Issue 1 2021

8 CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 1 2021 , Oct20332 Outstanding CEO Building Relationships and Funding Businesses Eight years ago, Anthony De Almeida sensed an opportunity to do something different; something that would truly help people with their business finance needs. After two decades of working in real estate, be it acquisitions, finance, or investments, Mr. De Almeida broke away from his life as a mortgage broker that served most of Canada in favour of starting his own firm, Formiga Capital. Fast forward those eight years, and Canada is home to one of the most exceptional firms for assisting companies and commercial clients globally, with funding partners that are able to finance businesses in almost any country. No border restraints, just good business. Today, that firm has rebranded to become The UnBankers. But what exactly does it do, and why is Mr. De Almeida such an inspiring leader within the industry? What makes The UnBankers unique is that it favours building relationships over transactional value. Keen to be seen as a team that are not “brokers”, The UnBankers is all about supporting businesses, by preparing them to make sure they can both secure the capital they require, and then be primed Financing a business is no easy task. There are amultitude of things to consider, including payroll, management of teams, securing new contracts and projects, and a whole host of other considerations. It is hard and can be made harder when seeking financing froma capital source or bank that does not understand the stresses of day-to-day operations. Enter, The UnBankers, headed by inspirational CEOAnthony De Almeida. We recently had the privilege of speaking withMr. De Almeida about his work, and why he is so deserving of the title of Business Turnaround Advisory CEO of the Year (Canada): Anthony De Almeida. to implement it where it can do the most good. It is about the transactional value, of course, but it is also about ensuring that a business is equipped to survive and thrive both before and after they receive funding. The UnBankers is called so because, although the team may be bankers, every member has also bought, sold, started and operated their own business at some point. Many brokers are simply transactional, having never run their own business or even worked with staff. Every person on the team at The UnBankers has this experience and understands what it’s like to run a business with all its various stresses and pitfalls. They are a truly unique firm that helps select organisations seeking funding between one million and a hundred million dollars. At the helm of the business is CEO Anthony De Almeida, a man who truly understands what it means to support and solve business concerns. Prior to founding Formiga Capital and then The UnBankers, Mr. De Almeida worked as a corporate consultant that would help provide unique solutions to businesses and their teams. He would consult to small organisations that would look to restructure or reorganise. Rolling up his sleeves and working amongst the weeds with his clients, Mr. De Almeida formed relationships of trust with them, identifying what they needed before they needed it. As he always tells his team, “Noah built the ark before it rained.”. There is no sense in seeking funding in six to nine months’ time if the business is not diligently preparing for it now. Mr. De Almeida is a very vocal leader and remains in constant communication with his teams and his clients. Staff at The UnBankers know that they can approach him any time, about anything and he will be calm, collected, and composed while working to find a solution. An approachable and level-headed individual, Mr. De Almeida is a consummate and outstanding professional. He is constantly working on his firms’ development, and is always encouraging his team to anticipate what is on the horizon of an ever evolving business landscape. Even looking ahead, Mr. De Almeida may have lofty aspirations, but they are achievable based on what The UnBankers has already accomplished. People are disheartened by traditional bankers that do not understand their situation or have restricted lending criteria. Instead, Mr. De Almeida wants The UnBankers to become a global brand, where every business can access the solutions they provide. Ultimately, it is Mr. De Almeida’s passion for solving complex problems that drives this innovative and superb business forward. His desire feeds the team, and the team works with clients all over the world to help get them ready for financing when they need it. Trust and relationships are the key to survival, and this outstanding business leader has created a firm based on just that, with the adage – being “Unapologetically Different”. Company: Formiga Capital / The UnBankers Contact: Anthony De Almeida Website: www.theunbankers.com