S3E13 - Brandon Martini - Funding dreams in the sky with innovative lending

In this episode of the Deal Makers Podcast, Asaf Raz welcomes Brandon Martini, co-founder and COO of Stratus Financial, a company that makes aviation careers accessible through innovative financing solutions. Brandon shares how Stratus Financial began with a single flight school and grew into a nationwide lender, helping aspiring pilots finance their training when traditional loans fall short. He reflects on his journey from flight school owner to finance entrepreneur, the passion that drives aspiring pilots, and how Stratus maintains a family-like culture. Brandon also discusses the unique challenges of building a company in the private credit industry and shares how Stratus plans to fund the “Future Aviators of America.”
Chapters:
01:47 - Founding Stratus Financial: From flight school to national lending
04:09 - Growing from one to over 270 partner schools across the U.S.
06:11 - The spark for Stratus: Helping students who couldn’t afford pilot training
08:52 - Taking a leap: Building a unique lending model for pilots
12:58 - A memorable student story: “From dreamer to commercial pilot”
17:20 - Shameless plug: Stratus’s current $20 million fundraising and expansion plans
Get in touch with Brandon:
Linkedin: / brandon-martini-467761161
Website: www.stratusfin...
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