Episode 171 | Small Business Funding Without the Red Tape - Natasha Dillon

What do you do when your pizza oven breaks on a Friday morning—or you get the chance to open a second location, but the bank can’t move fast enough?

My guest Natasha Dillon, co-founder and CFO of FundFi Merchant Funding, helps entrepreneurs solve those exact problems. Her company provides fast, flexible financing for small and mid-sized businesses—often within 24 hours.

In this episode, Natasha shares:

• How alternative financing works (and why it’s different from a bank loan)
• Real examples of businesses she’s helped—from restaurants to niche manufacturers
• Her own journey as an entrepreneur, and what she’s learned along the way

If you’re curious about funding options—or just want to hear a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at business growth—you’ll love this conversation.

About Natasha:

Natasha Dillon is the co-founder and CFO of FundFi Merchant Funding, a company that provides fast, flexible financing to small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S. and Canada. With a finance career that began in 2007, Natasha oversees underwriting, accounting, and regulatory compliance, playing a pivotal role in the company’s growth and operations.

Reach Natasha:

LinkedIn

Website

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Transcript

My guest today is Natasha Dillon. Natasha is the co-founder and CFO of Fund PHI Merchant funding a company offering fast flexible financing for small businesses with a financial services career that began in 2007.

Natasha has played a pivotal role in driving the company's operational success and international growth. Natasha oversees key areas including underwriting, accounting, and regulatory compliance. Natasha, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having me. We were talking just a few minutes before, uh, we started.

Recording. And first of all, I'm really interested in learning more about your business model. I'm sure everyone who's listening, there might be some that know about it, but I'm not familiar. So why don't you explain that to us. Sure. So what we do is we offer financing for small, mid-size businesses all across the US and now in Canada.

So basically if you have a small mid-size business that is looking for. Funding for growth or for purchasing, anything of that nature. And you need it fairly quickly that we're a source for that versus a traditional bank. Okay. Uh, so first of all, I wanna ask, what, how would you define small and mid-size businesses?

Because I've heard different. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, definitely. That's a good question. And we're, we're talking about, we're not dealing with publicly traded businesses or any type of business that's already has some sort of credit line from a larger institution. Somebody business that would go to your regular local bank we're that type of size that we would be funding for.

And we fund anywhere between 20,000 to 250,000. Okay, so those are small, small loans for small businesses. Yeah. I think small business, the tech technical definition is something up to $50 million or something like that. And, and I don't, that's not what I think of when I think of small businesses. Right, right.

Yeah. Yeah. That's probably, they probably be outsized, you know, we would, we wouldn't be able to help them as much as another source would be able to. So it's a different kind of financing too, from what I understand. Can you go us through the process of, you know, give us an example. Of course. I, I've said the pizza parlor or whoever has a small business, and let's talk about who would need that and how would it work if they did.

Yeah, yeah. Pizza parlor's a good example. So if you have a pizza parlor and your, your oven goes out, for example, that, and you're not, you don't have the capital to. Buy a new oven, we would be a source for that. So they would come to us, they would provide us six months of bank statements, for example, and we would sort of generate a model for ourselves to determine what we think that company could handle as far as payments of payback.

And so we would then offer them financing for that oven or whatever reason they would need it for, and they would be able to. Handle the payments to pay us back. So it's all based off revenue. We don't look at tax returns. We don't, um, base it off of any, any sort of, it's, it wouldn't, we, what, who would not come to us is somebody who's looking to open a pizza parlor that had no past revenue.

So we sort of figure future revenue based off past revenue is sort of how we generate the, the, the lending that we do. Um, but a pizza parlor would also come to us if they're looking open to second location or. Payroll, you know, there'd be different reasons they would come to us and we're not requiring them to, to, to tell us what that reason is.

We do ask them, obviously, but they could come to us and we, we would provide them capital based off of what their revenue has handled. So is this something that a company has to set up ahead of time so that when they need you, they call, or is it something that when people find themselves in a bind, they hear about you and, and.

