I Founded a Successful Fintech Company at 16 - with Noonies Nominee Arian Adeli

Hey Hackers! I’m Arian Adeli and I’m the CEO at Rivo Trading.

First of all, a huge thank you to the HackerNoon community and staff for nominating me for a 2021 Noonies award! I’ve been nominated in the following categories, please do check out these award pages and vote:

1. HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Investing: https://noonies.tech/award/2021-hackernoon-contributor-of-the-year-investing

As someone in the FinTech industry, I believe that the most exciting technology of the present is Cryptocurrency because it allows for doers to solve critical problems creatively. Learn more about my thoughts and opinions on cryptocurrencies and my journey in the tech industry via the interview below.

1. What do you do and why do you do it? (tell us your story)

I’m an Author and Entrepreneur. At 16 years-old, I founded my first company, Rivo Trading, a FinTech startup that has been nominated for Best Trading Technology in 2020 and 2021 by Benzinga. I have since worked with many startups ranging from FinTech to FoodTech startups. I aim to utilize my passion for building things and solving problems to change the world for the better.

I am also passionate about sharing knowledge with others. In my spare time, I write informative articles that you can read on my personal blog or on publications such as HackerNoon. In addition, after gathering a great deal of knowledge about the fundamentals of finance, I wrote my first book, “The Quantified Fortune”, which is now an International Best-Seller. Through this book, I aim to explain the basics of investing in concise language that anyone can understand.

2. Tell us more about the things you create / write / manage / build!

Rivo Trading is committed to empowering individuals and organizations by providing premium financial services to establish confidence in your financial future. We simplify making investment decisions by sending reliable AI analyses of numerous financial instruments directly to your smartphone!

Quality is our priority. All our analysis is performed by advanced AI systems that have been tested under real-world conditions for over three years. Yes, that is impressive. You can receive target prices for your favorite stocks from all around the world, get the latest AI cryptocurrency predictions to your inbox, and receive reliable analysis for major and minor currencies, energies, metals, and more, at a low monthly membership fee.

I first started writing when I launched a Tech Blog a few years ago. Now, I write about new technology, entrepreneurship, and innovative startups in an effort to share valuable content with my audience.

3. How did you end up on your current career path? Do you like it?

Up until I was 12 years old, I abhorred any lesson in school that involved a piece of tech. I just couldn’t grasp even the simplest software like Microsoft Paint. Until one of my best friends, who was a member of a programming team, urged me to learn how to code. At 13 years old, I learned C++ and joined the team of programmers alongside my best friend. We participated in several challenges and competitions in which we were tasked with developing advanced software, such as a virtual, self-driving car.

Since then, I have loved this line of work. Once I expanded my programming skillset, I began working as a freelance programmer for over 2 years, until I decided to launch my first startup. The rest is history.

4. What tech are you most excited or passionate about right now and why?

Tech excites me. It’s fascinating to see any type of technology change the way we live. Although, Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, DeFi, and NFTs have caught my attention over the past few years more than anything else. It’s incredible to see how different projects are reshaping our financial lives while empowering communities that get involved in such projects. I truly love how these fields are contributing not only to finance but also fields such as media, gaming, and social.

5. What tech are you most worried about right now and why?

With the growth of technology, malware is also growing. I love technology and how much it can contribute to a smarter, more sustainable life. However, the power given to us by technology is often exploited by those with malicious intentions. With the progress towards a more digital life, cybercrime is more concerning than ever. I believe it is crucial to protect your sensitive data, follow safe practices while using personal devices, and most importantly, educate yourself about the technology that you are using so that you can ensure a safe and smooth experience.

6. If we gave you 10 million dollars to invest in something today, what would you invest in and why?

First and foremost, I would dedicate at least 5% of that amount towards establishing a steakhouse that can curb my cravings for a fine ribeye steak whenever I desire. Next up, I would invest approximately 2 million dollars in purchasing real estate around the globe to build a diversified portfolio of places I can crash in, at any time.

I would split 2 million dollars between a reliable portfolio of growth stocks and dividend stocks, in a range of industries, to generate some passive income at relatively low risk. In addition, I would invest 1 million dollars in 10 Cryptocurrencies that I believe in, and 500 thousand dollars in numerous NFT projects that have value in my eyes.

As a strong believer in the youth, I would invest 2 million dollars in the education industry to ensure more bright-minded youngsters are given the opportunity to thrive. My investments would range from EdTech startups to schools with insufficient resources.

Lastly, I would invest 2 million dollars in startups that I am managing myself, as I never work on a product unless I believe it can change the world for the better.

7. What are you currently learning?

I have recently been introduced to the world of NFTs by one of my close friends—and I love it! There is so much to learn about the space in order to see the real value behind digital assets. At first sight, most projects just seem like some random JPEGs, however, there is often a strong community, a bright team, a fascinating vision, incredible utility, and even jaw-dropping art behind successful projects.

It has been an amazing experience getting to know the people in this space and investing in different projects over the past few months. I still have much to learn about this field as I believe it truly has the potential to stick around when everyone sees the value beyond the simple JPEGs.

8. What’s the best advice you’ve ever given someone?

Learn to learn. The way I see it, it’s much more important to be a good learner than to know it all. Thousands of new fields are being introduced to us on a regular basis. The world is ever-changing. You must be flexible enough to adapt and learn new things. That’s how you stay one step ahead and catch new trends before the average joe.

9. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

That’s a tough one. The best advice I’ve been given is probably not to spread myself too thin. I’m a simple human, I love building things and solving problems. So, whenever I find an opportunity to hop on a new project, I take my shot. As a result, for a long time, I ended up making little progress in many areas rather than being great at what I should have focused on. Diversifying is good to an extent, but it’s important to specialize as it can help you come up with solutions to problems more effectively and grow faster.

About HackerNoon’s 2021 Noonie Awards

The annual Noonie Awards celebrate the best and brightest of the tech industry, bringing together all who are making the Internet and the world of tech what it is today. Please be sure to check out our award categories, nominate, and vote for the people and companies who you think are making the biggest impact on the tech industry today.

The 2021 Noonies are sponsored by: bybit, Dottech Domains, and Avast. Thank you so much to these sponsors who are helping us celebrate the accomplishments of all our nominees.