Having settled in the United States five years ago, Shaun, President of FAVO Capital Inc., embodies the spirit of global innovation and entrepreneurship. With a career spanning over 20 years across various sectors, including investment management, insurance, information technology, and real estate, he has successfully transformed each opportunity into success.

Under his leadership, FAVO Capital has not only thrived in the United States but has also expanded its reach into Africa and Mauritius. A key element of this growth has been his strategic partnership with Stewards Investment Capital, which has facilitated major institutional investments and played a crucial role in their expansion. This interview reveals how Shaun Quin aims to position Mauritius as a key international financial center for Africa while exploring new growth and collaboration opportunities in the private credit sector. His bold vision and innovative strategies continue to propel FAVO Capital to new heights, opening doors for emerging businesses worldwide.

Mr. Shaun Quin, please introduce yourself to the Mauritian public.

I am a South African national who settled in the United States five years ago. Currently, I am the President of FAVO Capital Inc., a publicly traded company that provides direct funding to businesses across the United States. In this role, I lead a team of professionals dedicated to delivering innovative and tailored solutions to our clients and we have offices in New York and Florida in the United States and offices in the Dominican Republic. I have over 20 years of business experience and entrepreneurial insight, having worked across various industries, launching and growing successful ventures in sectors including investment management, insurance, wealth management, finance, Information technology, retail and real estate. As a director, partner, investor, and advisor in multiple companies, I always have a key focus on leveraging cutting-edge technologies and strategies to create value and impact. I believe that connecting the dots in our fast-paced world is essential for the success of any new business. My vision is to empower entrepreneurs and businesses by providing the capital and resources they need to thrive. Many people ask why I moved to the US. For me, life is about seizing the right opportunities at the right time, whether for family or career. Five years ago, I had the chance to invest in FAVO, which marked a significant turning point in my career. Moving to the USA has been a decision we do not regret both from a personal and business perspective. The opportunities we’ve encountered have been substantial, and we continue to see significant growth potential ahead.

Why Mauritius?

My first time in Mauritius was our honeymoon back in 2008 and we have been back numerous times since. The diverse culture and beauty are what brings us back. Now I am fortunate enough to be in the finance sector with offices on the island. Being South African, I am well-acquainted with the Mauritius International Financial Centre and its benefits as an invest-ment destination. My visit here is primarily to explore new business ventures in collaboration with our business partner, Stewards Investment Capital. We firmly believe that Mauritius plays a pivotal role in acting as the gateway for Africa to the world.

What is the growth of the private credit market and its potential in the years to come?

The Private Credit Market in the United States has seen exponential growth over the last 3 and a half years and based on recent data we foresee this continuing at a rate of 30% growth, year on year. This is based on a number of factors unique to the US market. According to a recent Morgan Stanley report, the private credit market has experienced substantial growth and is projected to reach $2.8 trillion by 2028. Demand for private credit—lending to companies by non-bank institutions— has surged due to its flexibility in terms of size, type, and timing of transactions. Unlike traditional bank loans, private credit primarily consists of floating-rate investments, which adjust as interest rates change, offering real-time rate mitigation. Furthermore, in the face of recession fears and tighter bank lending, private credit provides borrowers with pricing certainty and speed, further driving market growth. The market grew from approximately $1 trillion in 2020 to $1.5 trillion at the start of 2024 and is on track to reach $2.8 trillion by 2028.

Describe what FAVO Capital does and how this expertise can be applied to Africa and Mauritius?

FAVO Capital, Inc. (FAVO: OTC Markets) is a rapidly growing alternative finance company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The Company offers personalized alternative finance solutions to emerging, small, and medium-sized businesses. FAVO Capital specializes in various private credit market products and services, with a core focus on “Mer- chant Cash Advance.” This involves purchasing a company’s future receivables at a discount, similar to invoice discounting or credit card processing-based funding. While this product is already present in Africa, it is still in its early stages. The unique aspect of the US market is the accessibility of public information, which facilitates business capital access. Although Africa has some way to go to reach this level, the continent is highly advanced in banking and credit card processing. As such, our product has significant potential to thrive in the current African and Mauritian markets.

Lending to SMEs is often perceived as risky. How does FAVO Capital manage this risk?

Based on my response to the previous question - The reason this product works so well in the US, is the access to public information. We have advanced fintech platforms that allow us to do a deep dive during our underwriting process to ensure that maximum risk mitigation is implemented to very business funding application. It is not always about the ability to pay, but the willingness to pay is a key factor. Moreover, we employ a robust risk management strategy that keeps our default rate well below industry standards. Our repayment schedules, which can be as frequent as daily based on the business’s cash flow, enable us to detect potential issues early. This early detection allows us to proactively renegotiate or restructure terms if necessary, maintaining a healthy and sustainable lending environment for both our clients and FAVO Capital.

