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Home Blog Investing in Businesses: Insights From Maria Halasz
15Apr

EP#61 - Investing in Businesses: Insights From Maria Halasz
By Claire Wescombe | Blog, Podcast, Real Talk With Outperformers, The Outperformer, Brad Eisenhuth, Change, investing, crowd funding | 15 Apr 2024 |
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On this episode of Real Talk With Outperformers, Brad welcomes Maria Halasz. Maria Halasz is the CEO of Stride Equity, a digital investment platform for wholesale and retail investors. Stride Equity is focused on closing the funding gap for emerging businesses while providing wholesale and retail investors access to pre-vetted investment offers. Maria began her executive career as an analyst, which lead to work in VC funding technology-based businesses and, later, senior positions in corporate finance. In this episode, Maria and Brad discuss all things business, investing, founders, resilience and more!


Maria’s Story

Maria's resilience is evident from the moment she arrived in Australia at the age of 19. Despite facing challenges such as being alone in a new country with limited resources, she was determined to continue her education in science. She ran away from home to pursue her dreams and embarked on a journey that would eventually lead her to success.

One key aspect of Maria's success story is her ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. She started studying medicine, but realized it wasn't the right path for her. Instead of giving up, she switched to a science degree and later pursued an MBA, demonstrating her willingness to pivot and explore different opportunities.

Today, Maria is the founder of Stride Equity, a successful business that she has built from the ground up. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, showcasing the power of resilience and mentorship in achieving one's goals.


What Makes a Founder Investable?

Maria's experience in the venture capital and crowdfunding space has taught her valuable lessons about what makes a founder investable. One key aspect that she emphasizes is the importance of understanding fundraising strategy. Maria mentions that many founders come to her for money, but often the problem lies in their lack of understanding of how to become investable and how to raise money effectively.

One of the common symptoms of a high-performing founder and a high-potential organization that Maria looks for is a solid understanding of fundraising strategy. This includes having a clear vision for the business, a realistic financial plan, and a well-defined roadmap for how they will use the funding to achieve their goals. Investable founders are proactive in seeking out funding opportunities, building relationships with investors, and continuously refining their pitch and business plan to attract investment.

Maria also discusses the importance of investing in founders with stamina who are focused on solving real problems. She emphasizes that successful startups start with the founder and their ability to persevere, learn from failures, and have the determination to make their vision a reality. This criteria is unique to Stripe's investment strategy, which prioritizes founders who have a track record of hard work and a deep understanding of the market they are addressing.


Resilience and authenticity are key.

Resilience and authenticity are key qualities that investors look for in founders when considering funding opportunities. Resilience, in particular, is highlighted as a crucial factor in the founder's ability to navigate challenges, setbacks, and uncertainties that come with building a business.

Brad and Maria emphasize that resilience is not just about bouncing back from failure but also about learning from mistakes, adapting to changing circumstances, and persisting in the face of obstacles. Founders who demonstrate resilience show their ability to weather the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, maintain a positive attitude, and keep moving forward towards their goals.

Authenticity is another important quality that investors like Maria and her partners at Stripe value in founders. Authenticity refers to being genuine, honest, and transparent in one's interactions with others. In the context of startups, authenticity can help founders build trust with investors, employees, customers, and other stakeholders. Authentic founders are more likely to attract support and loyalty from their network, as people are drawn to those who are sincere and true to themselves.


Respect, empathy, perseverance, achievement, and acceptance.

Respect is emphasized as a key component in relationships, whether it be with colleagues, friends, or family members. By understanding where others are coming from and treating them with respect, individuals can foster trust and collaboration. Maria acknowledges the importance of not holding onto grudges and not giving negative individuals power over one's thoughts. Instead, she advocates for moving forward and focusing on positive relationships.

Empathy is another essential trait that Brad and Maria discuss. By taking the time to listen and understand others, individuals can build meaningful connections and support one another.

Perseverance is highlighted as a necessary quality for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Maria shares her experiences of facing challenges in a male-dominated corporate world and navigating issues related to gender dynamics. Despite encountering difficulties, she emphasizes the importance of staying focused on objectives and finding solutions to problems. By maintaining a resilient attitude, individuals can push through setbacks and continue to progress towards their aspirations.

Achievement is portrayed as a subjective concept that varies for each individual. Maria reflects on her career journey and the milestones she has reached, noting that success is not always linear or easily defined. She shares her approach of setting goals and working diligently to accomplish them, even when faced with adversity. By staying determined and adaptable, individuals can make progress towards their aspirations and make a meaningful impact in their chosen field.

Acceptance is also highlighted as a crucial aspect of personal growth and development.  Maria acknowledges that not every challenge can be overcome, and sometimes it is necessary to move on from situations that are not conducive to progress. By accepting limitations and learning from experiences, individuals can cultivate resilience and adaptability.

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