'I Launched Uplinq in the Hope of Seeing More SMBs Financially Viable': Ron Benegbi

HackerNoon Reporter: Please tell us briefly about your background.

For the past 25 years, I’ve worked as a senior technology executive, helping to successfully build and scale Enterprise B2B and SaaS organisations globally. I’m a serial entrepreneur, with my latest (and last) startup being my fifth to date.

Over my career, I’ve developed expertise in business development, sales, and marketing. I’ve personally driven hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from some of the largest Enterprise B2B brands in the world for the companies I have served.

However, as an immigrant to Canada in the 1970’s, I watched first-hand as my family worked hard to make a living through small business ownership. In many ways, it was this experience that inspired me to start Uplinq in early 2021.

What's your startup called? And in a sentence or two, what does it do?

Uplinq Financial Technologies is building the most advanced analytics platform globally for small business lenders. Additionally, our insights engine will be the only AI platform in-market today that helps our financial institution and fintech customers better support the underserved, unbanked, minority & immigrant small business owner.

I feel fortunate and grateful to be able to work on something that has a real purpose for me, while also solving a very important business problem.

What is the origin story?

I was a co-founder of and quickly realized that traditional data sources like accounting, banking & credit scores do not provide sufficient and accurate insights into the financial performance & creditworthiness of the post-Covid small business.

The pandemic was tough for everyone, but many SMB owners felt its effects particularly hard. During this period, countless SMBs were denied financial help and support at a crucial time.

It dawned on me that more needed to be done to help the small business owner and the way to do this is to provide lenders with scientifically validated and accurate data on small business financial viability that the market simply does not offer today.

What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem?

Uplinq is a startup with real values, and our team reflects this. Our past experiences have put us in a position to understand the current plight of SMBs and enable us to build out solutions that can really make a difference. Likewise, these principles fuel our commitment to increasing awareness around the need to provide SMBs with effective financial support.

As a founder, I’ve worked diligently to develop a real sense of mutual respect amongst my team, as I believe this is the most vital asset you can have in a company. Together with my co-founders, we’re building a company that values empathy for others and works with a high degree of EQ and integrity, which is why I think we’re so well-placed to tackle the difficult challenges that SMBs face.

If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing?

Without question, I’d be providing pro-bono advisory and mentorship work for tech startups globally. I have a real passion for helping others and wanting them to succeed and I derive a lot of personal pleasure by doing so. I am currently advising and mentoring startups through MaRS Discovery District and Founders Institute.

At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your core metrics?

Our core mission is simple… help our customers get more money into the hands of small businesses. I launched Uplinq in the hope of seeing more SMBs become financially viable. As such, our measure for success is based on this goal.

The global economy is built around SMBs, so it’s important they get all the assistance they need. We already see that amongst our customer base, which really encourages me as a founder.

What’s most exciting about your traction to date?

I started Uplinq in the midst of the pandemic and from an idea in a ppt slide deck, which brought with it a number of unique challenges. I’m so grateful to our team, advisors, investors, and customers for believing in us through this turbulent period and helping bring Uplinq to market.

What technologies are you currently most excited about, and most worried about? And why?

Between embedded finance, open banking, and digitization technologies, the future looks bright for SMBs, which really excites me. I see all of these as opportunities not just for new fintechs like Uplinq but also for traditional legacy financial institutions, who can now embrace the challenge of better digitization, communication, and engagement with their small business customers.

Technology is fast-moving and evolving almost daily at times, which leads to great advancements but takes the human element out of customer engagement. As we continue to develop and progress with new innovations, it becomes easier and easier to start to ‘forget’ that no amount of tech can ever replace the need for personalized human interaction.

What drew you to get published on HackerNoon? What do you like most about our platform?

Few publications provide the creative freedom and sense of community offered by HackerNoon. Personally, I see the website as a library of informed insights and opinions from talented people across the industry. The best way to learn is by listening to others, so to be involved in a platform like this, with like-minded individuals, has really helped to broaden my insights into the industry.

What advice would you give to the 21-year-old version of yourself?

I think the most important message I could impart would be that life loves to throw you challenges, but through it all, it’s essential to maintain your integrity and dignity, as well as respect for others. I’d also tell my younger self to never stop believing in the spirit of people, as it will always lead you to success.

What is something surprising you've learned this year that your contemporaries would benefit from knowing?

I think we’ve all learned a lot this year, but my big takeaway is the importance of adaptability. Having the ability to nimbly respond to challenges is priceless in this current business environment and can really make the difference in allowing your company to thrive. I’ve seen so many amazing success stories over the past 12-months, including our own, and they all share one thing in common; an ability to adapt.