From Startup To Acquisition by Symantec: The Entrepreneur's Journey With Domingo Guerra

From Startup To Acquisition by Symantec: The Entrepreneur's Journey With Domingo Guerra

Author: Sam Dogen: Financial Samurai founder, personal finance blogger June 23, 2026 Duration: 44:40

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow school dad Domingo Guerra to trace his entrepreneurial journey: from growing up in Mexico, to studying engineering at UT Austin, to co-founding the mobile cybersecurity company Appthority with my poker and softball buddy Kevin, to selling it to Symantec in 2018. Today, Domingo runs his own seed-stage venture fund focused on cybersecurity, called Chispa VC.

It always fascinates me how people become entrepreneurs, given that most of us just go to college and get a job. I wanted to start a company myself for the longest time, but I chickened out after Goldman Sachs offered me a job out of William & Mary. It took me until 2009 to finally stop waiting for permission and build something of my own. Domingo's story is the version where you take the leap much sooner, and it's a great one.

If you'd like to connect with Domingo, the easiest way is to reach out to him on LinkedIn.

Related posts:

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Enjoy the show? Please subscribe to the Financial Samurai podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and leave a quick rating and review. Reviews genuinely help more people discover the show, and they only take a minute. It's the easiest way to support the podcast for free.

And if you want my best insights on money, investing, and building wealth delivered straight to your inbox, join 60,000+ readers and sign up for my free weekly newsletter. I've been writing it every week since 2009, and it's still the best way to never miss a thing.


Money isn't just about numbers on a screen; it's the tool that carves out the life you want to live. On The Financial Samurai Podcast, Sam Dogen digs into that reality with the same direct, experienced perspective that built his influential personal finance blog. You'll hear conversations that go beyond basic tips, focusing instead on the strategic decisions and mental shifts required to build genuine wealth and security. Sam explores the intersection of career, investing, and lifestyle design, drawing from his own journey and insights from various financial trenches. This isn't about get-rich-quick schemes, but about developing a sustainable and intelligent approach to your finances. Each episode feels like a candid discussion with a knowledgeable friend who isn't afraid to tackle the tough questions about risk, opportunity, and what "financial freedom" actually means for different people. Tune in for a podcast that consistently challenges conventional wisdom, offering actionable advice for making your money work harder so you can focus on living better, on your own terms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Financial Samurai Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Career Path From VC, To Big Startup, To Creating Your Own Startup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:05
I talk to Emily Luk, Co-Founder and CEO of Plenty, a wealth platform for today's modern couples about her career path from VC, to joining a big startup, to creating her own startup. I wanted to now why she lifted a cushy…
Your Provider's Clock Helps Explain Your Desire To Work And Provide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:39
For the longest time, I've wondered the following about some men: Why claim to be retired while having a working spouse? Why work so many hours after having a newborn? Why leave your family when your children are still y…
Real Estate Commissions Are Already Coming Down Fast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:22
Every residential real estate investor and homeowner is richer after the National Association Of Realtors settled its price fixing lawsuit. I know many real estate agents, realtors, and brokerages are upset with the ruli…
How To Overcome Your Fear Of Investing And Make More Money Long Term [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:23
Since 2009, when I began Financial Samurai, I've noticed some people are too afraid to invest or get easily shaken out whenever there is economic or stock market turbulence. Then, these investors get left behind as the e…