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Dropping out of high school usually raises a few eyebrows. It’s the kind of move that parents dread and teachers warn against. But sometimes, passion trumps tradition, and that’s exactly what happened with Samir Vasavada, co-founder and CEO of Vise. What started as a risky decision transformed into building a company valued at over $1 billion. It’s a story of ambition, failures, and a relentless drive to solve customer problems — and it all began with a teenage fascination with tech.
The Spark That Ignited the Journey
Samir’s story starts in a way that you’d hardly expect. From a young age, he was always a builder, driven by a relentless urge to create. And then along came the iPhone. Like many of us, he was captivated, inspired by Steve Jobs and the whole new world of tech. But Samir didn’t just mess around with gadgets. He plunged into the tech world headfirst, not waiting for a diploma or degree to give him permission.
In eighth grade, at a Northwestern summer program, Samir met his future co-founder. They clicked instantly and thought, “Why not build something?” Apps were the hot new thing, and every small business wanted one. So, they taught themselves how to code and started making apps for clients. But soon, they had a bigger idea:
