In this episode of Founders Tales, Chris Hopkins sits down with Maria Teigeiro, Co-Founder and CTO of Real Time Taxes, to explore how her team is rethinking one of life’s most frustrating financial moments like unexpected tax bills.

Real Time Taxes helps individuals proactively plan for tax season by adjusting withholdings throughout the year, ensuring there are no surprises when filing returns. Instead of overpaying or underpaying taxes, users can define what they want tax day to look like and the platform dynamically aligns their financial plan to match that outcome.

Maria shares the origin story behind the company, sparked by her own experience receiving an unexpected tax bill, and explains how Real Time Taxes is building tools that improve financial predictability while helping users make better use of their money throughout the year.

She also discusses lessons learned while navigating early-stage fundraising, the importance of choosing the right financial partners such as credit unions, and the challenge founders face in balancing when to stay the course versus when to adapt. The conversation highlights how strong networks, community support, and resilience play a critical role in building momentum as an early-stage startup.