How do you leverage innovation in your processes?

Adopting an innovative mindset is fundamental in our business. Our team includes industry-leading experts, and we utilize advanced technological resources, such as access to government databases, fintech banking software that provides real-time access to business banking accounts, and an online community data- base of top funders’ data. This approach adds layers of transparency, minimizes risk, and maximizes profitability. For small business lending, where access to audited financials is often limited, our AI platforms provide real-time insights into cash flows, allowing us to assess their servicing capability within as little as two hours and can take up to 24 hours. This rapid turnaround not only speeds up decision-making but also enhances accuracy, benefiting both borrowers and investors. Our new technology and automation mechanisms also facilitate daily repayments, helping SMEs manage their cash flows and business activities efficiently. This frequent repayment schedule pro- vides us with real behavioral insights into their business operations, enabling us to better serve their future needs. Last but not least, in January 2024, Favo Capital acquired Lendtech CRM Solutions, a Fin- tech company specializing in CRM and Deal Management software for Alternate Lending Originations and Servicing. This acquisition brings in-house expertise for free tech development, allowing us to develop proprietary software. This acquisition represents a significant step forward in Favo Capital’s technological evolution. The innovative software aligns with our commitment to Fintech innovation, streamlining lending processes, and delivering unique solutions to current and future clients.

Who are your partners in Mauritius and Africa, and what is the role of Stewards Investment Capital?

We have been fortunate enough to partner with Stewards Investment Capital, and to be part of an award-winning investment solution called APEX as well as both being awarded the structured deal of the year award. Our partnership has gone from strength to strength, and we have opened the investment access for Africa and into the United States Private Credit market, to provide industry leading solutions to our investors. Glen Steward, Bilal Adam and his team have been instrumental in this rapid growth that FAVO has experienced we recently appointed Glen as Chief Strategy Officer to the Board of FAVO Capital to lean on his expertise and team to continue to provide guidance, leadership and corporate governance. Bilal is also a key member of FAVO’s advisory board, where his insights have been fundamental to our strategic expansion. Their guidance and insights have helped us secure major institutional investments from Africa, primarily from pension funds.

Given your familiarity with both Mauritius and South Africa, what opportunities do you see in these countries? What can be learned from the USA, and vice versa?

Straight off, I believe that South Africa and Mauritius have built a robust and resilient banking system and an easy to use, user interface that makes banking on the go simple. The United States as a global leader in financial sector could benefit from the innovations of their African counterparts. At times, the U.S. banking system can seem antiquated and slow to adapt to new technologies. One significant opportunity I see is the deployment of the Apex engine in Mauritius to provide SMEs with quick access to capi-tal. The current system and environment in Mauritius are well-suited for such an implementation. This could streamline the process for small businesses to secure funding, promoting growth and development in the SME sector.

FAVO Capital recently won a global award for a restructuring deal. What was the strategic role of Stewards Investment Capital and other partners in this achievement?

Winning this award and standing alongside world leaders in the financial sector on stage, was truly a testament to the focus and dedication of both our teams at Stewards Investment Capital and FAVO Capital. Together, we delivered something meaningful and authentic for our shareholders, investors, and partners. When I shared FAVO’s vision and strategy with Glen Steward, the founder and Chairman of Stewards Investment Capital, we quickly realized our goals were closely aligned. Our collaboration soon evolved into a deep partnership, with Stewards Investment Capital becoming an integral part of FAVO’s fabric. They provided the capital necessary to drive our roll-up strategy, becoming the second-largest shareholder. The innovative award-winning investment solution they designed around our business has significantly elevated FAVO Capital, establishing us as a formidable force within the U.S. private credit sector.

What are the future growth plans for FAVO Capital?

As outlined in recent press, FAVO Capital remains committed to focusing on our core business. We have engaged EF Hutton as our investment banking firm to assist with a bridging equity capital raise. This initiative is part of our strategic plan to uplist to the Nasdaq, a goal and vision we have long held for the company. We are now excited to see this vision becoming a reality.

Is there anything else you want to say about your trip to Mauritius?

I have had the chance to meet a number of business leaders during this short trip, and I must say that the country is fortunate to have a pool of talented individuals who are determined to elevate Mauritius further on the global stage. From discussions with these leaders, it’s evident that numerous exciting opportunities are on the horizon. Together with Stewards Investment Capital, we are enthusiastic about witnessing how these opportunities will unfold. This trip marks the first of many future visits to the island, as we believe Mauritius holds immense potential mainly as a gateway for investments into Africa. We look forward to sharing insights and promoting collaborations that will benefit both Mauritius and our initiatives.