Woodland is working hard to put itself at the forefront of people’s minds when thinking of agriculture or research and technology. Co-Founder and chief operating officer of Warrior Trading, Jeff Fortis is adding financial technology — or “fin tech” — to that list.

“(John Selep from Ag Start) has got the Ag Tech covered, (Woodland’s) getting into Bio Tech and we’ll bring Fin Tech to the region,” Fortis said. “Davis is right around the corner and we’re so close to all these things and Woodland just gets overlooked for some reason.”

Fortis’s background in stock trading started in 2006, though he received a degree in physics from UC Davis. He and his friends experienced investing in stocks but losing more than gaining, which is when he co-founded a blog in 2012 to give advice.

Since then, Warrior Trading transformed into an online community for users to learn and interact with professionals in stock trading. Within a five year span, Warrior Trading’s client base exploded from a “handful” of users to over 50,000, he noted.

Warrior Trading employees worked solely online until April this year. Fortis — a 33-year-old Woodland native — and his team decided a brick-and-mortar location was necessary for the growing company.

Walking into its Main Street building, Warrior Trading’s office could be mistaken for something out of Silicon Valley. A virtual reality gaming system is set up next to a mini golf game in a corner. A ticker running stock values across it spans the length of one of its walls and the fridge is always stocked with goodies. Many of his employees were even “poached” from other Bay Area companies, he said, chuckling.

“You know, there have been studies done that show if you keep a stocked fridge for employees to eat,” he said, standing in the office kitchen. “It boosts productivity.”

At its core, the company offers two packages ($997 to $4,300) which include:

• Chatroom — Where users can speak with those working at Warrior Trading and receive context to what course can teach

• Classes — Over 65 lessons take students through the “A to Z’s” of stock trading

• Tech component — An online trading simulation where people can use “play money” and trade in real time stock market

Warrior Trading also offers free content through its blog.

“This is supposed to be supplemental to your income,” Fortis explained. “We definitely don’t want people to come and think they’re going to get rich quick. We try to indoctrinate people to (trade stocks) in a responsible way.”

He reports his most successful users are in those in their 30s when most “understand risk with more at stake but more to gain,” he said.

In an effort to integrate the company with Woodland’s community, Fortis also cofounded the Woodland Technology Alliance to help build and support the technology ecosystem in Yolo County.

In October, Warrior Trading donated $5,000 to fund a YoloArts program to supplement the Prairie Elementary’s science and social science education programs.

“We want to bring awareness and interest to people of what we’re doing, this isn’t just relevant for people on Wall Street,” Fortis explained. “Kids that are coming in now, are leading the way for technology. So why not start people earlier and give them tools and resources?”

Contact Jenice Tupolo at 530-406-6239.