Travis Meyer is a serial entrepreneur, finance executive, and innovative pioneer passionate about uplifting and empowering African entrepreneurs and businesses. He founded Thynk Capital Holdings, a boutique investment holding company born out of his passion for investing in the future and success of African SMEs. Here, he serves as the CEO, responsible for business growth, capital raising, financial modeling, and ROI for stakeholders and clients’ success.

During his entrepreneurial journey within the last decade, Meyer has founded and sold two successful businesses. In 2020, he launched Thynk Capital, specializing in asset finance, short-term unsecured loans, trade finance, asset rental finance, and venture capital with a keen focus on private equity deals and inventory finance.

Before this, he was a shareholder and member of the Executive team at Fundrr, South Africa’s first business lender that provides tailor-made repayment structures. He is also a member of Forbes Business Council, an invitation-only organization for successful business owners. Members of this elite business community are respected leaders and executives selected for the council based on the depth and diversity of experience in leadership, management, customer engagement, technology, and growth.

Below are highlights of the interview conducted between Success Pitchers and Travis Meyer:

Could you tell us a little more about you, your background, and what motivates you?
I’m a young professional from Cape Town, South Africa, passionate about entrepreneurship and using finance and investment strategies to accelerate business growth and economic advancement. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Financial Management, and, in the last decade, I have founded several businesses – some have failed, and I’ve had two successful exits. I am currently the Founder and CEO of Thynk Capital Holdings.

Today, I’m so grateful that I get to build a business I’m passionate about and work with our incredible clients and partners every day. I love what I do and wouldn’t have it any other way. But it hasn’t been the smoothest path to get to this point. At age 6, I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Although I now see it as a strength – as it forced me to be dynamic and creative when it comes to problem-solving, which is critical to the success of Thynk Capital and our clients – at the time, it was a considerable learning disability.

But I was determined not to let this hinder me and my growth. I learned from a young age that I sometimes had to work harder than my peers to get the same grades. My dad was in a near-fatal, life-changing motor accident when I was nine. My family and I were shattered as our lives changed overnight. Although the trauma led to our family becoming closer over time, the experience led me to understand the importance of planning and preparing for the future’s uncertainty. A big part of that which can be controlled to a certain extent is the financial stability and wellbeing throughout personal and family life. No matter what the future has in store, I want to ensure my loved ones will be financially secure. As a university student, I developed a keen interest in financial studies and management.

After starting a couple of businesses as a young professional, I realized that an entrepreneur’s success largely depends on their ability to manage their essential finances – cash flow is king. I became motivated to help and empower other entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. We do this by providing them with the resources and expertise they need to succeed. My motivation stems from my background, entrepreneurial journey, and desire to help others.

Can you tell us more about your path to learning about finance and the investment industry?
I have started several businesses – some have failed, and some have been successful. Every time I have learned and grown personally and professionally, I’ve learned much more from the failures than the successes. I refer to my losses as the real-life MBA. After leaving high school, I thought I knew everything, as one does at 18. I was driven to start working and to be financially independent – I worked a couple of odd jobs, was a teller at a PostNet for a while, started my own sales agency, and had a cellphone repair and distribution business, too. I knew I had an entrepreneurial spirit but realized that if I wanted to succeed at building my own business one day, I’d have to have a strong sense of understanding the numbers. And not just in a practical, on-the-job manner, but through formal education.

Entrepreneurs are generally creative thinkers, problem solvers, and visionaries. But most entrepreneurs’ most significant downfall is that they don’t have a grasp on the numbers. Finance is essentially the backbone of any company. I realized I would have to take one step back and learn the basics to take ten forward. I set out to get a BCom Degree and major in Financial Management. This degree laid the foundation for me. I was able to build on this education in the real world and make informed business decisions for myself and my clients. It opened me up to conversations, mentors, and opportunities. Two of my biggest mentors, who have had the most significant impact on me and my career, are now two of my business partners.

How does Thynk Capital help to accelerate the growth of businesses?
Thynk Capital Holdings is a boutique investment holdings company at the forefront of the debt and equity capital markets. Our mission is to accelerate the growth of the businesses we invest in while creating long-term value for our investors. We accelerate businesses’ growth by providing the resources – such as time, effort, energy, experience, expertise, and finances – they need to succeed.

Which industry do most of your clients come from?
We are industry agnostic – we don’t have an industry particular to us. We have clients across the manufacturing, retail, finance, SaaS, eCommerce, and real estate industries. Essentially, if a business has high growth prospects and is operated by good people with integrity, it has our attention. One of my business partners always says, “People, Opportunity, Success.” We look to do business with people – entrepreneurs that have integrity, honesty, drive, passion, and the desire to do something big. This leads to the opportunity to which we know we can add value by investing our time, energy, money, and expertise. By investing in options like this, we can go beyond returns, and all parties involved will achieve success. Thynk Capital Holdings exists to empower entrepreneurs, fuel the growth of hundreds of businesses, and ultimately, be a positive driving force for the global economy.

What sets Thynk Capital apart?
Our team. The team at Thynk Capital Holdings has decades of business experience, and industry expertise, allowing us to make informed decisions about securing reliable return on investment for our investors. As the CEO at Thynk, I have first-hand entrepreneurial experience – having launched successful businesses within the telecommunication and retail industries – so I understand the challenges businesses face regarding cash flow and funding.

Our Non-Executive Directors include investment professionals with decades of experience in debt structure, mezzanine debt deals, private equity transactions, BEE deals, investment banking, asset finance, credit analysis, business development, and business strategy. What sets us apart is that we know what it feels like to sit on the other side of the table – as the business owner – so we can make strategic decisions that are in the best interests of the business in question.

What inspires you?
One of my biggest inspirations is enabling entrepreneurs to reach their full potential, achieve fast-tracked business growth, and run successful businesses. As we all know from living through the pandemic, anything in the world can happen anytime.

Another inspiration to me is working hard to ensure that my family and I are financially stable to withstand anything life throws at us. But I also find inspiration in the little, everyday things, like a line outside an NYC bagel store on a Saturday morning – symbolic of thriving businesses all around us. And a 14-year-old smashing an audition on The Voice – if they can reach their dream, we can reach ours. There is inspiration everywhere.

What is your favorite book or podcast?
I listen to one audiobook per week – being dyslexic, Audible changed my life – and I have many favorites. Some stand-outs for me are:

• Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail – Ray Dalio
• The Snowball – Alice Schroeder
• What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence – Stephen A. Schwarzman
• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari

What advice would you give to the next generation of finance leaders?

• No man is an island
  No one gets successful on their own – there is no such thing as self-made. So surround yourself with inspiring people to level up. I like to use the 25% Rule. Spend 25% of your time with people who know more than you and whom you can learn from, be inspired by, and grow with. Ask them lots of questions, be a sponge and never stop learning. Spend 25% of your time with people on the same level as yourself. Spend 25% of your time with people who can grow from spending time with you. Simon Sinek says that the best leaders build their knowledge by teaching others. No matter what stage of your career, you can always give back to others by sharing what you’ve learned from those who inspire you. And the remaining 25%, spend on your own: learning, growing, reading (or listening to audiobooks), and developing your mind.
• Integrity over everything
  Make sure you lead with integrity and look for integrity in others – this is who you should surround yourself with and who you should do business with. Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching, how you treat people no matter their title, and when all is said and done, is what people will remember of you. Integrity is your legacy.

Website: www.thynkcapitalholdings.com