Show up on your front door? Yeah. Yeah. Both. I mean, so because of the, the speed that we're able to provide capital to them, they do tend to come to us at the, at that very moment, which is another reason they come to us over a traditional bank. Um, I don't know if you've ever tried to get financing from a traditional bank.

Oh yeah. But it, it's, it's, it's not a short process and there's. Several steps involved and you tend, you tend to need the tax returns there and that and that sort of thing where we are just basing it solely off the revenue. And we do our own background checks. We do all of that as well on our end. But as far as what documents are required, it's very minimal compared to going to a traditional bank and our timeframe, we can turn it around in 24 hours, sometimes even less if, if everybody's moving at at the pace that.

That they need to move to, to get the financing, but it's very, very minimal documentation that we require, um, because we're able to model our, our payments based off of their revenue and their bank statements. Okay. And, and so you do have some sort of variable payback plan, it sounds like, depending on what a business can afford.

Yeah, so it's a very, it's the, the payment back is there, I mean, there's a set pay, pay amount to be paid back, like a set final amount. But as far as how they pay us back, it's sort of a unique structure. Some not, it's not, we're not taking equity in the business, so there's no, you're not giving away equity, but it kind of pays back similar to how an equity holder would get paid back versus a traditional debt where you have a set payment amount.

So we base it off of their future. Payments. So we've, we've determined on the front end when we give them the funding, what we believe they are going to be generating revenue wise in the future. But if that changes for ev whatever reason, let's say a second oven goes down at a pizza place and, and they can't serve pizza on a Friday, Saturday night, obviously that's probably gonna be a big hit to their revenue.

So they would, we, we. S uh, check in with them if what their pa, what their revenue is going forward once we've given them the funding. And we would determine based off of what their revenue is now versus what it was when we funded them. And we would set the, the payments to based off of what their current revenue is.

So there's a distinction between you and Shark Tank because you're not a piece of the action, so that, right. Exactly. Yes. Yes. I'm guessing that there is a premium interest rate for something like this because you're bypassing so much of the hassle and getting your money right away. Do you have an interest rate tied to Prime or whatever?

How do you just decide your interest rate? Yeah, so that's another differentiation between us and a bank. We, we don't charge an interest rate. We charge a set fee, so we determine a fee for whatever amount that they're borrowing, and then that's their total payback at the end of the term. Oh, okay.

Interesting. So then that becomes part of their payment plan and when it's done, it's done. Correct. Yeah. Okay. Interesting. Uh, and we talked a little bit about the fact that you have, I don't know if you call them agents, but you, there are opportunities to earn commission through your company if you bring prospects to Natasha.

I don't know how that, how does that work? Yeah, so we, uh, base all of our, all of our clients come to us through a partner. So we work with brokers all across the country and, and across Canada that bring us our clients. So that, that's basically we're, we're business to business and in the sense of we work solely with the brokers.

Um, they, they're the ones who have. The initial relationship with the clients, and then obviously we then do, um, so we do pay our brokers a commission for bringing us those clients. And that's, that's how we've always had our model ever since the beginning of fund fi and even the beginning of my time in, in this industry.

So are these brokers, are they already brokers or. Are they people that can just connect other businesses with you or, or how does that work? Yeah, I think I, I, you know, each broker probably has their story on how they got into, into the industry. Um, I know that some of them started. You know, they may, may be a CPA and they can, uh, recommend their clients to us or in that sort of way, but most of them have established broker business.

That's what they do full-time, is they make calls out to businesses that like a pizza parlor or, uh, any type of business. I mean, we have so many, it's such an interesting kind of deviating from your question, but. It's really interesting the amount of tech of businesses. Every day I am learning about a new business that someone is operating and, and running.

Um, but they will make those calls to every business out there and, and. Usually there's some sort of inquiry. A business may make an inquiry to the broker or some sort of system, and then the broker will reach out and find them the best match for their needs. So brokers work with us, but they also work with several other funding companies as well.

