1) You have a background in marketing considering your expertise, however, what led you to pivot toward the investment industry?

It all started with the idea, “What if there was a way to connect shareholders with public companies that value and reward their investors for their loyalty?.” We wanted to create a solution for this concept. A friend and former boss, a perpetual entrepreneur, wanted to turn it into a reality. So, we joined forces with a team of savvy professionals to seize the opportunity.

Furthermore, there is a trend driven by technological advances in fintech, like mobile trading and fractional shares, which has increased retail investment participation. Also, more people than ever have started to invest due to FOMO (fear of missing out) and directly owning stocks. So, the time was now for the TiiCKER.

2) Can you tell us a little more about TiiCKER?

Our vision is to reward individual investors with discounts, deals, and gifts from the companies they own, converting our shareholders into brand champions. 

TiiCKER is the first platform for public companies that enables CMOs and marketers to reach millions of owners. For investor relations executives, TiiCKER helps grow and engage their previously ignored retail investors.

TiiCKER connects these dots, offering a unique way to inspire people to invest. The motivation behind creating this platform comes from recognizing that retail investors are loyal customers but are largely ignored. 

There are over 130 million everyday investors in the US, yet fewer than 50 public companies offer a shareholder program. This doesn’t make sense, especially considering a recent survey we conducted with Harris Poll: 80% of retail investors shop the products of companies they invest in, and 77% would buy stock if the company offered a shareholder perk. Despite this, retail investors remain mostly invisible to the companies they own—until now, with TiiCKER.

3) Do you have a target audience that is segregated based on gender or age group?

With the rise of FOMO and the proliferation of fintech mobile apps, investing in individual stocks has become easier. And, now because of this, every consumer can be a stockholder and shareholder. 

At TiiCKER, we’re more focused on reaching anyone who wants to hold individual stocks and believes they should be rewarded for their loyalty.

4) How does combining the benefits of stock market investment with a brand loyalty program work out for TiiCKER?

Every day, we all buy and use products and services from public companies. So, whether you're in the market for new appliances, sending flowers to a friend, picking up hiking shoes, or checking out streaming TV services, many public companies do offer shareholder perks on the TiiCKER platform.

This ranges from Whirlpool to Merrell shoes and Fubo. These companies have anywhere from 100,000 to millions of individual retail investors. Each investor is a consumer. If public companies recognize their shareholders and treat them like VIPs, those shareholders are likely to be more loyal in the long term.

5) Could you share some key features and benefits of the TiiCKER app launched recently?

Yeah, we recently launched version 2.0 of our Android and iOS apps that we built from the ground up. I encourage you to download the app and experience it yourself. 

It has a beautiful, fluid look and feel, and we've made it easier to securely connect your brokerage account and discover the perks you qualify for. In fact, TiiCKER offers a personalized dashboard with an overview of their connected stock portfolio. 

Another, one of the most requested features was notifications for new perks. So we have added in-app and push notifications. Once your free TiiCKER account is set up, you'll see personalized perk recommendations and learn about public companies that align with your lifestyle.

We've also added a feature for users to vote for companies they wish to offer shareholder perks. So when the request arrives, we notify the public company and the user if they launch a reward program. And, if you are not sure if a brand is public then just tap the ‘Discover’ tab to do a quick search.

We have also implemented a guest mode, so people can browse and use TiiCKER without creating an account. But you might as well create one, connect your brokerage account whether it's Robinhood, Fidelity, Schwab, Webull, Tradier, or any other, and claim your perks!

6) How do you ensure that your differentiators and offers are not replicated by your competitors?

TiiCKER is the first and only shareholder loyalty platform offering comprehensive access via Android, iOS, and a full web application at TiiCKER.com. Your single account works across all devices and you can access TiiCKER whenever and wherever you want.

TiiCKER also offers more brokerage connectivity than any other platform in this space. Our proprietary marketing and targeting strategies provide compelling opportunities for public companies to engage with new shareholders. 

In fact, we have seen a 300% increase in brands launching perks on TiiCKER in the last couple of years which many have called a game changer. 

We have more partnerships and innovations coming soon, but I can't discuss those just yet.

7) How would you like to innovate TiiCKER in the future?

