Jeffrey Liu is Co-Founder of Jenfi, a fintech company that helps digital native businesses in Asia accelerate their sales velocity through revenue-based financing.

With a solid operational and financial background, he previously co-founded and served as the CEO of GuavaPass and headed corporate development at BeachMint, where he spearheaded its merger with Lucky Magazine.

Before that, he worked in finance as an investment associate at a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund in Chicago and as an investment banking analyst at Lehman Brothers.

Liu holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Industrial Engineering and Economics from Northwestern University.

He regularly contributes articles for e27 (you can read his thought leadership articles here).

In this candid interview, Liu talks about his personal and professional life.

How would you explain what you do to a five-year-old?

We help online businesses save and grow money as a piggy bank does for you. Sometimes, a company needs more money to do new things, like buying more toys or hiring more people to help them make toys.

That’s where we come in. At Jenfi, we give them the money they need to do these things, and they can pay us back later when they have more money.

What has been the biggest highlight/challenge of your career so far?

I have had the opportunity to create two very distinct businesses from scratch.

The first was GuavaPass, which helped people find and enjoy fitness classes. We scaled the business across 12 markets and eventually sold the company to another fitness company called ClassPass.

Now, I’m working on a new business. Jenfi helps digital companies grow by giving them money to help their business grow faster. Our type of service is called revenue-based financing, and we are one of the first companies in Southeast Asia to offer this.

Also Read: We can always earn money, but we can never bring back our youth: Justin Chin of e27

One of the most complex parts of my job at Jenfi is convincing others that our ideas are great. We need to convince new customers to work with us, investors to give us money, and job candidates to join our team. 

But the most important person I need to sell to is myself. I remind myself every day to work hard and do my best.

How do you envision the next five years at Jenfi?

I am excited for the journey that lies ahead in the next five years. While we have made significant progress in building Jenfi, there is still much potential to explore and uncover. 

With the right team in place, I am confident we can continue expanding into new markets and strengthening our presence in existing ones, like Singapore and Vietnam.

We aim to impact various companies, including e-commerce, SaaS, marketplace sellers, and consumer-tech startups. I am dedicated to nurturing our team’s talents and capabilities, which will be crucial to our success as we move forward.

What are some of your favourite work tools?

Slack has always been one of my favourites because of its versatility. With Slack, I can have serious discussions and casual chats with my team, share files seamlessly and even have quick video or voice calls when needed. It’s an all-in-one platform that makes collaborating and staying connected with my team effortless.

What’s something about you or your job that would surprise us?

What might surprise you is that I have lived in five different countries! I have spent time in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and the US.

Moving around so much has allowed me to see and experience different cultures and learn more about how people live their lives. It’s helped me become more open-minded and better understand how people see the world around us.

Do you prefer WFH or WFO, or hybrid?

I prefer a hybrid approach to work, meaning I get to spend some days in the office and other days working from home. 

There are benefits to both arrangements.

Working from home can be great because you have more flexibility and can spend more time with your family. But being in the office can help you collaborate with colleagues, get things done quickly, and feel like you are part of a team.

At the same time, I also believe it’s essential to have some non-work-related social events where everyone can get together and have fun. This can help boost morale and strengthen the relationships between team members, which is essential no matter how much time we spend in the office or at home.

What would you tell your younger self?

If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I would give two pieces of advice.

Also Read: The journey is as enjoyable as the destination: Adrian Chng of Fintonia Group

First, I would tell myself not to be too hard on myself. Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s essential to learn from them and keep moving forward. Being self-critical can be counterproductive and cause unnecessary stress.

Second, I would encourage myself to make work-life balance a priority. When you’re young and starting your career, it’s easy to get caught up in work and put everything else on hold. But it’s important to take care of yourself and make time for the things that matter most, like family, friends, and hobbies. It’s all about finding a healthy balance that allows you to pursue your goals while enjoying life outside of work.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Adaptable, curious, and proactive.

Adaptable because I can quickly adjust to new situations and challenges, and I’m always looking for ways to improve and learn from my experiences.

Curious because I love to ask questions, explore new ideas, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around me.

And finally, proactive because I take the initiative and strive to make things happen rather than waiting for opportunities to come to me.

What are you most likely to be doing if not working?

You will probably find me working out and trying to stay active.

My younger self constantly reminds me that I’m not as fit as I used to be! Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and stay focused. Whether I’m at the gym, going for a run, or playing sports, I always feel more energised and refreshed after a good workout. Plus, it helps me stay disciplined and focused in other areas of my life.

What are you currently reading/listening to/ watching?

I recently pre-ordered the book What’s Our Problem? by one of my favourite writers, known for creating thought-provoking content on Wait But Why.

He recently re-emerged after many years and released this book this month, which I’m excited to dive into. He has a unique talent for breaking down complex ideas into simple, bite-sized thought pieces, and I’m always amazed by the insights he offers.

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The post The most important person I need to sell to is myself: Jeffrey Liu of Jenfi appeared first on e27.