Some comp funding companies that do exactly what we do, others that do other types of financing. And the bro and the broker's job is to match the client with the correct type of funding. So, I don't know if you want to share any of these, but do you have any examples that pop into your mind of more unusual businesses?

You might, and I don't know if you wanna say or not. Yeah, I mean, un unusual. I don't know. I mean, we, we do see lots of restaurants. Restaurants is, is a big, uh, business for us. Um, well, Naomi, me on, on the spot what's consi? I would, uh, what? Yeah. And, and before I say that one time we worked with association.

Associations for years, and I had a directory and my husband made a joke, or we would joke, oh, there's a, there's an association for everything. There's even an association for, and we said something and they were offended. So many. So maybe you don't wanna say that. I don't know. Yeah, I think it's just, it just very, you know, we had, um, I think it was like a water just.

Yesterday we were working on like a water purifying business. You know, there, there's just, we just see so many different types and from all, you know, all over, all over the country. And it, there it's very, it's just a very interesting, uh, sort of, you get, you see a little bit behind the curtain, not. Not totally, obviously, but you get to see sort of how they, how they operate.

And, um, my underwriters have to be well versed in various different types of, of businesses and, and business structures in order to be able to really dig in and, and do their, their background searches on the businesses. Right. Well that is very interesting to learn and I do want people to know how to contact you before we get into the second part of this program to to contact you or get in touch if they're interested in learning more about them, your services for them, what would they do?

Yeah, I mean, we have a website, f fund fi. Merchant funding.com can definitely contact us through there. On LinkedIn, we're always sort of updating our different financing that we've done for different businesses, so they're also, you can see the different type of businesses that we work with and what kind of financing we're offering them, uh, almost on a daily basis there.

Yeah, that would be. Good to to check out. So I will put any links that we talk about, by the way, in the show notes, if you're listening and you feel like you missed something, you can, you can find that out. Now, of course this podcast is about women in business and I only talk to women, unfortunately, some, I've had to turn some people away.

But, um, as a woman in a male dominated industry, I'm always curious to hear what your take is on how, what's that been like? How are you perceived? Has that been an asset at times? Has it held you back? How have you dealt with that? Yeah, it's, it's interesting, you know, often people ask me that and, and at this point I honestly don't even notice it, it as much.

Um, and I think that is sort of what I would say probably helps the situation, you know, whatever the situation may be. But just sort of, I have come to a place after being in, in the working. World for for a while where I just don't acknowledge that there's a difference and just sort of continue to operate and feel like there's a place for everybody.

And why. My thoughts and feelings and and opinions have, uh, have come, come, don't come from me being a woman or come from being a man. And it just sort of, I would say that's sort of where, where I take it is that I just don't even pay attention to that. Obviously it's, it's hard not to, but, but it's certainly there.

Um, I was at an event recently and it was for, it was a CFO event, uh, conference, and. I, it took me probably about three hours of sitting there before even noticing that I was the only woman at the table. Um, so it just isn't something that I really pay much attention to, but I think it's something that's important and having women in positions and, uh, and.

But, and sharing opinions at tables where it is only men really is something that needs to happen and continue to grow and, and, and be even less noticeable in the future. Yeah, and I do think that's changing. You know, I started my career in 1987. Long before you were born, I'm sure. No, no, no. It was a long time ago and it was, it was really different.

And then the first. Company I ever worked for in sales, I was the first woman they'd ever hired. So it was an adjustment period for sure. And it has gotten so much better. It's not totally equal. And I have an example that comes to mind from one of my interviews. Uh, I am gonna try to remember her name and, and as I'm telling this story, but she goes to trade shows a lot for large recreational vehicles, RVs really super.

You know that million dollar RVs and. Megan Pritz, that's her name if you're looking up her episode. Megan, without an h, M-E-G-A-N, Pritz. And she said when she goes to trade shows, people that come up, buyers, usually men always go to the men. And even if they say, oh, well you need to talk to Megan about that.

