Photo shoot: Big Top’s Startup Crawl kicks off year with homecoming for Even

RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh has a new startup in town. They’re listed as Even Responsible Finance, but it’s Even for short.

Monday night, the public got the chance to check out their new digs on East Hargett Street — all part of the first Big Top Startup Crawl of 2019.

Gabe Gonzalez, Quinten Farmer, Larry Long, Kevin Jeanneret.

More than 100 people turned up for the event. Beer, wine, a ginormous spread of cold cuts, fruits and cheeses, were there to be devoured. Most did.

They also got to meet Raleigh native Quinten Farmer, Even’s chief operating office. He, along with Jon Schlossberg, Cem Kent and former Instagram engineer Ryan Gomba — founded the financial wellness company in Oakland, California in 2014.

Since then, it’s been on the rise.

With their budgeting app that helps people integrate pay slips, bills and savings, their aim is to end the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle for middle class Americans. To date, they’ve secured deals with Walmart and software company Kronos, and raised $52 million in funding.

Even’s team … (back, L-R): Darius Thompson, Zainab Baloch, Nicole Maltrotti, Ryan Gagliardi, Becky Holmes; (second row, L-R):Mitch Moore, Quinten Farmer, Jordan Kab; (bottom): Christina LoFranco.

Brandon Pitzen, Ryan Gagliardi.

Vincent Indigo, Michael Dickson, Ben Hearn.

Nicole Maltrotti, Kevin Turner, Jason Caplain.

John Sloan and Freshspire’s Shraddha Rathod.

Shraddha Rathod, co-founder of Freshspire was also on hand to spread the word on her new endeavor. Behind a makeshift table, she took questions on her new online wholesale market, which works to connect farmers with buyers.

For her, it’s a mission.

“We want to empower farmers and give the end-consumer greater quality and sustainable food options,” she said, adding it was also important to get the message out on our local food systems and where our food comes from.

“Let’s get more local food on our plates!,” she said.