1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.040 Alright, so we are talking 2 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:02.925 to different people here at the Expo, 3 00:00:02.925 --> 00:00:04.925 whether they're funders, lenders, uh, 4 00:00:04.945 --> 00:00:07.165 and just getting to know what they, what they do, 5 00:00:07.505 --> 00:00:09.965 and what exactly it is, uh, the benefits 6 00:00:09.965 --> 00:00:11.005 of being in an event like this. 7 00:00:11.145 --> 00:00:14.285 So, um, go ahead, introduce yourself and who you're with. 8 00:00:14.845 --> 00:00:16.465 My name's Usman. I'm, uh, one 9 00:00:16.465 --> 00:00:18.065 of the senior underwriters of OX funding. 10 00:00:18.685 --> 00:00:21.465 Uh, we're located, uh, 100 Park Avenue in, uh, 11 00:00:21.605 --> 00:00:23.545 New York City, right by Grand Central. 12 00:00:24.445 --> 00:00:25.825 And, uh, you know, we're a lender. 13 00:00:27.125 --> 00:00:29.465 So talk to me, coming to a B2B event like this, 14 00:00:30.525 --> 00:00:32.265 how has it been beneficial for your business? 15 00:00:32.905 --> 00:00:35.665 I mean, you network, uh, you meet people, you meet some 16 00:00:35.665 --> 00:00:38.905 of the agents that you, uh, deal with on a regular basis. 17 00:00:39.055 --> 00:00:40.425 Nice to, you know, reconnect. 18 00:00:40.685 --> 00:00:43.505 Uh, you meet newer people trying to, you know, expand, 19 00:00:43.505 --> 00:00:46.345 trying to show them, you know, some of your newer products 20 00:00:46.345 --> 00:00:48.545 and newer things that you're doing and reconnect 21 00:00:48.565 --> 00:00:49.785 and then see what others are doing 22 00:00:49.885 --> 00:00:51.385 and, uh, take it from there. 23 00:00:51.735 --> 00:00:53.825 Talk to me about your specific niche. 24 00:00:54.125 --> 00:00:55.865 Uh, who usually, who's your ideal customer 25 00:00:55.865 --> 00:00:57.185 that you guys try to aim for? 26 00:00:58.185 --> 00:00:59.345 I mean, we're a paper lender. 27 00:00:59.485 --> 00:01:00.945 We are, we're looking for, you know, 28 00:01:00.945 --> 00:01:03.505 we have merchant cash advanced products, so, you know, 29 00:01:03.505 --> 00:01:04.985 we have broker shops send us clients 30 00:01:05.085 --> 00:01:06.465 and then, you know, we underwrite deals 31 00:01:06.565 --> 00:01:09.745 and we all industries, um, you know, um, 32 00:01:11.645 --> 00:01:15.505 GCs, uh, restaurants, uh, all types of, uh, industries. 33 00:01:16.135 --> 00:01:16.825 What makes you guys 34 00:01:16.825 --> 00:01:18.345 different compared to other competitors? 35 00:01:19.825 --> 00:01:22.625 I mean, um, everyone is gonna say, well, you know, 36 00:01:22.625 --> 00:01:23.865 we have the best underwriting team, 37 00:01:24.045 --> 00:01:26.345 or, you know, we go outside the box 38 00:01:26.485 --> 00:01:27.545 and we try to fight 39 00:01:27.565 --> 00:01:30.225 for making deals happen, and we're no different. 40 00:01:30.245 --> 00:01:33.225 You know, we're looking for trying to make it work, uh, 41 00:01:33.225 --> 00:01:35.225 trying to beat you on a dollar if we can. 42 00:01:35.565 --> 00:01:37.145 Uh, trying to accommodate, you know, 43 00:01:37.145 --> 00:01:38.385 in any way that's possible. 44 00:01:39.095 --> 00:01:41.705 Talk to me about, you know, coming in an event like this, 45 00:01:41.855 --> 00:01:45.225 what benefit is it or how, how has it helped your business? 46 00:01:46.805 --> 00:01:48.425 Um, events like this, you gotta, you know, 47 00:01:48.495 --> 00:01:50.025 keep your image out there. 48 00:01:50.045 --> 00:01:54.025 You gotta keep networking, you gotta keep, uh, you know, um, 49 00:01:54.175 --> 00:01:55.225 getting involved. 50 00:01:55.585 --> 00:01:58.225 I feel, uh, if you don't come, you, you kind 51 00:01:58.225 --> 00:01:59.705 of get lost in a shuffle, you know? 52 00:01:59.725 --> 00:02:02.065 So you kind of have to come and it's a nice event. 53 00:02:02.065 --> 00:02:04.385 You know, you're meeting everyone, you're networking, 54 00:02:04.385 --> 00:02:05.985 you're socializing, you're learning. 55 00:02:06.365 --> 00:02:08.305 You go to those seminars, you, you listen 56 00:02:08.305 --> 00:02:10.385 to some clever people talk, give insight. 57 00:02:10.775 --> 00:02:12.345 That really helps, you know? 58 00:02:12.965 --> 00:02:15.465 And so in, in this industry, there's so much changing, 59 00:02:15.565 --> 00:02:18.505 so quickly coming to events like this, whether it's this one 60 00:02:18.505 --> 00:02:20.985 or other ones, um, would you recommend it for other people? 61 00:02:21.195 --> 00:02:22.985 Would you, would you do it a lot? 62 00:02:23.085 --> 00:02:24.945 Do you go to other events throughout the year? 63 00:02:25.665 --> 00:02:27.585 I mean, we do, uh, go to events throughout the year, 64 00:02:27.585 --> 00:02:29.945 especially ones in the city 'cause it's just a walk over. 65 00:02:30.565 --> 00:02:33.105 Um, you know, you learn, you learn from best practices, 66 00:02:33.205 --> 00:02:34.865 and then you enhance and you evolve. 67 00:02:36.095 --> 00:02:37.305 What advice would you have to someone 68 00:02:37.305 --> 00:02:38.865 that's just a, a starting out? 69 00:02:41.125 --> 00:02:44.045 I would say if you're starting out as a lender, yeah. 70 00:02:44.885 --> 00:02:45.965 I mean, it's a tough market 71 00:02:46.025 --> 00:02:48.045 to compete when you're starting out as a lender. 72 00:02:48.105 --> 00:02:50.085 You know, there's so many a players already 73 00:02:50.085 --> 00:02:51.285 established in the game. 74 00:02:51.665 --> 00:02:53.205 The brokers have networks 75 00:02:53.225 --> 00:02:56.325 and relationships already built, uh, you know, uh, 76 00:02:56.465 --> 00:03:00.085 but you know, just due diligence, you know, um, deep dive. 77 00:03:00.195 --> 00:03:01.525 Make sure you don't miss a thing. 78 00:03:01.865 --> 00:03:03.205 If you like a deal, love a deal. 79 00:03:03.345 --> 00:03:04.805 If you dislike a deal, get out 80 00:03:04.805 --> 00:03:07.405 fast and then take it from there. Awesome. 81 00:03:07.525 --> 00:03:09.205 Thank you so much, Juman. I appreciate your time. 82 00:03:09.335 --> 00:03:10.365 Thank you. No problem.