Finance Without Limits: Democratizing Access to Business Capital

In a financial landscape where 80% of small businesses are rejected for funding and 58% report unmet financing needs, the traditional credit system continues to exclude those who need capital the most.

At Liberis, we're challenging this status quo with our "No Merchant Left Behind" ethos – creating Finance without Limits to ensure every small business owner has access to the funding they need, when they need it. 

Traditional lending traps small businesses on an impossible merry-go-round: no credit history means no funding, and no funding means no growth to build credit history.  

Finance without Limits focuses on breaking this cycle, through three powerful new product initiatives: 

A one-size-fits-all forecasting model doesn’t work for a diverse SMB ecosystem - and growing businesses shouldn't be held back by outdated models. 

Our machine learning suite tailors its predictions to adapt to the situation of each individual business - whether a merchant is growing exponentially, maintaining steady operations, or managing seasonal fluctuations. By analyzing real-time revenue, cash flow, and order volumes, we can accurately predict future sales and then provide businesses with appropriate funding.  

This means higher offers for growing businesses, fewer limits for seasonal ones, and more accurate offers delivered all-round.  

For micro-businesses and entrepreneurs just beginning their journey, we've designed a solution that looks beyond thin credit files – creating a clear path to growth.

Using alternative data and advanced AI models, we can confidently approve smaller initial funding amounts that help businesses get off the ground and fund unforeseen start-up expenses, paving the way toward sustainable growth. This offering will unlock funding for almost 100% of SMB customers – opening up access to finance and breaking the vicious “0 credit” circle and its barrier to growth.  

From selling across multiple platforms to restaurants expanding into delivery services, today’s businesses operate with multiple revenue streams. Our goal? To build the full 360 picture of a business, so that we can empower SMBs with offers with pinpoint accuracy. 

Leveraging Open Banking and combining partner data with our own proprietary data means we can see every revenue stream for every SMB, and create a comprehensive view of their entire business. Automatic connection to Open Banking in the application journey allows merchants to take control and customize the revenue sources that offers are based on - unlocking eligibility for some, and higher offers for others. 

Early results show a 25% average increase in offer sizes, with some merchants receiving up to 230% more funding. This holistic approach means businesses selling through multiple platforms, like eBay, Shopify or other channels, can finally access the capital they need to embrace their true potential. 

For platforms and payment providers, our small business-first approach delivers compelling commercial benefits: serve your entire merchant base (+99% eligibility unlocked) with a multi-product proposition and drive exceptional retention through a world-class CX that enables real-time decisioning to fund businesses in minutes without manual intervention.

All this strengthens our partners' competitive position and allows them to provide an embedded finance solution that meets merchants exactly where they are. 

The results really do speak for themselves. Merchants receiving Liberis funding experience +11% higher revenue after their first round of finance. Even businesses that use funding for non-growth-related activities experience a 5% increase.  

Our long-term relationships with businesses, like Steve from Two Magpies Bakery, demonstrate how initial funding to keep the lights on can evolve into expansion capital for multiple locations.

Smart platforms recognize that embedded finance isn't just about adding services – it's about enabling merchant growth while also strengthening your own competitive position. By partnering with Liberis, you're not just offering financial products – you're democratizing access to capital that can have a lasting positive impact on merchants, providing resilience in times of change. 

In our next instalment, we'll explore how SMBs are leveraging new opportunities presented by Liberis’ expansion.