An Exclusive Interview with Entrepreneur John Zhang

An alumnus of NYU Stern School of Business, 27-year-old John Zhang is a founder and CEO of Luxari, a real estate company, and WealthGap, a robo financial advisory app. Speaking about his newly launched app, Zhang discusses his inspiration behind introducing the robo financial advisor and plans for the brand in the future.

John, please tell us briefly about yourself. 

I graduated in 2015 from NYU with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Finance and Accounting. After briefly interning with Haitong Securities International Securities Group in Hong Kong and Protege Partners based in New York as a summer investment analyst, I launched a real estate venture Luxari in the same year.

How did you diversify from real estate to financial advisory?

I always intended to launch an asset management firm. Catering to the affluent international college students in Manhattan and assisting them in renting, buying, and selling condos offered me the advantage of networking and connecting with potential clients for my other enterprise, WealthGap.

Tell us about WealthGap and the inspiration behind the mission statement, invest like a billionaire.

Hedge funds tend to accept capital exclusively from high net worth individuals and major institutions. With WealthGap, I aim to offer every individual the opportunity to invest in hedge fund-like portfolios and prosper in life, just like a billionaire.

What is the USP of WealthGap?

I offer my clients the best financial products for a minimum of 5,000 dollars instead of the 10 million dollars required to invest with an elite hedge fund on Wall Street. Additionally, there is a 0% performance fee, a 1% management fee, and no investment lockup period.

What is the role of AI in a financial advisory app? 

Robo-advisors use algorithms to assess the changing market conditions and consumer behaviors. Gauging the client’s financial goals and risk tolerance, it guides them with making the best investment decisions, translating to higher long-term returns.

Who is your target audience?

It is an ideal platform for second-generation rich kids, high-income professionals such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and millennials seeking to invest in hedge funds and increase their wealth.

Lastly, what are your plans for the app?

Since the app is in its nascent stage, my main focus will be business development and marketing. I aim to raise 20 million dollars in the first year and reinvest my profits for marketing and subsequent growth. My key marketing strategies would include advertising on social media such as Instagram and WeChat and hire celebrities for endorsement purposes. In the future, I would like to expand into the Asian and European markets.