Arch, a fintech firm that provides data for advisors investing in alternative assets for their clients, made a splash late last year when it raised $20m through a Series A round. But before wooing high-profile investors and making headlines, co-founder Ryan Eisenman had been steadily refining the company for more than six years. 

Eisenman’s vision for Arch simmered for years before becoming a reality. The concept began to come into focus after a dinner party conversation with a venture capitalist helped him meet his two co-founders, Joel Stein and Jason Trigg. An idea from an Apple Notes document he’d been adding to since 2013 finally took shape; since then, the platform has grown to about 100 employees and 270 clients.

In an interview, Eisenman discussed Arch’s start, its current state and its ambitions for the future. His answers — and Citywire’s questions — have been edited for clarity and length.