From Experience to Innovation: The Story Behind Intrepid

Great companies aren’t built from ideas alone.

They’re built from experience; from seeing a problem up close, feeling the friction firsthand, and deciding there has to be a better way. That’s exactly how Intrepid came to life.

That’s exactly who Intrepid came to be; built on real-world experience. Before founding Intrepid, Steve Iskander spent over two decades in transportation finance, working with some of the largest fleets across the country.

His work focused on:

• Variable-term financing
• Operating leases
• Structuring capital for complex, large-scale organizations

From there, he moved into transportation technology, successfully building and exiting two companies.

Combined with an MBA and a Master’s in Finance, the foundation was clear:

Deep financial expertise.

Proven experience in technology.

And firsthand understanding of what it takes to grow a business.

The Problem Became Personal

After going through the process of raising capital himself, Steve saw just how difficult and fragmented it really was.

Not just for large companies.But especially for early-stage founders trying to figure out where to begin.

As he puts it: “Having gone through the process myself, I saw firsthand how difficult it is. That’s really where Intrepid came from.”

The problem wasn’t just access. It was the entire experience.

Outdated Systems in a Modern World

For decades, connecting with capital has looked… the same.

• Manual processes.
• Long applications.
• Limited visibility into options.

But the way businesses operate today has changed. As Steve explains: “The Yellow Pages have been around for 100 years, but that’s not how people connect with institutions anymore.”

Founders expect speed. Clarity. And modern tools that help them move forward, not slow them down.

What If Capital Were That Simple?

At Intrepid, the goal is straightforward: Make access to capital faster, easier, and more transparent.

Intrepid’s platform is intentionally designed so that: In just 93 seconds, a business can see the types of capital they qualify for. Not hours. Not weeks. Seconds.

As Steve says:“That’s how long it should take—so founders can get back to focusing on their business.”

Because the reality is: No founder wakes up excited to fill out loan applications or pitch investors. They’re focused on:

• Building their company
• Serving customers
• Driving growth

And capital should support that, not distract from it.

Who Intrepid Serves

While Intrepid is often associated with early-stage founders, the platform is intentionally designed to support a broad range of businesses. It is both: Industry-agnostic and Stage-agnostic.

From early-stage startups to more established companies—up to $100M in size—Intrepid helps organizations access and structure capital more effectively.

That said, early-stage founders often benefit the most. Why? Because they need:

• Visibility into options

• Guidance on where to start

• A faster path forward

• Removing Friction, Unlocking Focus

At its core, Intrepid isn’t just about funding. It’s about removing friction from one of the most challenging parts of building a business. So founders can spend less time searching, guessing and navigating outdated systems. Instead they can spend their time building, selling and scaling.

The Bottom Line

When experience meets innovation, you don’t just improve a process—you transform it. Intrepid is built on the belief that accessing capital shouldn’t be complicated.

It should be intuitive.

Efficient.

And aligned with how modern businesses actually grow.

Because when founders can access the right capital, quickly and clearly, they can focus on what matters most:

Building something that lasts.

It only takes 93 seconds to start seeing your options—so you can get back to building. https://www.intrepidfinance.io/contact

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Transcript

Darcy Lee CEO & Founder Vida Nova Strategy:
Steve, some people may not know your background and might be wondering what experience makes you the right person to start Intrepid and lead a business like this. Can you tell us a little about your background?

Steve Iskander Founder & CEO Intrepid Finance:
I spent about 20 years in transportation finance, working with some of the largest fleets nationwide—providing variable-term financing and operating leases.

From there, I moved into transportation technology and had exits in two different technology companies. That ultimately led me here, after earning my MBA and a Master’s in Finance.

Darcy Lee CEO & Founder Vida Nova Strategy:
So you have a deep background in finance, plus experience in technology and implementing it within businesses. This wasn’t just an idea—it’s built on real experience in both finance and early-stage startups.

Steve Iskander Founder & CEO Intrepid Finance:
Exactly, and having gone through the process of raising capital myself, I saw firsthand how difficult it is. That’s really where Intrepid came from.

Darcy Lee CEO & Founder Vida Nova Strategy:
I remember those conversations—how complex banking and finance felt, especially in the early stages.

Wouldn’t it have been helpful back then to have visibility into all the funding options you’re now providing to others?

Steve Iskander Founder & CEO Intrepid Finance:
Absolutely—and in a modern way. The Yellow Pages have been around for 100 years, but that’s not how people connect with institutions anymore.

It’s exciting to help early-stage founders scale by giving them access to a more modern capital ecosystem.

Darcy Lee CEO & Founder Vida Nova Strategy:
Even knowing what to look for—or who to connect with—can be a barrier. It feels like you’re removing a lot of those obstacles.

Steve Iskander Founder & CEO Intrepid Finance:
100%, it should be quick and easy for founders to access capital.

No one wakes up and says, “I can’t wait to apply for a loan today,” or “I’m excited to pitch to a bunch of VCs.”

If they were great at raising capital, they’d do that full-time—but they’re not. They’re great at running their businesses.

For us, it takes just 93 seconds for an organization to see all the forms of capital they qualify for.

Darcy Lee CEO & Founder Vida Nova Strategy:
93 seconds?

Steve Iskander Founder & CEO Intrepid Finance:
93 seconds. That’s how long it should take—so founders can get back to focusing on their business.

Darcy Lee CEO & Founder Vida Nova Strategy:
So faster than brewing a cup of coffee?

Steve Iskander Founder & CEO Intrepid Finance:
Faster. Faster than filling out most applications—or even getting an introduction to a VC.

Darcy Lee CEO & Founder Vida Nova Strategy:
We’ve talked a lot about early-stage founders, but I know Intrepid serves a broader audience. Who else is a good fit?

Steve Iskander Founder & CEO Intrepid Finance:
We’re both industry-agnostic and stage-agnostic.

We see the most traction with early-stage founders because they need the most guidance, but we also work with more mature companies—up to $100 million in size.