FF 007: Founding Europe's Largest Trading App with Nick Bortot, Founder @ Bux
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
The Twenty Minute VC
4.4 • 637 Ratings
🗓️ 7 August 2015
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Nick Bortot is the Founder & CEO at Bux, Europe's largest mobile trading platform with an incredible 175,000 active users. In his former life he was one of the driving forces behind the Dutch market leader in online brokerage, BinckBank. There he held several commercial positions before he was elected member of the executive board. After having spent five years in the boardroom, Nick started dreaming about a new company that would make the financial markets both fun and exciting. This dream turned into BUX. Bud has attained many incredible mentions and awards including being named on the Fintech50 2015. You can also check out their first TV add right here!
In Today's Episode You Will Learn:
- How Nick made the move from broking to founding Bux?
- What are the benefits of being a slightly older founder?
- What Nick would recommend to anyone looking for a technical co-founder?
- How to build a team of individuals with complimentary skills?
- What are the drivers for the incredible growth to 175,000 users?
- How is Nick planning to convert an audience of non trader to start trading?
- What advice would Nick give founders entering into heavily regulated markets?
- How Bux have built a great brand in a competitive market?
- Having raised funds from Orange Growth Capital, what was surprising and challenging for Nick about raising angel and VC money?
- What would Nick do differently if he was raising funds again?
- Does Nick agree with the concept of building a 'war chest' of funds?
Items Mentioned in Today's Episode:
Nick's Fave Book: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography
Nick's Fave Newsletter or Blog: VICE News
Nick's Fave App: BRAINTOSS: Toss your thoughts straight into your inbox
As always you can follow Harry, The Twenty Minute VC, Nick and Bux on Twitter right here!
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | You're listening to the 20 minute VC with your host, Harry Stebbings. |
| 0:04.0 | Now, Friday is great for two reasons. |
| 0:06.3 | Firstly, obviously, the weekend is coming, which is great for everyone. |
| 0:09.5 | But secondly, it can only mean one thing here at the 20 minute VC. |
| 0:13.2 | It's time to bring out an incredible founder. |
| 0:15.8 | And today is no different, as I'm so excited to welcome Nick Bortow. |
| 0:20.6 | Nick is the founder of one of my favourite |
| 0:23.2 | apps. Bucks is Europe's largest mobile trading platform and app with an incredible |
| 0:29.9 | 175,000 active users. In his former life, he was one of the driving forces behind the Dutch |
| 0:37.1 | market leader in online brokerage, Bink Bank. |
| 0:40.4 | There, he held several positions before he was elected member of the executive board. |
| 0:44.9 | However, after spending five years in the boardroom, Nick started dreaming about a new company that would make the financial markets both fun and exciting. |
| 0:53.5 | This dream turned into Bucks, |
| 0:55.6 | and Bucks has attained many incredible mentions and awards, including being named on the Fintech 50, |
| 1:01.3 | 2015. However, before we dive into today's show, not only do HiringSream provide the fastest and |
| 1:08.3 | smartest way to recruit your team. They are also doing a competition |
| 1:12.4 | giveaway. Up for grabs is the Alliance, co-authored by Reid Hoffman. And all you have to do is |
| 1:19.2 | tweet, work to hiring screen RH, and the first five listeners who complete the task will be in with |
| 1:26.4 | winning the book. All you have to do again |
| 1:28.7 | is tweet, work to hiring screen R.H. But now it's time to get down to the interview, so it's with |
| 1:35.5 | great pleasure that I welcome Nick Borto, founder of Bucks, to the 20-minute VC. |
| 1:45.3 | You have now a to the 20 minute VC. Three, two, one, zero. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Twenty Minute VC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Twenty Minute VC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.