I Left My Billion Dollar Startup to Build my Dream | Andrew D'Souza - Founder of Clearco & Boardy AI

In this powerful episode of the World Class Podcast, Chris Vasquez sits down with Andrew D’Souza, the co-founder and former CEO of Clearco, one of the most successful fintech startups of the last decade, valued at over $2 billion. After scaling Clearco to massive heights and transforming how startups access capital, Andrew made the bold decision to step away from the company he built — not to retire, but to chase a new dream.

Andrew opens up about the emotional and mental toll of running a hyper-growth startup, the identity crisis that often comes with success, and the deeply personal journey of walking away from a billion-dollar company to pursue something even more aligned with his values and purpose. Today, he’s building Boardy AI — an entirely new kind of product — and redefining what it means to be a founder.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why Andrew left a $2B company at the height of its success

• The hidden emotional cost of startup success and how to navigate burnout

• How to rediscover your purpose when your identity is tied to your business

• The future of AI, entrepreneurship, and building for fulfillment over fame

• What Andrew is building next with Boardy AI and why it matters

This is not your typical founder success story — it’s a rare and honest conversation about ambition, purpose, mental health, and reinvention at the highest level. Whether you’re building a business, transitioning to a new chapter in life, or seeking deeper meaning in your work, this episode will resonate on a human level.