- 1Alexander Klein of Simply Funding won the B2B Finance Expo 2025 poker tournament.
- 2He says brokers want funders to be consistent on decisions, speed and offers.
- 3Klein previously worked as a broker and took a break from the industry during Covid.
Alexander Klein, an ISO rep at Simply Funding, won the official B2B Finance Expo 2025 poker tournament in Las Vegas. The win earned him a first-place trophy and a B2B gold bracelet.
It was his first tournament victory and, technically, the first tournament he had ever entered. Klein learned poker as a teenager and has played occasional real games since, but that was enough to outlast some players who play professionally on the side. He told a colleague beforehand that he would win, though he says he was half joking.
Networking first, competing second
Klein used the early part of the night to socialize at the table, talking sports, life and business. As hands were won and players knocked out, the table turned quieter and more competitive. He ended as the last player standing.
The result became a conversation starter. Players and non-players approached him afterward, he said, and he made useful connections. He says in-person contact shows someone you are serious and can deliver, and that conferences like the expo put the right partners in front of him and Simply Funding.
What brokers want from funders
Klein stepped away from the industry during Covid and tried another career for a few years. He worked as a broker before and now sits on the funder side, which he says helps him understand what ISO clients deal with.
His main observation is that brokers want consistency. They do not want one deal funded and a nearly identical one declined, and they look for steady efficiency, response times and offer quality. Speed matters too, he added. At Simply Funding he works to bring in new business and support current partners, helping ISOs get strong offers while keeping the process smooth. He says he and colleagues often work faster than he did as a broker to keep service levels up.
Klein says he plans to stay in the industry for years and sees ample room to grow. His trophy sits on his desk at Simply Funding's Jersey City office, and he hopes to add more.
Source reporting: deBanked.
