1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:01.120 Alright, welcome back everyone. 2 00:00:01.140 --> 00:00:03.880 So throughout the day we've been talking to different people that are here, 3 00:00:03.880 --> 00:00:08.040 present at Connect San Diego. So now I have Victor Fernandez. Victor, 4 00:00:08.340 --> 00:00:11.680 for those that don't know you, go ahead and give us a quick introduction of who, 5 00:00:11.680 --> 00:00:14.080 uh, who you are, where you work, and what you do at this company. 6 00:00:14.350 --> 00:00:17.600 Yeah, thanks. So nice to meet you. Uh, Victor Fernandez with stem, 7 00:00:17.770 --> 00:00:22.560 we're an international invoice factoring company. Um, we're based in the uk, um, 8 00:00:22.790 --> 00:00:27.520 with a new, uh, sales team growing in New York. Uh, we were founded in 2015. 9 00:00:28.020 --> 00:00:31.000 Um, and yeah, we focus on cross-border international trade. 10 00:00:31.460 --> 00:00:33.000 So kind of walk me through, I mean, 11 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:35.600 factor is a huge part of this entire industry. 12 00:00:35.660 --> 00:00:39.840 So kind of what have you seen regarding the clients that you've worked with, uh, 13 00:00:40.020 --> 00:00:42.160 for this uh, 2023 cycle? 14 00:00:42.590 --> 00:00:45.840 Yeah, for sure. Um, you know, we're a little different than the M C A space, 15 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:47.280 but we have a similar goal. 16 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:49.960 We're trying to help our clients grow their business. Um, 17 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:54.680 so we're really focused on improving their cash flow and a lot of the cash flow 18 00:00:54.680 --> 00:00:56.760 issues that they have are created by payment terms. 19 00:00:57.020 --> 00:01:00.000 And so if they're manufacturing something overseas, um, 20 00:01:00.550 --> 00:01:04.880 they have to wait for those goods to sit on a boat for up to 30, 60 days arrive, 21 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:08.720 and then their payment terms with their customer. Um, whereas with stem, 22 00:01:08.750 --> 00:01:11.920 they get paid on day zero, the second their goods are shipped. Um, 23 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:15.680 and so they get 90% of their invoice value once their goods are shipped. 24 00:01:16.100 --> 00:01:19.480 We handle payment and collection from their buyer and then give the remaining 25 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:23.200 10% minus our fees to the client. And so we've experienced, uh, 26 00:01:23.430 --> 00:01:26.400 it's been a good way to help boost their cash flow, um, overall. 27 00:01:26.940 --> 00:01:27.960 So in your experience, 28 00:01:27.980 --> 00:01:31.240 go ahead and walk me through what exactly do you think has been the highlight 29 00:01:31.260 --> 00:01:33.600 of, you know, this year for you guys? 30 00:01:34.380 --> 00:01:34.630 Uh, 31 00:01:34.630 --> 00:01:38.400 it's a really exciting time to be at STEM 'cause we're growing really quickly. 32 00:01:38.740 --> 00:01:43.480 Um, we're building our sales team in the us like I mentioned, uh, we just, uh, 33 00:01:43.750 --> 00:01:47.360 started a team in India. Um, and we're realizing that, you know, 34 00:01:47.390 --> 00:01:51.200 it's a $6 trillion industry with international trade. Um, 35 00:01:51.580 --> 00:01:53.120 and there's such a big gap. 36 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:56.600 There's so many of these companies that they don't have access to the blue chip 37 00:01:56.600 --> 00:01:59.480 banks, uh, here in the us And so, um, 38 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:02.920 it feels like an exciting time 'cause we're able to bridge that financial gap. 39 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:06.120 A lot of these companies just don't have access or quality access to, 40 00:02:06.460 --> 00:02:08.960 to financial lenders and we're happy to fill that gap. 41 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:12.640 So, I mean, for the people that you've met here, what's been, what, 42 00:02:12.640 --> 00:02:13.080 what have you, 43 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:15.560 what's been your takeaway so far from everyone you've encountered here? 44 00:02:15.870 --> 00:02:19.600 Yeah, um, well one, thanks to De Bank for, for having us here as a sponsor. 45 00:02:19.750 --> 00:02:23.280 It's been really nice to meet a few of the same faces and meet some new ones as 46 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:27.680 well. Um, for us the, the big advantage is getting in front of brokers who, um, 47 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:29.000 you know, have some clientele. 48 00:02:29.100 --> 00:02:33.960 And for us it's exciting 'cause most of them don't have a good alternative or a 49 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:36.600 good partner. Um, in the international space, 50 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.080 a lot of lenders don't want to touch international lending because you have to 51 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:43.840 deal with that country's local regulation and jurisdictions. Um, 52 00:02:43.980 --> 00:02:48.120 but at STEM we're approved to work in 74 plus countries. Um, 53 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:51.840 and so yeah, for us it's been exciting to, to give those brokers and, 54 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:54.320 and even other lenders a, a partner internationally. 55 00:02:54.670 --> 00:02:57.440 Awesome. Well, Victor, thanks so much for your time, brother. Appreciate it. 56 00:02:57.440 --> 00:03:00.120 I'll go ahead and let you go back to what, uh, to your table. 57 00:03:00.320 --> 00:03:02.840 'cause I know you have a sponsorship table. So go ahead and and, 58 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:05.400 and wrap up and, and we'll talk soon. Awesome. Nice meet you. Awesome. 59 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:07.200 Likewise man. Thank you. All right. 60 00:03:07.200 --> 00:03:10.520 So that was Victor and he chatted with us regarding factoring, 61 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:15.440 international factoring and the importance of that overall and how his business 62 00:03:15.760 --> 00:03:19.600 specifically is, uh, really helping other businesses and, uh, 63 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.440 companies get into the international factoring space. 64 00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:24.880 So definitely something of importance. So again, 65 00:03:24.880 --> 00:03:27.880 throughout the day we've been highlighting different things. I know, uh, 66 00:03:28.170 --> 00:03:31.440 we've also told you guys about the speakers, uh, 67 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:34.960 and the topics of conversation that will be going on in the other rooms. 68 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:38.680 So we're gonna have a little bit of videos, more videos regarding that. 69 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:41.400 And we're also gonna be talking with Anaya, uh, 70 00:03:41.420 --> 00:03:44.480 and how exactly she's been interacting with everyone. Uh, 71 00:03:44.490 --> 00:03:47.000 she's been looking at the swag and all that, 72 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:49.680 so that's definitely something you're not gonna want to miss. Uh, 73 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:52.600 so definitely stay tuned because we're gonna be bringing more people in 74 00:03:52.600 --> 00:03:56.000 throughout the day, uh, to get more interviews and chat with them about, 75 00:03:56.180 --> 00:03:58.880 you know, their business and their experience here in California. 76 00:03:59.100 --> 00:04:03.480 And at Connect Miami, uh, connect San Diego, excuse me. So, uh, 77 00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:06.440 you're not gonna want to miss out, out on that. So just stay tuned, uh, 78 00:04:06.490 --> 00:04:10.280 while we continue this process and, uh, and just, uh, 79 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:11.360 stay put and we'll be right back.