Meet HelloBello
Meet SCAPE Company, HelloBello. Launched from a rich background of banking experience, HelloBello provides technology solutions that simplify the lending process for banks and economic development organizations so they can focus on capital impact.
Q: What’s your name, title, business?
A: Sherry Waner, CEO & Co-Founder of HelloBello Financial, LLC
Q: What does your business do?
A: We connect communities with creative solution based capital through CDFI and community banks. For banks and other organizations (like economic development organizations), HelloBello is an innovative technology platform that simplifies complex lending so they can efficiently deploy impact capital in their communities. HelloBello helps amplify impact & profit for these organizations, reaching those with historical barriers to access. HelloBello was created through First Southwest Bank and First Southwest Community Fund’s experience providing innovative capital solutions and co-founded by the bank’s holding company, myself, and Kent Curtis, President/CEO of First Southwest Bank.
Q: Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey.
A: I grew up in a big family, with 12 kids and we were very poor. My dad was an entrepreneur his entire life, and I watched him succeed and fail, succeed and fail, with business after business. He would start a business and make enough money to put food on the table, but he didn’t know enough about cash flow management for the businesses to be successful. I watched this growing up, and when he died saw how while his businesses provided for us in the day to day, my family did not achieve any generational wealth. This gave me keen insight to the challenges and struggles that entrepreneurs face.
I have over 30 years of banking experience, where I have specialized in finding creative ways to provide access to capital that assists small business start-ups and expansions. I quickly identified early in my career why I was so invested in wanting to help people be successful in their businesses, and I know if my dad had had that same level of support, he would have been far more successful. HelloBello provides a solution to helping business owners like my dad have access to capital that they would not otherwise be able to get. With my banking experience, I have seen first hand the problem of not being able to lend to businesses who deserve support but lack collateral, expertise or have other issues, and I know that building HelloBello will help hundreds of banks assist thousands of entrepreneurs.
Now, I get to embark on my own entrepreneurship journey, after helping coach thousands of startups and entrepreneurs launch theirs. During my time as Chief Development Officer at First Southwest Bank I have helped launch nonprofits such as our partner, First Southwest Community Fund and the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation. I am so excited to be CEO and Co-Founder of HelloBello and take my entrepreneurship journey to the next level.
Q: What was the most powerful lesson you learned on this journey?
A: I think the most powerful lesson has been the value in being vulnerable and coachable. It can be hard to let other people in to help and support, but you cannot do this alone. You need a tribe of people surrounding you who support your mission and ideals. Connected to that, I have learned to embrace and recognize my own strengths and weaknesses - and know when to bring in support to have help from people who have more expertise in those areas than I do.
Q: Why did you apply for the SCAPE Program?
A: I have referred many entrepreneurs that I have worked with to apply to SCAPE, and I have gotten to see the huge benefits they have received from the program. I was excited to have the opportunity to go through the program myself, for the benefit of HelloBello, and to connect to the local entrepreneurial community, meet investors, and get support from like minded individuals. I also knew that SCAPE does an excellent job educating entrepreneurs on areas of business ownership that are not my forte, for example, how to raise investor capital, and HR or legal issues. I was excited to have the opportunity to receive support from SCAPE’s amazing team and mentors.
Q: What companies inspire you the most (local, national, worldwide)?
A: 100% - First Southwest Bank! FSWB is a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) bank, and is a special place to work where self-starting and innovative ideas are encouraged. Through my rewarding role at FSWB I have been empowered by the bank and inspired by our clients to be the CEO of HelloBello.
Q: What do you love most about the Four Corners?
A: I love the special entrepreneurial ecosystem that exists here. Because we live in a rural area, people may think that is lacking, but we have a thriving and robust ecosystem that I am proud to be part of. And of course, the reason why we all live here - the outdoor amenities and beauty. I love to hike, ski, camp, fish, hunt and get outside with my family!
