Uplinq Financial Technologies

Word on the Street: Attic V Climbing Gym – Part 2 Last week, we took you to Hong Kong, China, where the founder of Attic V Climbing Gym shared her journey of building a business in an industry that barely existed a decade ago. Now, in Part 2, we’re asking a crucial question: How do small business owners in Asia access capital? Her answer? She’s never needed a bank loan. Instead, she built her gym with personal savings and support from family and friends. But if she ever did approach a bank—would securing funding really be that easy? ?? Watch now (with English subtitles) as we explore the reality of small business financing in Asia and the unseen financial hurdles entrepreneurs face. https://lnkd.in/gH45d4yu #WordOnTheStreet #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #HongKong #AccessToCapital #Fintech #FinancialInclusion

Small businesses are constantly juggling cash flow, and that is made harder with a lengthy process to get access to working capital, if they get approved. What If Small Loans Were Approved Before You Even Applied? ???Imagine this:?A small business owner logs into their banking portal, a chatbot pops up, asks a few questions—and minutes later, they receive?working capital funding?directly into their?business?account. Now, compare that to today’s reality: ? Endless paperwork & back-and-forth. ? Weeks of waiting with?no guarantee of approval. ? A choice between?expensive lenders?or getting?no funding at all. So how do we move from today’s broken process to instant, seamless funding? The?answer?lies in a lending process streamlined using agentic flows. ??AI-Powered Underwriting ?Traditional underwriting?process?is slow and outdated. AI agents can?aggregate and orchestrate variety of data (traditional, market, economic and alternate) that can feed into regulatory compliant risk models for scoring resulting in a?faster?turnaround. ??Proactive, Personalized Funding ?Instead of waiting for applications, AI can trigger?automatic loan offers?based on sales trends, cash flow, and market dynamics. ?No more one-size-fits-all credit decisions—funding matches actual business needs. ??A “Banker on Demand” for Small Businesses ?AI agents?can?provide?real-time financial insights?and?help with?financial scenario planning. Instead of businesses struggling to find financing, lenders can proactively offer?the right funding at the right time. Of course, AI-powered lending must balance?efficiency with compliance and risk management.?But done right, it can?transform small business finance—unlocking funding for?underrepresented and underserved businesses?while helping lenders grow.

Why Don’t More Small Businesses Have Credit Cards? Credit cards are the most popular financing tool for small businesses—yet only about half of them use one. Why? The answer isn’t as simple as it seems. While credit cards provide convenience and cash flow flexibility, they also come with high costs when misused, especially in a rising interest rate environment. ? Banks dominate small business credit cards, but they aren’t always the best fit. Their incentives, underwriting models, and servicing structures often leave small business owners carrying expensive, revolving debt. So, what’s the solution? Embedded finance. ? By integrating financial products directly into platforms that SMBs already use—such as co-branded credit cards and vertical SaaS solutions—business owners gain access to better-aligned financial tools. This approach not only improves credit accessibility but also ensures more responsible usage. ? Read the full article by Alex Johnson here : https://lnkd.in/gecERmtj

According to IOU Financials' latest State of Small Business Report, 75% of small business owners are optimistic about 2025—but the second half of 2024 showed mixed results. Only 43% reported better performance in the second half compared to the first, with inflation, interest rates, and economic uncertainty looming large. ?? Read the full report to know the key trends shaping 2025 and how businesses are strategizing for the year ahead.

In this short clip from SME Finance Forum’s Digital Innovation Hub, which took place last month! ?? Patrick Reily, Co-Founder of Uplinq Financial Technologies, shares how irrespective of the lending product (Factoring, BNPL, etc.), there is a real opportunity to offer real time credit to small businesses through understanding digital payment transactions. This will allow a solution to the two most crucial challenges faced by small business owners - access to working capital and even more crucial: lack of time and resources. For entrepreneurs, time is the ultimate currency. The ability to streamline operations, reduce friction in financial transactions, and focus on growth—not just administrative tasks—can make or break a business. Digital transformation isn’t just about technology; it’s about freeing up time for what truly matters. With 260 members across 120 institutions, the SME Finance Forum’s Innovation Hubs foster critical discussions on the future of SME financing. ?? Click below to hear Patrick’s insights. What’s your take on the role of digital transformation in SME success? Let’s continue the conversation in comments! ?? SME Finance Forum, Managed by the IFC (International Finance Corporation)

