank you so much!!” -Kenneth

 

“I first found out about possible finance thru an instagram ad, I was weary about it but I did a lot of research and read plenty of great reviews, I needed extra funds to pay rent so I decided to give it a try, I have horrible credit unfortunately and quickly got approved for the exact amount I asked for $200 (deposited next day) the payment plan was perfect total of 4 flex-pays drafted on each payday for 2 months with a fixed yet reasonable interest fee, after making my first 2 payments my score went up nearly 46 points!!!! Honestly I never thought I would have let my score drop down tremendously and seeing the # raise up definitely something I’m so happy and excited about, this company has been a blessing. I’ve read some “not so great” reviews but to be quite honest this company started not long ago as far as I read, and working for a company myself that is starting new departments within, new companies are bound to have some downfalls as they’re building up, don’t let those negative feedbacks stop you from trying this company out, possible finance will be my go too when I need a small loan, especially to help fix my credit!” -Anonymous review

 

“Super easy to use. I was skeptical about it because there are so many predatory loan companies these days, but it was super to helpful did everything it said it would. Plus I could have snapped my fingers, thats how fast I was approved! Thanks guys!”  -Anonymous review

 

“Didn’t believe this would work. Applied and when I was approved I received the money in an hour. It was simple. The process was quick and easy to do. I love being able to push back your payment dates and not being charged a fee. My credit score has gone up because of them & I can’t thank this app enough. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a quick loan to help during a tough time.” -Anonymous review

 

“I was very skeptical to try this app out but I was desperate to find a way to get my credit score up. After a few days of contemplation and research I finally decided to take the jump. I requested a $150 loan with a mid 500ish credit score. I was immediately accepted and once the account was added to my credit karma bureaus my credit scores went up 30 points which put me in the 600 range. I’m excited to see where my scores will go once my payments are added.” -Anonymous review

 

“I love Possible Finance at first I thought it was just a hoax, but then I applied and got approved. It has brought my credit score up and gave me a great payment history! If you want to work on your credit Possible Finance is the way to go!!!”  -Anonymous review

 

“Easy peasy!! The application process was fast & simple – unlike another reviewer mentioned, there weren’t any problems uploading a photo of my license. I was notified of my approval shortly after applying & the money arrived in my bank account just a day later!! The payment schedule is stated up front so there’s no surprises for you & you of course have to agree to it with a digital signature. This is not a scam! I’m glad I found this because a little help sometimes can never hurt.” -Anonymous review

 

“Thank you for your response and thank you for getting back to me pretty quickly I have been really frustrated the last few months as it seemed the customer service was like non existent so I greatly appreciate the continued help and speedy response *my bank said not to loan through you any more cause interest rate is high but they wouldn’t give me a personal loan either* just a debt consolidation so [I] *thought that was crappy they slammed your company then denied me* but you guys have helped me the last few months make it through every month so that’s appreciated and what you do is and I’m glad the customer service is getting better”  -Melissa

 

“I have finished paying my Loan off, Overall this was a good experience the only issues are the minor glitches, that I experienced I’m sure it’ll get better over time. Customer service is AMAZING! They were quick to answer any inquiry I had via email. Thanks possible finance.” -Anonymous Review

 

“I have been searching high and low for days for a payday loan I could pay as an installment. My credit has been checked so many times even though they say they won’t check your credit . No one had an installment loan for the small amount I needed . I was about to give up and then I saw you on Instagram. God bless you and you saved me with an emergency need. I love how I can pay over four pay periods keeping me from the vicious cycle and drowning trying to pay it back . You are Awesome !!!!” -Anonymous review

 

“Possible finance and the staff are exceptional, I appreciate everything this company has done for me! Keep doing what you are doing because you are an example of how a company should be!” -Joseph

 

Thank you to our customers for trusting us and giving us a chance to improve your financial health. If you haven’t tried a Possible loan yet, you can apply for your loan today! For additional content, you can read more about payday loans or the Possible mission.

 

Feeling the burn

 

“I’m unsure of what happened, but they stopped allowing people in California to apply for loans. I got my first loan with them, paid it off in full and the process was so smooth and awesome and it helped my credit get some history on it… THEN BOOM!!! They stopped loaning to California. I planned on using them for important milestones like my first credit card, a plane ticket to visit family, etc. PLEASE COME BACK TO CALIFORNIA… you guys rock the ONLY company I’d ever trust with my social security number” -Anonymous review

 

“Not available in NC. Should be stated prior to download” -Anonymous review

 

“I have been turned down for the past 6-7months. I paid my first loan on time or little late. But you guys are always turning down my loan. I even asked for a $50 loan and that was turned down. I’m just not up to doing this loan application again; after you guys turned me down for a $200 loan tonight. I’m constantly getting turned down. what gives?!?” -Anonymous review

 

“That is really a shame that you would turn me down based on that. First, what goes on in my account is my business.  Your only concern is my ability to repay and if I do so. Second, I was involved in a vehicle rollover which left me incapacitated for several weeks and that’s what’s reflected in my account. You judged me based upon a temporary situation that I could not control. Third, you would do much more professional business if you considered my repayment habits with your company and judge that over the temporary inefficiencies in my account. I honored my agreement with you to the T on both loans and you choose to punish me when I reapply. Very very sad. -Mark



Thank you to both our current customers and prospective customers for honest feedback. It is honest and transparent feedback that helps us improve our product and how we serve our customers. Your feedback is invaluable and we strive to make things better, easier, and simpler for you. Please leave additional comments or apply for a loan directly in the Possible app.

DSC07345

The way is the aim

My name is Scott. I recently joined a 15 person, series A start-up, Possible Finance, as their Head of Talent & People Operations. Ordering food, taking out the garbage, and fixing toilets are not part of my job description! Yet, I do all these things and love my job.

