Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Financeit COO and co-founder Casper Wong, who’s company helps businesses increase sales and attract new customers by providing in-house sales financing. We caught up with him to find out what inspired the idea and what advice he would share with other young professionals…
WORK
1. Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
I’m the COO and co-founder of a fintech company called Financeit, which helps main street businesses increase their sales by allowing them to offer consumer financing to their customers. I’ve worn a variety of hats since we launched in 2011 and have grown to over 80 people. Currently, my teams are responsible for risk, operations and our lending capital relationships, but I also play an “editor” or “coach” function in many other areas.
2. What was the inspiration for your career route?
This quote by Steve Jobs: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path.”
There is no playbook that will tell you how to live your life. You have to be willing to take risks and follow your instincts. Every time I’ve made a critical decision about what path to take, I’ve felt a tremendous amount of uncertainty, but I also knew I had to make a change. Follow your heart.
3. What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
Receiving an investment from Goldman Sachs last year. That was a huge vote of confidence in our business by some of the most knowledgeable people in the space.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
On a surfboard somewhere warm.
5. Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Don’t be afraid of taking risks, especially when you’re in your 20s. You can always go back to school or take a job at a big company.
6. Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
I support my mother’s charity, Educating Girls of Rural China, which has provided an education to over 590 girls who live in the poorest regions of China. If it wasn’t for EGRC, these women would be working on a farm or married off young. My mother launched this charity because she wasn’t able to receive a formal education during the Communist Revolution. I believe they’re changing the lives of the next generation of young women in China.
7. What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
I’ve had to face a lot of adversity because of my age. People tend to have a bias towards experience, especially in my industry. I’ve been able to overcome it by building an extremely talented team and have surrounded myself with experienced advisors.
8. What does the word notable mean to you?
Someone or something to watch.
PLAY
1. Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
Currently, my favourite restaurant in the city is Yasu. Sushi is my favourite cuisine and Yasu is the best sushi in town.
2. What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
Business Insider, IGN and Kotaku probably top my browser traffic (excluding Gmail, of course). I don’t have a most played song; I listen to an extremely diverse range of music depending on the situation.
3. Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
Fred Wilson. He also has a great blog.
4. What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
Currently a toss-up between Costa Rica and Spain. I’m travelling to Nicaragua at the end of March.
5. What gives you the greatest FOMO?
I had to look up that acronym. Probably wish I had more time to dedicate to surfing. Once or twice a year just isn’t enough.
6. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
A weekend afternoon gaming session after a workout at my gym (Fuel Training Club).
7. What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
I wish I didn’t spend so much money on Amazon and more money on travel.
8. And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Health is number one. Work and personal relationships come next. Time is limited, so spend it with people you love. Learn to say no. Balance is important. Don’t be afraid of failure. Enjoy the journey.
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