They say, well, we wanna know something. Talk to someone who's really knowledgeable. Well that would be Megan. So it's, we're still not there. But yeah, it's definitely women like you and Megan. Me back in the day paving the way for that to happen. So pretty exciting. Yeah, absolutely. There, there, like you mentioned many, many women that, that did have it a lot harder over time and have paved the way for, for all of us and hopefully continue.

So I wanted to ask you some about, as I said, what about you has helped you become successful? How did you get into this? You're the co-founder, right? And you know, what has it taken, what can we draw from your experience to help us be better? Yeah, so I've always been in finance. Funny enough, I've like, I went to college for finance.

I went to grad school for finance. It's just been something that numbers and, and math has just been something I nerd out about and always have. Um, I had a very, just talk about trade shows. I had a, a small. Time frame where I was working at, actually a cosmetic company. And I would go to trade shows at for that.

And funny enough, also, people still would go to the men, even if it was about cosmetics. So RVs or, or, yeah. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. Yeah. Yeah. Um. But yeah, so I actually, shortly after that, that business, I was consulting and consulting for various different types of companies. So, you know, again, a lot of, uh, diversity in the type of businesses I was working with.

And most of it was, was for MA management operations type of consulting. But it always came down to those businesses. Were just in need of financing, um, as much as they needed lots of other things for them to be able to move to the next stage, they needed financing to, to grow. So I was on the hunt for looking for different financing sources for them and sort of came into this space and, and learned about this space and how.

It works. And, and it just was such a natural fit for me because of my experience and in finance and, um, I knew I didn't wanna go back to investment banking and all of that. So this was just a perfect fit. It gives me an opportunity to be able to be creative and work with various different types of businesses and still, you know.

Crunch the numbers, if you will. Um, but I started in this field about 11. This will be my 11th year, and I was with another company. It was, we were doing sort of like. It was a smaller fund and moved to another company and was working with, with that company, and my partner was at that company. And we just sort of aligned with our, our, what we wanted to do, what we wanted, how, what type of businesses we wanted to help.

And so he does all the sales. And much more. And I did, I did the underwriting and that's sort of how we started. And we, we launched fund five, five years ago. Um, and have grown, you know, from that point and, and continue to, he, he continues to do the sales and I continue to do a lot of the underwriting and again, um, other, other tasks.

But, um, that's sort of how I, I landed here where we are. Sounds like it works out very well. And one thing I like about what the model you're talking about is that you really do make a difference in people's lives. Small business owners especially. We also have a big fondness for people like us, small business owners, and.

When you're working with a huge giant corporation and all these complicated deals, I think it's harder to see the impact, but with you it's immediate impact. You could be getting through something that would be a deal breaker for their business and you, if you can get them through, help 'em survive. That must be a pretty cool feeling.

Yes. Yeah, it's, it's very rewarding. It's very rewarding. That's, that's great. So, so what is it about you, uh, Natasha, that, that has given you the, you know, the strength, the drive, whatever the tenacity to make this happen and stick with it? Things that we wanna be inspired. Those of us listen, we're sometimes, oh, this is too big, this is too hard.

Oh, I can't do this. So give us a crumb or two. That's that. That's a good question. I, I do, I mean, you're with business as you know. 'cause you also are a business owner. There's just. Constantly challenges. And I think it's just a matter of how you look at it and how you solve the problem. I, I think that tends to be how I spend most of my day, is just finding a solution to a problem.

And, um, you know, I have a, I have a young daughter and I always tell her like, there, there's not, there's never a challenge that doesn't have a solution. Um, and I just really do truly believe that. And, uh, that's a lot of, a lot of times. You know, days, days can be smooth sailing and, and, and we can be, you know, not running into anything.

