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A computer scientist by education, AI developer by trade, and originally from Iran, Bam Azizi has always believed in changing the world with his technical knowledge. With this thought, Bam came to the U.S. in 2012 as part of his Ph.D. program with John Hopkins University. His research was in the field of computer science. Eight years later, using his expertise in applying AI to various fields including robotics and cybersecurity, he started a venture that is changing the way the world invests in the stock market: Front.
“As a software engineer, I believe one can apply these skills in different industries and functions. I started in the field of robotics. My previous venture, called No Password, was in cybersecurity, and my current venture, Front, is addressing inequality in the stock market. I was deeply moved, and affected, by the loss the 2008 crash caused, disproportionately, for normal people. Ever since I’ve had my sights on building technology that can help people build more stable financial futures. Front is the manifestation of this mission. ”
Above was Bam’s response when asked how he dared to launch a revolutionary startup in the stock market, during a pandemic, even when he had no prior experience in the sector. But, what is Front? Why is everyone talking about it? Let’s find out.
Front: A gateway to active stock market investments
Front was founded in 2020. The inspiration came years before, in 2008, when the recession hit and Bam saw how unfair the stock market could be as some hedge funds made billions, whereas some people, usually from the middle-class, lost their entire life savings. Coming from a middle-class family himself and personally affected by the 2008 crash, Bam decided to do something about the situation using his deep expertise in building software.
Today, a pandemic, a recession, and an explosion of new investors make it the perfect moment for Front to arrive — helping a new generation of investors in their pursuit of financial security.
Front is an investment advisory app that helps users become better investors. Front is a tool that can be leveraged by active and passive investors alike. Front helps active investors find new opportunities that they might not have found on their own, nor as quickly, by sending personalized stock picks based on their interests and existing portfolios.
For passive investors, who are warier of the market risks and volatility, Front empowers them to make data-driven, risk-conscious investment decisions with the right set of knowledge and tools–like, Front’s proprietary FISCO technology that instantly assesses the risk of a certain stock by using AI to review company financials, stock performance, and news to give every stock a score. In a new era of investing, driven by a flood of millennial and Gen Z investors and increasing market volatility, Front aims to equip this next generation of investors with data-driven investment strategies via innovative, easy-to-use tech. That’s the vision Bam has set for the team at Front.
With Front, people do not need to transfer their financial assets to use our technology. Our free app sits on top of existing brokerage accounts, so investors can use their preferred account to trade, while Front’s insights help them make better, data-driven investment decisions.
Front is not another online brokerage firm, like Robinhood. Instead, Front is a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with the SEC, advising people on stock investments and strategies. People can leverage Front’s services to research investment opportunities and more informed decisions to buy and sell stocks with their preferred broker or app. Since Front is not a broker, they have no interest in the volume of orders. In short, Front is a strategic investment platform that helps people make better investment decisions for long-term gain.
You must be wondering why the name Front? “Front” signifies the front door to the stock market and the world of retail investing., No bank or institution influences the investor’s decision at Front for their vested interest. The venture is for the people and by the people.
Leverage the power of data with Front
Front gives its proprietary AI technology to people with its free app, which features FISCO–the Front Investment Score that assigns a single score to every stock. What is FISCO? It’s like a credit score for stocks. It does time-consuming, but critical, stock research instantly, making investment decisions a breeze.
Overall, FISCOis a risk indicator. Monitoring stock performance, company financials, news 24/7, combined with calculating compatibility with people’s existing portfolios, is how FISCO works. A low score signifies that the stock is very risky, and a high score indicates that it is more stable and diversified.
Front helps investors understand risks and make informed investment decisions. Their free app gives users instant access to FISCO technology to help them take their investing game up a notch without the headache of information overload. While not a requirement to use the app, people who connect their broker get free portfolio analysis and daily, personalized stock picks based on their preferences and existing investments.
Front puts the power of data-driven, strategic investment in people’s hands—with an app designed for the new generation of investors. It’s simple, smart, and free.
What happens when you download Front?
While brokerage apps make access to the stock market easier than ever, these services make a big assumption–that people know how to invest and what they want to invest in. The reality is, people can be clueless about what they should do. Front seeks to solve this challenge for everyday investors by giving them the tools and insights to evaluate stocks and build stronger portfolios..
After someone downloads the app, they select their top three investment category interests. Although not a requirement, connecting Front with their broker ensures investors will get the most value out of the app. With investment portfolio access, the Front AI-driven algorithms can better understand investors’ risk exposure and profile. Based on this analysis, the Front application makes more personalized recommendations. Front has native integrations with the top 7 brokerage firms, and connects with most other popular brokers via Plaid’s fintech integration services.
“Even if you don’t have a broker, you can still use the Front app for free to stay on top of what is happening in the stock market and how certain stocks are rated. Whether or not you connect your investment account, Front never stores your data. We take data privacy and security seriously and are building Front in a way that keeps the control of personal data in people’s hands. Our business model and technology is super transparent with no strings attached.”
Soaring popularity with the right marketing strategy
The company was founded in 2020, and it officially launched its app to the public in Jan’21. In just a few months, the application has gained nearly 40,000 users and $150M in connected assets via users’ linked investment portfolios. Indeed the marketing strategy is working very well for Front.
“Typical brokers want you to do more transactions as they make money on each transaction. We are not a broker, nor do we make money off of our users’ trading activities. Our interests are perfectly aligned with those of users. And that’s why our users love us. We care about helping a new generation of investors become better investors, to grow beyond impulsive investing and start building long-term financial success.”
There are multiple software solutions available in the market for industry veterans, but few of them are built for millennial and Gen Z investors. That’s where Front comes in.
Finally, we asked Bam for any advice for our entrepreneur readers
A couple of things Bam emphasized are:
- Don’t be an idealist. An entrepreneur has limited resources and time. Entrepreneurs have to figure out how to maximize resources and time. Roll out your product as soon as possible without waiting to achieve perfection. Let the users inform your roadmap while leading them with innovation. User feedback is crucial, but keep in mind that people don’t always know what they want. It’s your job as the entrepreneur to also break the mold and bring in something new.
- An entrepreneur should always put his health above anything else. Period.
“Nobody said it was going to be easy. If you want to live the dream of being the founder of a unicorn startup, you have hard days in the beginning. I won’t sugarcoat it. But, the potential to make a difference in millions of people’s lives motivates me every day.”
Disclaimer: The information in the above story is provided by the startup and The Strategy Story takes no responsibility for the authenticity of the product and services offered by the startup. Reader’s discretion is advised.
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