AI is definitely key for stock trading, and we have many plans in that area so you need to stay tuned. However, discoverability is crucial, and we're working on enhancing the ways users can discover perks, public companies, and insights related to those companies. We're aiming to make this information more comprehensive and detailed using AI.

8) Would you like to share a personal experience where you articulated an idea and turned it into a feature?

The idea that many people don't realize that the brands they love and consume are public companies. If they did, they might want to own shares in those companies. We've invested heavily in the search experience at TiiCKER to make it easy for users to discover if their favorite brands are public companies.

Our unique search engine lets you type in any brand, and if it's public, we'll provide detailed information about it. On the app or the TiiCKER.com platform, you can tap on any brand to get comprehensive details such as the CEO, number of employees, current stock price, trending topics, and proprietary insights we publish.

9) Can you share the different types of brands associated with your platform?

For the first time, public companies can turn customers into shareholders and shareholders into customers. And, it’s measurable throughout what we call shareholder lifetime value. In fact, companies are keen to turn shareholders into super fans in this ownership economy, and we're making it happen.

Some examples of the brands that are associated with us are the Beachbody Company which offers perks like a free Body Bike Studio with an exercise bike and personalized training. 

Whirlpool provides up to 30% off on its brands, including Amana and Maytag. 

Fubo has rewards such as early access to new features. 

Lionsgate offers discounts and exclusive commemorative certificates. 

MOND shareholders receive a free one-year subscription to their AI-powered marketplace with discounted flights, hotels, and cruises. 

The sky is the limit, and new shareholder perks are constantly being added to the TiiCKER platform.

10) Do you have a strategy for stakeholders or companies that offer similar services on your platform?

TiiCKER is highly flexible and can accommodate any company, whether you're in the service industry or consumer goods. 

On our platform, companies can offer perks such as discounted products, gift cards, or experiences. We believe that every shareholder should be rewarded, and any public company can benefit from using the TiiCKER platform to provide value to their shareholders.

11) How does the TiiCKER app’s interface help us discover investment opportunities and knowledge about investible brands?

If you’re unsure whether a brand you love is publicly traded, just tap the ‘Discover’ tab in the app for a quick search. You might be surprised by what you find. 

TiiCKER provides more than just financial statements; we publish hundreds of insight articles to help you learn more about brands and their activities.

Tap the magnifying glass icon on any screen to search for companies that align with your lifestyle and values. TiiCKER also recommends brands based on your profile and activity.

For a quick view of new perks, tap the Brands tab. When you select any company in the app, you’ll get detailed information about the brand, its products, services, and associated brands.

You’ll also find proprietary articles, stock performance charts, and details on available perks based on your holdings.

12) You have already talked about utilizing AI for the service, however, is the current version of using the technology?

TiiCKER already uses some proprietary logic to enhance the user experience. But AI is a hot topic right now with compelling use cases in fintech. 

We’re considering a more formal integration of AI, which we believe will benefit TiiCKER users, public companies, and us as platform administrators.

13) How do you think your personal experience has shaped into what it is today?

Investing is personal, and there's no standard approach for an investor, which I find exciting. I’m patient and disciplined, traits that are essential for investing, which also requires resilience and focus. 

I'm driven by seeing my money work for me rather than working for money. This motivation inspires me to improve the consumer experience.

I enjoy owning stakes in real businesses, and TiiCKER helps foster engagement and awareness in this regard. Our journey with TiiCKER aligns with our personal interests and goals: rewarding consumer loyalty and helping public companies better understand their often-invisible retail investors. 

We believe this is an exciting time for TiiCKER, and our team is thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking venture.

14) Are there certain learning habits, books, or anything else that you can share to motivate our users on their journey?

There's a wealth of literature available, and we should all be engaging with it by reading books, blogs, and listening to podcasts. 

Our team actively participates in these areas to stay current with technology and its application in fintech. 

As I mentioned investing is personal. So conducting your research into brands of interest is crucial. However, we aim to make TiiCKER a central hub to help people begin their investment journey.

15) Finally, can you share a few words for anyone who has just started investing?

Consumers should be shareholders, and shareholders should be consumers. TiiCKER helps public companies turn consumers into shareholders and shareholders into customers. 

Start by looking at the brands you use daily—food, clothing, services. Also, many of these brands are public companies. So, take a moment to consider the products around you and think about investing in the companies you love.