Meet Gen Merritt-Parikh | Commercial Finance Executive, Factoring & ABL

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gen Merritt-Parikh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gen, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Initially, the words that called out were drive and insecurity. Yes, I realize that is two. Those come together for me though under one headline: challenge.

I absolutely love it when goals are met and when there is a tangible outcome. This could be launching and building a business, or being part of developing a team where each person can grow and learn new skills together. Or, it could be helping others in your industry so they can achieve more, and they can start or build their own business.

If it’s new, difficult, scary, or even chaotic, it’s motivating to know there is a path to figure it out and make it through to achieve the goal – whatever it may be. That leap to take on a challenge and the good (or not so great) experience of going through that process is exciting. It’s where we step into the uncomfortableness, make mistakes, learn, and hopefully grow. It’s also where we can gain new friends, peers, mentors, and sometimes squad members, as some would say.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Haversine Funding helps asset-based lenders, factors, equipment, real estate and other commercial finance companies fill funding gaps. We provide fast, fair and flexible funding solutions only to lenders – offering senior and junior lines of credit, growth capital and participation programs. Essentially, we help lenders build their funding platforms and grow for the future.

Our clients choose us because we not only provide capital but our team has directly worked in the space for decades. That’s what makes us unique – the team and our experience.

I’m proud of the company we’ve built in a short period of time and the impact we’ve made with our lending clients who have now been able to expand their teams and lending platforms with our help. Some have been able to grow faster than planned; others benefitted when we could help prevent potential losses; others have built their own family owned and operated finance companies, and yet still others have expanded their portfolios dedicating their company’s mission to helping minority businesses get started and grow. I love that we get to be a part of it all.

Nothing worth doing is easy as the summarized quote from Theodore Roosevelt goes. We’ve been able to build our own team, systems, processes, and platform, and we’ve made our own memories figuring things out together. We’ve learned a lot. I know I’ve learned more than I had anticipated when I started on this new adventure with the founder of Haversine Funding, Stan Vukmer. It’s been another challenge (which I love), and no challenge is ever the same. And, again, that’s what makes it scary, chaotic, and definitely exciting and fun.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Since you are not giving me a budget, then here we go… we’d have to explore Dallas from Uptown to Greenville but starting with the Katy Trail to get in our steps, getting in some nature before then visiting Dallas Farmer’s Market. During their stay here and since most of my friends love eating out as much as I do, we’d enjoy the soufflés at Rise No 1 (Reeces is not on the menu but a must have), steaks at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse (hopefully they’d have a wine tasting that week), as well as Nick and Sam’s for the Insta-worthy presentations (which definitely would include the Cotton Candy because it’s ridiculous), and possibly go to SER Steak for the view, then dine one evening for a sushi experience at Uchi.

We’d definitely need to get shopping in at the Galleria if it’s during the holidays and North Park because, why not, and maybe check out the charcuterie at Eataly while there. Depending on the time of year, there could be a trip to the Arboretum. And, I’m sure a show would be available at Winspear or a musical at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Since they’d be in town, we’d also need to ensure there was something historical or educational bringing in the Sixth Floor or Perot Museums.

Should we be in doubt of day time activities, there’s also cooking classes at Central Market and escape rooms, or a spa or two (possibly the Grand Spa in Addison or even the Ritz-Carlton). But, don’t worry, DFW is not only Dallas, so we’d also take a trip to the Stockyards and Mule Alley, downtown Ft. Worth and have a stroll down Magnolia Avenue, possibly a cocktail at Proper and ending at Ellerbe Fine Dining. I don’t want to forget Grapevine though too, as truly enjoy all the shops in this historic town. We may take a stop at Piaf Kitchen for cocktails on their rooftop with live music while there. Super fun and cute. Plus, there’s a murder mystery dinner at Texas Star and the new Chicken N Pickle location. I don’t think we’d get it all in, but we’d certainly be up to that challenge too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

There are a number of individuals who have helped me along my journey, many of whom I’ve worked with or for in the past. Most recently, however, I’d have to say the so many genuine and inspiring people at my former company. We all grew together, learned a lot, endured our own set of challenges and made great memories together along the way. The team there all made a huge difference in my life, and I wouldn’t have done as much without knowing and working with them.

As far as organizations, I’d have to say the International Factoring Association. It’s one of the groups where early on I met so many individuals in the factoring community. Many of those individuals shared their knowledge, experiences, connections and most importantly, their time. This community was where I learned so much about our industry initially, providing knowledge that could be built on – from the courses offered, to the people involved, to the opportunities provided over time.

Website: www.haversinefunding.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/haversine-funding/