But most of the time there's something that comes up that needs to be solved. And I, and I do truly believe that everything can be so, um, that has, has helped I think, growing this business. You know, talking about how, how we even started the business, you know, there was. There was a challenge, there was a problem that my partner and I saw, and we just made the decision that, you know, I think it'd be best if we started our own and rather than, uh, kind of having a friction with, with, with our past, uh, business and, and we just.

Grew it and, and brought it to where it was. Um, we also expanded into Canada. We, we also saw that, uh, we, we were feeling certain the US is, is, there's, there's lots and lots of businesses obviously, but a lot of them we felt, have already found their financing source where Canada, there wasn't many financing sources and we just felt that that would be the, the next step for us.

So again, just sort of. Find a, find a solution to, to where you see a challenge and just move in different directions. It's interesting that you say Canada because as you know, we call our ideal target market our moose. So you, your moose is that certain, you know, business within the parameters of income and the other things.

There are other qualifiers, but Canadian. Moose are, and moose live in Canada. So we always talk about an an analogy. If you wanted to hunt moose, your ideal target market, where do you find them? Well, think of a real moose. You have to go to Canada. So your moose are literally in Canada. So yes, yes. Now. And so I'm, I will put you on the spot one more time here.

What makes you, and you know, un copyable is our brand. What sets you apart from the other companies? I'm sure like you said, you have some competition. What makes you different and why do people, your customers choose you? So I think initially they choose us because maybe our terms are, are what they're looking for or the amount.

Uh, but I think they stay with us because of our customer service really. I mean, we, we really work with our clients and they run into a problem, you know, we're, we're there to sort of work through it with them. Uh, we're not one to send them to. Judgment or anything like that. We, we really try to work with them and figure out, uh, a way to get them back on track.

And I do think a lot of them come back to us for that reason. Also, when they, a big part of our business is really them, them coming back, you know, we wanna keep them do with us and we want them to refinance for future projects, so. That's why they, they do that, is we, we are always giving them favorable terms and we really try to work with them.

I always say, your your customers are your best moose because you've already vetted them. Yes, they've vetted you, you have a good working partnership. So yeah, if you can be there and as you're talking about that, that's, of course there are gonna be ebbs and flows in, in business and income. And so if you serve them and take really, really good care of them, the next time they have something that happens like that, then.

They know who to call, who do they trust, which is always huge. And especially when it comes to money, I think people are really, there's something about money. Huh. So with, what would you say, would you have told, I asked, mentioned this before the program. What advice? I'll say it like this. What advice would you have given yourself at the beginning of this journey?

If you knew then what you know now? Um, I probably would've started earlier. I probably would've would've done this, this type of business, uh, from right out of college. It just, it is really, you know, a good fit for me. I needed the journey that I had in order to get to it. Um, but I really, I really love it.

Um, and I think that's, that's really important, just being able to be in a, in a. Business that I know that challenges me every day and that I know I continue to grow. I know I have so much more to learn in, in this, in this position and also in this business space. Um, but I think that I would just. Would have, what, what I would tell myself is just to find a, a industry that I do love and that challenges me and excites me to, you know, get up in the morning every day and really try to get to that next, that next stage that we need to get to.

I like having that example of someone who did leave a career they weren't wild about because there are a lot of women and men, but I feel like one of the biggest segments of business starters are women over 50. And so they're looking at jobs that don't jazz them up anymore. Maybe never did. And so to see you saying, okay, not only did I.

Create what I really wanted and I love it now, but you had to do, make a scary move, take a risk. So this worked out really well. And I guess nothing, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right. Yeah, exactly. I think that that was sort of my mentality when I first graduated college was, and what I was told also is, you know, find a job that's stable, that will, you know, pay you that, you know, the income is there and you'll have, you know, your 401k or whatever, uh, whatever benefits they're providing you.

Um, and I really, I really felt like. That wasn't the fit for me that I needed to, to go out and start a business on my own. And it wasn't something that was not necessarily not supported, but it wasn't what that traditional track was for, you know, for people that were giving me advice. Well, I know you're way younger than me, but I almost wonder if your dad knows my dad.