The way is the aim

On the second day of employment, I found myself walking to the local Ace hardware store to buy tools to get the office toilet operational again. Later that week, I was asked to manage the garbage services. And the following week I found myself ordering the office supplies, drinks and snacks our employees enjoy. None of these tasks are in my job description. I don’t care. You could literally ask me to mop the floor and I’d jump at the chance to do so. 

Why? Because I love the opportunity I’ve been given. The chance to build a company, and not just do a job. The opportunity to build the foundation of a successful organization & the culture of the company. The idea that the work I do today is the sheer essence of what we will become. That’s exhilarating! Isn’t this what joining an early-stage startup is all about? Pitching in, going outside the lines, getting things done. 

I’ve been blessed throughout my career to be surrounded by amazing people (Microsoft & Groupon), products (Apple & Axon), and innovations (Netscape & Amazon). I’ve even been part of other successful startups (Transmeta & Kontiki). But this time, now with many years of experience, I realize fully the gift that has presented itself to me. It is a rare opportunity to join a unique, well-backed, & beloved company like Possible. I am surrounded by talented people who are passionate about our mission to improve the lives of everyday Americans. 

Having the vision to change peoples lives for the better and then bringing it to reality is exhilarating. Each one of my teammates is committed, fun, and doing more than their job descriptions too.  

Yes, I prefer that one day soon, I can spend more of my time focusing on strategic tasks rather than taking out the garbage. Yet, the small details are just as meaningful to me. The stories we will tell after our eventual successful IPO will all be about that time I fixed the toilet, solved the garbage problem, and how much fun everyone had when they discovered the Otter Pops I hid in the freezer. These are the things I will remember the most. 

I am truly blessed to be part of such a great team. Ping me if you want your next job to be more than a job. I’m sure we can help bring meaning to your work, whatever that may be!

young-tony

I almost became a teacher, not a startup founder.

While in college, I taught 4th grade at the public school I grew up attending, the Martin Luther King Elementary School in Cambridge, MA. I found incredible fulfillment in teaching kids from underserved families. It was even more impactful because I was one of the first kids that made it from MLK Elementary to Harvard College. I knew that I wanted the same social impact in my career, so I planned on becoming a teacher after graduating. However, a serendipitous opportunity came up to help plan a social entrepreneurship conference on campus. I got to meet successful entrepreneurs whose businesses were wildly successful while also genuinely creating positive impact. As it turns out, having a sustainable business model is the biggest amplifier for impact. So my plans of becoming a teacher were sidelined, and I decided to use business as a conduit for social impact. After graduating from Harvard, I joined a civic technology company, Axon, that pioneered the idea of putting body cameras on police officers.

I almost became a teacher, not a startup founder.

At Axon, I found like-minded individuals who were just as passionate about social impact as I was. They were talented engineers, designers, and business people who all shared the belief that technology can make society more fair and equitable. And it did. The products we developed are now adopted by almost every major US city. If you’ve seen a police officer wearing a body camera or seen body camera footage on Youtube, Facebook, or the nightly news, then you’ve seen our team’s work. Through technology, we were able to help underserved communities and keep the police accountable for their actions. Our work enabled minority Americans to feel fundamentally safer in their own homes.

I met my amazing co-founders, Prasad and Tyler, at Axon. Prasad was the very first software hire at Axon and architected the system that would make Axon into the $4B software company it is today. Prior to Axon, Prasad had co-founded a company that sold to Google. Our other co-founder, Tyler, was the very second software hire at Axon. He came from Lockheed Martin, Skunkworks and Raytheon, and he still can’t tell you what he worked on there. (He could tell you, but then he’d have to kill you.) Both Prasad and Tyler were engineering directors and I was a product lead. We had been in the trenches together for almost a decade shipping new products and scaling the company. We developed a deep respect for one another as colleagues and as friends. Most importantly, all three of us were mission-driven and cared about the social impact of our work. We stayed at Axon (for 26 years collectively) because we wanted to see body camera technology be widely adopted by cities across the country. By mid 2017, we felt like that mission was near its completion, and we were all ready for a new challenge. We knew that whatever we worked on next, it had to be equally as impactful as police body cameras. 

As we explored different ideas, we were particularly interested in using technology to serve lower income and minority communities here in the US. We met a local investor, Andy Liu, who was just starting his own venture fund. He expressed an interest in working with us on tackling the short-term lending space. We knew it wasn’t a sexy industry and it’s actually a bit taboo, but those are often the spaces that have the most impact for everyday people. As we started to investigate this space, it absolutely stunned us at how big the problem was. As it turns out, three in four Americans today live paycheck-to-paycheck. Half of Americans cannot cover an emergency expense if it’s more than $400. Yet, banks rake in $25B each year in overdraft fees from lower income Americans. There are also more payday loan stores in this country than either McDonalds or Starbucks. We talked to hundreds of customers who told us appalling stories about crippling payday loans & bank overdraft fees. Despite a booming economy, the average American today is financially ill. 

Our extensive research showed us that fair and affordable loans are often the first step toward financial health. The people we met with told us clearly that their situations would be better if we could just make short-term loans more affordable and transparent. If we can start there, then we can improve their long-term financial health. That ultimately leads to less stressed, happier, and more productive families & communities. It was a mission absolutely worth fighting for. If we are successful, it will be even more impactful than the police body camera technologies that we’d spent the past decade building. We would be able to help millions of Americans, including families similar to the ones I worked with while I was a teacher. So, we started Possible Finance with the mission of improving the financial health of everyday Americans. We have found our mission for the next decade of our lives.