Bigger, broader Broker Fair returns to NYC

Finance professionals from all sectors of alternative lending will convene Mon., May 6, 2019, at New York City's Roosevelt Hotel for the second annual Broker Fair. Broker Fair 2019 expects about 600 guests and will provide larger meeting spaces, a fleet of kiosks to expedite check-ins and an eclectic mix of networking and presentations. Event organizers are urging attendees to register early: Sunday evening's pre-show party has already sold out.

Conference host Sean Murray, chief editor and publisher of deBanked magazine, pointed out that Broker Fair 2018 filled a void with the first-ever merchant cash advance conference. A year later, the show continues to cater to individual sales agents and brokers while broadening its scope.

"Broker Fair has grown from an MCA broker conference into an immersive, all-inclusive event," Murray said. "We want to recognize the many people who benefit small and midsize business owners with factoring, leasing, unsecured business loans, SBAs, MCAs and more."

Expanding footprint

While numerous alternative lenders are headquartered in New York City, home of the inaugural fair, Murray now hosts events in other cities to reach as many people as possible. Last year's deBanked Connect in San Diego and Miami proved highly popular, Murray stated. Plans are underway to serve the Canadian market with a July 2019 event in Toronto.

"If we're going to reach salespeople, we need to be close to where they are," Murray said. "We can't expect them to leave the office for three or four days. And the industry is so heavily concentrated in the New York metro, South Florida and Southern California areas that people who travel will be able to meet clients, partners and other people they need to see."

Darren Schulman, president at 6th Avenue Capital, attended Broker Fair 2018 and deBanked Connect Miami and had a productive time at both events. "These events are tapping into a previously underserved market," he said. "They attract the best players in our industry."

Diversified agenda

Murray said the conference agenda is curated for a diverse audience of brokers, lenders, funders and service providers. Keynote speaker Kindra Hall will present in the Grand Ballrom the irresistible power of strategic storytelling. "We chose Kindra because we still want to put a focus on the sales aspect of the industry and storytelling is a big part of selling," Murray noted.

The one-day event will feature panel discussions, product demos, regulatory updates, educational sessions and numerous networking opportunities. Additional highlights include:

• The Great Debate: Moderated by Andrew Reiser, chairman and CEO at Kapitus, panelists include Mark Ruddock, chairman, BFS Capital; Jeremy Brown, chairman, Rapid Finance; and David Gilbert, National Funding founder and CEO.

  "As the fintech industry continues to grow and evolve, companies are constantly facing pressures to improve," Gilbert said. "We are proud to support Broker Fair, as it is committed to the companies who are helping small businesses have access to the necessary credit to grow their businesses."

• Operating with Integrity ‒ Why Ethics Matter: Panelists Justin Bakes, CEO, Forward Financing and Christine Chang, CEO at 6th Avenue Capital, discuss fair, honest and principled approaches to alternative lending.

  "We are thrilled to see ethics on Broker Fair's agenda," Schulman said. "Both Christine and I have been compliance officers in our careers. Integrity and transparency are core values and an important part of our company's DNA."

According to Schulman, Broker Fair's real value is bringing everyone together under one roof. "Funders, brokers and lenders get to see each other face-to-face," he said. "Everyone is there to do business."

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