Q&A with John Davis, Founder & CEO of FinTech Startup Rocco

This post is part of a series where we interview Chisos portfolio company founders.

Today, we're talking with John Davis, Founder of Rocco, a FinTech startup that empowers individuals to access their earnings early.

Rocco envisions a world where individuals can access their earnings when they need it, without taking on debt or bank overdrafts.

Let’s get started with some fun facts.

Getting to Know Rocco Founder John Davis

• Location: New York, New York
• What are you listening to on repeat right now? Sundream by Rufus Du Sol‍
• Do you have a favorite book, movie, or podcast? Skin in the Game by Nassim Talib

Tell us a little bit about Rocco.

Nearly two thirds of American workers run out of cash before their payday and need a way to cover expenses without using debt or bank overdrafts.

Rocco exists to solve that problem by making it easier for individuals to access the cash they need for expenses, before payday.

What was the moment when you knew, "I'm ready to take the plunge and pursue my idea?"

When 5,000+ people per month were signing up for our waitlist with minimal marketing spend.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when starting your own business?

Focus on getting to market first, fundraising second. If getting to market seems unattainable without first raising money, find a different way of doing things so you can reduce expenses enough to launch.

How do you think about success and failure as a founder?

When building a company, the list of things to do seems never-ending. If you keep pushing through and having small successes along the way, those small successes start to compound into larger ones. Perseverance is key.

What is one moment from your founder journey that you're particularly proud of?

Having thousands of app downloads within the first few months of launching

How would you rate your experience with Chisos?

Five stars. Chisos seems to do a lot of things to help its portfolio founders.