‘I love the fast-paced entrepreneurial aspect of the market’

In our latest Five Minute Interview, Tony Sanchez speaks to Michael Common, CEO and co-founder of Nivo.

At Nivo they connect customers and financial servicers with ease.

Nivo’s Verified Identity Messaging replaces clunky, inconvenient and unsecure legacy communication channels like email, phone and paper/post.

Nivo make their clients much more efficient and secure, allowing them to grow in confidence without having to scale headcount and delivering experiences their customers love.

What is the best thing about being in the bridging finance business? 

I love the fast-paced entrepreneurial aspect of the market. People just want to do business, make deals happen and get property development happening.

It fits perfectly with our ethos of stripping out waste from processes and getting deals done fast.

What keeps you focused?

I’m focused on anything innovative.

I’m fascinated in anything that involves making something better by doing it differently to how it has been done before.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

I’m a do-er and I like being part of teams that make things happen.

I love working with people who take accountability for things and are constantly pushing themselves to do new things bigger and better than ever before. The creators in the world.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I think all entrepreneurs are natural optimists.

You have to be I think as all the risk and uncertainty would grind pessimists to a halt!

What did you want to be as a child?

Footballer, fighter jet pilot and an entrepreneur – I was not remotely close on the first two so I’m putting my all into trying to succeed at the latter.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging finance industry in the coming months?

Clearly, access to funding is going to present challenges for many in the industry.

Given the importance of speed to the sector, the challenge most relevant to us is how quickly the industry can embrace technology to deliver that.

Who or what makes you laugh?

I’ve been listening to Alan Partridge audiobooks recently which I have to admit are pretty funny.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

Not at all. I think it is sad if the thought of a week at work makes you feel dread.

I sometimes definitely need a holiday though to recharge after a full on few months of work.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My unhuman love of Monday mornings.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

The person that most fascinates me is Steve Jobs so it would certainly be an intriguing dinner.

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