'cause from the moment I got into college, he said, okay, here's the deal. Four years and a degree in business, that's what you get. And he didn't even pay my whole college. He paid half, which back in those days was so much cheaper. Mm-hmm. It wasn't, um, you know, such a huge commitment. But yes, the pragmatic people might say, okay, I'm gonna follow the straight and narrow, but you wouldn't be where you are if you have.

So I like the fact that you're a risk taker. So. We're really at the end of the interview. I knew it would go by fast. It, I told you it would. And do you have anything, any final words that you wanna say to the listeners, um, as we say goodbye? No, I think, I think we covered it. And thank you again for, for having me.

It's been a pleasure, fun learning about parts of the world that I don't know about, and I'm sure you listening don't know about some of these things either, so it's always fascinating. Uh, Natasha, we'll put all your links in the show notes. And once again, thank you so much for being on the podcast. Thank you.

Okay, we'll record it quick. You know, I've been thinking about this. I gotta stop saying men, women, and men. I'm getting a little bit. I bind with that because there's a lot of inbetweens now. Oh, yes, yes. Including in my life. And so I, yeah, I might take that part out when I'm like to interview women or you know, I, and I don't know, like I said, it's not a big deal, but I just gotta keep an open, make people know that I have an open mind.

I don't know how that'll work. Okay, so now I have a bonus question episode, which is super quick, and, uh, do you want me to read you those five questions again or not? Yeah. Um, yeah. Uh, yes, if you could. Okay. So that's really the first one is what did you wanna be when you grew up? Okay. The second one is, what is something that you wanna do but you haven't done yet, something you like about yourself?

Something you don't like about yourself and your favorite vacation spot. Okay. I think you can handle those. Okay. I'm just not gonna be able to rep mention the full episode, be you Normally, I say be sure to listen to episode number, whatever, because I'm mixed up. Yeah, I interviewed, uh, I did a double with somebody and it threw me off, so I'll just, doesn't matter.

Idiot. Okay. I'm back with Natasha Dillon, co-founder and CFO of Fund five merchant funding a company offering fast flexible financing for small businesses. We had a great 30 minute discussion and episode and I really encourage you to listen to that entire episode if you haven't already. The link to that will be in the show notes, but first we are going to get, uh, a little bit more personal with Natasha.

It's not too personal, but we wanna learn a little bit more about you. So the first thing I wanna ask you is, what did you wanna be when you grew up? I wanted to be a vet. Yeah, lover. Yes, yes. Animal lover and, um, yeah, and mainly I actually see animals, funny enough, because I, I, I do have a affinity even now at, at my age to tort the ocean and, and, and beautiful animals.

So yeah, Marine biologist vet, that was my. Well, our daughter is, and I still have this book, they had to draw a picture of what they wanted to be, and she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. Okay. Okay. So we went to SeaWorld and she was enamored. So yes, animals. That's fun. All kinds are great. I just, yeah, went somewhere.

We were just in Nashville. Went to Nashville. Nashville with some friends, and there was this, there were turtles everywhere with one animal. Really? Turtles are so cool. So many animals are just so cool. No. Okay. So the second question is, what is something that you wanna do but you haven't done yet? Um, I wanna do a safari, actually.

Yeah. I have a friend. It's to be a theme. I, a couple friends, they say it's the best thing they've ever done. I haven't done it. Yeah. But I'm. All for it. So lemme know. Yeah. Get it done. I wanna hear it. I'll, I'll, and you said you have a daughter, right? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So I probably will wait because she's only four, so I'll probably wait till she can remember it.

So, out of the many qualities to like about Natasha, what is something that you especially like about yourself? Um, I, I think, you know, be becoming a mother and being a mother has, uh, has been, is something that I just really. Love, uh, more than I ever imagined, and just being able to be there for her and, and talk through different things.