?? Word on the Street: Next Stop—Hong Kong, China! Our journey across global small businesses continues! This time, James from Uplinq visits Attic V Climbing Gym, a business that’s been defying gravity in Hong Kong for over a decade. ??? Meet the female entrepreneur who started a climbing gym before it was even a trend—and learn what keeps her pushing forward. From her passion for the sport to the fears of running a business in a niche industry, this interview gives a firsthand look at the highs and challenges of entrepreneurship. ?? Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll uncover how small business owners in Asia navigate access to capital and manage daily operational costs. ?? This interview is in Cantonese—watch with English subtitles for the full experience! #WordOnTheStreet #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #HongKong #FinancialInclusion #Fintech James So https://lnkd.in/gQSpPRys

It was great to present a workshop to Canadian Fintech Founders in NYC as part of the SOSA Technology Accelerator this past week ??. The 2025 Canadian Technology Accelerators | Accélerateurs technologiques canadiens (CTA) FinTech program brought together a cohort of seven Canadian innovative startups and immersed them into New York's thriving fintech ecosystem. It was great to share tips with founders on best practices so they can prepare a solid foundation regarding their tax compliance and accounting as they prepare to do business in the U.S. This means understanding how the tax system differs from Canada, their tax reporting obligations, transfer pricing, and discussing the ideal accounting and HR tech stack to get started with. What I enjoyed most about the session was that the founders were super engaged, knowledgeable, and asked great questions. Thanks to Elan Fox - Senior Program Manager at SOSA, for facilitating the program. Also, I would like to thank the companies in this year's cohort. BlueMind Happly.Ai Jump Point AI NovaceneAI Oxia Initiative Sibli Uplinq Financial Technologies Good luck to these innovative companies with their U.S. journey! #nyctech #crossborder #canadiantech #fintech #taxes #compliance #gaap #finance

Why do so many small businesses struggle to access capital? ?? Traditional lending models often fail to account for the full picture of a business’s financial health. ?? Many entrepreneurs remain underserved, despite having the potential to thrive. ?? Economic uncertainty continues to widen the financing gap. But what if lenders had more insight to make better credit decisions? This overview discusses how expanded insights is changing the way lenders assess risk—unlocking new opportunities for small businesses worldwide. Swipe through the carousel ?? and join the conversation!

?? Small Business Finances in 2024: A Year of Highs, Lows & Hard Truths As we approach the end of the fiscal year, small businesses are taking stock of their finances—and for many, the numbers aren’t pretty. While revenues saw some growth in 2024, expenses skyrocketed, cutting deep into profits. Rent, labor, insurance, and financing costs have all surged, making it harder for businesses to stay ahead. But there’s a way forward. The latest Forbes report outlines key strategies SMBs can use to push back against financial pressures: ? Tech & automation to boost efficiency ? Revenue-first strategies to counter rising costs ? Smart expense cuts where possible Will 2025 bring relief, or will the squeeze continue? Read the full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/gxZzXxr3

?? Fintech hit the jackpot at Fintech Meetup! Another incredible event in the books — three days of insightful panels, meaningful conversations, and top-notch networking. It was great reconnecting with familiar faces, making new connections and joining some incredible networking events along the way. ?? The energy doesn’t stop here — stay tuned for more photos and highlights. We can’t wait to see the ideas and innovations sparked this week take shape! Ron Benegbi Uplinq Financial Technologies David Watson The Clearing House Michael Blaugrund, CFA DriveWealth Ryan Lawler Axios Laura Kornhauser Stratyfy Andrew Czupek Northern Trust Ali Paterson FF News | Fintech Finance Harvey Hudes Grace Keith Rodriguez Ryan Hall Tisha Ferraro Marcus Paul Gerlyn Y. The Financial Revolutionist #CaliberConnect #FintechMeetup #Networking #FintechInnovation