When Adem Lacin (Anson, 2007) arrived at the Royal Hospital School as a boarder in Anson House, he might not have imagined that the house's name would one day inspire his own business venture. Now the founder of Anson Capital, Adem is drawing on his experience as a business owner, property developer and entrepreneur to help clients navigate the world of finance. We caught up with him to find out more!
What inspired you to launch Anson Capital, and what gap in the market are you hoping to fill?
I have always been happiest when working for myself and deciding on my own destiny. I’ve spent years on the other side of the table, as a property developer and business owner trying to raise finance, and I knew how confusing and slow that process could be. Having sold my previous business in hospitality, I wanted to put my knowledge to good use and help others navigate the same issues I faced. The challenge of starting a completely new type of business, a regulated professional service business, is just the spark I need to get me going after 12 years in the hospitality industry.
How would you describe Anson Capital to someone hearing about it for the first time?
We help property investors, developers and business owners across the UK secure the right finance, whether that's a bridging loan, funding for a development or a commercial mortgage. In plain terms, we understand the project, do the legwork and get you the right deal so you don't have to. We have relationships across the entire market, allowing us to find the right funding and structure to make the deal work.
What has been the most exciting part of building the company so far?
The feeling of 'hustling' and being out of my comfort zone again. When I first started Love Thy Burger, my hospitality business, I had no idea what I was doing and that was quite exciting (and scary!). Back then, it was all about burgers! Now, my product is my expertise and experience, so the pressure of that is exciting and very different.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced since launching the company?
Building trust from a standing start. Finance is all about credibility, so the early days are about proving yourself, one client at a time. Being an FCA-regulated entity brings added pressure, and the stakes are high when people's finances are involved.
What is one thing you wish more people understood about starting and growing a business?
It is often slower and less glamorous than it looks. Most of it is just showing up every day solving small (and sometimes large!) problems.
Are there any teachers, experiences or opportunities at school that influenced your path?
The variety of experiences at RHS really shaped who I am today. Turning up to Anson house as an 11-year-old, within such a grand institution, I remember wondering how I'd ever find my way. But RHS taught me that no matter your background or skill set, tenacity, bravery and strong relationships win the day.
What advice would you give to current pupils who are interested in business, finance or entrepreneurship?
One ethos that's stuck with me since A-level Business Studies is kaizen, a Japanese philosophy, based on the idea of continuous improvement. If you focus on getting a little better every day, you give yourself a great chance of succeeding at whatever you're trying to achieve. But studying is only part of the job. I've seen a lot of people hide behind books and courses as a way of putting off actually starting their 'thing', but there's no substitute for doing it. Expect to fail sometimes. You'll learn far more from those failures than from trying to make your chance of failure zero. So, I suppose my advice is simple: start before you feel ready.
Website: https://ansoncapital.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anson-capital/