He turned a failed client into his first company

Vera wrote in her column: “If Wall Street once rewarded bravery, the new market is rewarding something more dangerous: the people who can see through the story are learning how to buy the story itself.” That piece put Darren on CNBC for the first time. In the live segment, the host smiled and asked, “How does a bank clerk become a founder?” Darren looked straight into the camera. “First you get thrown out by the market. Then you learn how to stand where it breaks easiest.” The clip spread through finance social media that night. And in a high-rise conference room in Manhattan, Hank Rosen saw the name for the first time. He closed the tablet and said quietly, “Keep an eye on him.” The real hunt on Wall Street had begun.