Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending became a global phenomenon after the 2008 financial crash, emerging as a reliable alternative to traditional financial institutions including banks. While P2P lending businesses started entering the Indian market in 2014, it wasn’t until 2017 when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines suggesting that all P2P service providers must be […]
Why Is Supply Chain Financing a Lifeline for SMEs in Difficult Times?
In recent decades, small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises have become more prevalent in global supply chains because of globalisation. However, the Covid-19 crisis has exposed them to the perils of transnational shocks and liquidity crisis. In the tumultuous post-Pandemic economic climate, Supply Chain Financing as a financing option for SMEs has witnessed tremendous growth. It […]
Invoice Financing: A Funding Option for MSMEs
As our economy became the fifth largest in the world, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector contributed about 29% of our GDP and nearly 50% of the total exports. The availability of funds is the most important challenge they face. Traditional financing methods like term loans, cash credits, and overdrafts are often inadequate […]
Can Fintech Innovations Bridge India’s Financial Inclusion Divide?
In the past decade, India has witnessed a quantum leap in the fintech industry. Fintech funding grew exponentially in the last few years, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry became the blue-eyed boy of economies. Of the total 2,100 fintech entrees in operation, 67 per cent of them started operations in the last five years. […]
What is a Line of Credit (LOC) and Why Is It Ideal for MSMEs?
For years, businesses have used credit lines to cover working capital requirements and take advantage of the prevailing investment possibilities. Line of Credit is adaptable, attempting to address a few issues of traditional MSME credit solutions. The credit requirements of MSMEs (e.g., retail businesses, merchants, and wholesalers) reflect the unpredictable business setting in which they […]
The Future of SME Digital Lending Beyond COVID-19 Relief Phase
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the growing world of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As with so much else in the downturn, the rules for the lending industry supporting these businesses need to be re-written. SME lending is a vital form of external finance to sustain small businesses and meet their cash flow and investment […]