Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1106: The entrepreneur DISMANTLING tradition Wall St recruiting through tech, AI, and understanding the market w/ Bryce Viorst
What happens when a Wall Street insider experiences firsthand how broken the finance recruiting system is—and decides to fix it? That’s exactly what Bryce Viorst did. In this episode, you’ll meet the founder of StreetSmart, a platform built to democratize access to investment banking, private equity, and other high finance careers. Bryce shares how he went from a late-start non-target school applicant to building one of the most thoughtfully designed recruiting tools in the industry.
This is a masterclass in product-market fit, user-first design, and building a mission-driven company in a hypercompetitive space. If you're in tech, education, or just want to build a smarter business—this one's packed with actionable insights.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 🚀 How to turn a frustrating personal experience into a scalable SaaS business
- 💼 Why solving “boring” industry problems is a smart path to market traction
- 🧠 How to use AI to personalize experiences and actually improve outcomes
- 🎯 What “comprehensive, user-first design” looks like—and why it beats traditional solutions
- 🏛️ How to land institutional partnerships as an early-stage startup
- ⚙️ The role of gamification in driving user engagement (and resumes!)
- 📈 Why traction isn’t just about user numbers—it’s about solving real pain
📝 About the Guest
Bryce Viorst is the founder of StreetSmart and a seasoned Wall Street professional with over $3 billion in transaction experience. In just 2.5 years, he’s worked on more than 10 high-profile mergers, acquisitions, and capital raises across debt and equity markets, gaining hands-on experience in both private equity and investment banking. Bryce holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Chapman University, where he was recruited to play DIII tennis, and an M.S. in Finance from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. Now, he’s leveraging his expertise to redefine finance recruiting, helping ambitious professionals—especially those from non-traditional backgrounds—break into the industry's most competitive roles with StreetSmart.
🎯 Bryce’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
“Don’t rely on luck. Just jump in and figure it out as you go.”
Key Takeaways:
✔ Start with a system, but expect to evolve it quickly
✔ You’ll learn more in action than in planning
✔ Being uncomfortable is part of the entrepreneurial journey
📢 Memorable Quotes
“We built AI to fight the AI used by Wall Street to filter out talent.” — Bryce Viorst
“I threw out my roadmap by month two—and learned more this year than in the last 24 of my life.” — Bryce Viorst
“We’re leveling the playing field for people without Ivy League degrees or insider connections.” — Bryce Viorst
💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Identify broken systems you’ve personally experienced—they’re goldmines for innovation
✅ Use AI as an enhancement layer—not a shortcut—for personalization
✅ Focus on comprehensive solutions over isolated tools
✅ Gamify user journeys to increase engagement and real-world prep
✅ Partner early with institutions aligned with your mission—it builds both traction and trust
🔗 Links & Resources