I mean, she's so wonderful and easy to talk to, but it's been such a joy to just be able to talk through certain things as she continues to get older. And I can only imagine what the, the rest of the years ahead are going to be. Um, but it's been, it's been a great, uh, experience. Oh, that's good. Well, I have to say here, here, I, I have an only daughter as well, so I don't know if you'll have more, but I won't.

She's 32. But yeah, I just used to think every year just seems to get better and better, um, until they get to be teenagers. But why? That's a long way off. And I have to say this Mother's Day. She sent me a bouquet of flowers, which she hadn't done, and I burst into tears. Aw. There's, there's nothing like being a mom and, and having that relationship.

It's great. Where, where does she live? She lives in San Diego. Okay. So we almost have all three of the corners of the country. 'cause you're in Connecticut. I'm in Seattle. She is in San Diego. She also travels back and forth between Palm Springs and San Diego. Okay. Very nice. Great. And she's a golfer and she grew up golfing here.

You've listened to this before. I'm sorry to tell you this again and again, but when she graduated college and she did have a scholarship at Portland State, she said, I'm never playing golf in the rain again.

Well, San Diego is definitely the, the spot for not having rain. Well, and, and Palm Spring. In Palm Springs. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So is there something about you that you would like to change? I think, um. Having more time. I don't know. I don't know how that, that is possible. Um, but just having more, I, I've been, I been more conscious over the last couple years to sort of slow down in that sense and be more intentional with whatever growth I want to do, uh, work-wise.

But it, I always, I feel like I never have enough time. I never, I'm never getting everything done. And that is. Factual as well. Um, so really just trying to continue to work on being intentional and making more space for, um, for not in being in work mode, we'll call it. Yes. Work mode. I, I've used that phrase before too.

Well, and having, having a young child. It takes a lot of time. It's just, um, I say now amazing. Um, how could I not get more done? I did all this with a kid. I, the chart. Oh, so, so it never changes. Great. No, not really. That's good. Fills in with other things, but, yeah. So last but not least, you haven't been to on an African safari yet.

No. But what is, what's your favorite vacation spot of what you've done so far? So actually in February I did, uh, kind of on the, the, the talk of the, your previous question or the answer to your previous question, finding more time for, for enjoyable things. We'll, we'll say, um, I went to, which also was on my bucket list to the Galapagos to go scuba diving.

Mm-hmm. And yeah, that was. That was amazing that, that, I mean, if I could go back there every year, I would, but it's quite a trip for, for me from, from the east coast. But, um, but I got to scuba dive with tons of rays and hammerhead sharks and just saw so, so much sea life that. And, and land animals as well that are just so, uh, unique to the Galapagos.

So it was, that was fascinating. I know someone who's been there and they said it was amazing, and I am, would, I would be too scared to scuba dive, unfortunately. Um, did you, did your daughter go or was this a No? Yeah, yeah. No. Um, it was a short trip. Uh, but, but no, she didn't come with me. I, I don't know how that flight would do for her.

Right. And then scuba diving two young. Well, yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That part. Yeah. I, but I did take her snor. She's was very fascinated by all my videos and pictures and, you know, we talk about it all the time and she loves the water as well. So I did take her, uh, snorkeling and she got to see, uh, stingrays and, and that, so that was really fun.

Well give her a few years. Yeah. I'm hoping, I'm hoping. Good for you. Good for you. Well, Natasha, it's been a delight. I've really enjoyed our conversation and you listening, if you want to get in touch with Natasha, I'll put her LinkedIn, uh, which I think is just Natasha Dillon. Um, also your email, which remind me what that is, natasha@natashadillon.com.

Uh. Natasha at fund fi. Merchant funding.com right? I'm sorry, yeah, yeah. Natasha at fund fi merchandising. So I will put those links in the show notes that you cannot trust what I'm saying. So that's what I, where you should go and uh, if you want to work with Natasha or find out more, that would be the place to go.

So once again, Natasha, I really appreciate you. Have a great day and thank you so much for being on the show. You too. Thank you.