Ant International, a Singapore-based global digital payment firm, announced last Thursday a strategic investment in R2, an embedded lending infrastructure company in Latin America (LATAM), to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region.
Ant International said in a statement that the strategic investment includes a primary capital injection by the firm, and combines both companies’ unique strengths to advance a shared vision of driving inclusive growth through innovative, trusted digital technologies.
R2 will continue to deploy its tested infrastructure, risk and market-tailored credit offerings and local regulatory expertise, while Ant International’s advanced risk capabilities will further enhance R2’s solutions through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools and lower the cost of credit.
R2’s management team will also continue to lead day-to-day operations, ensuring consistent support for the company’s existing customers and partners, and reaching out to more underserved SMEs in the region.
R2 enables digital platforms to offer financing solutions quickly and securely through an API-based, end- to-end white-labeled experience.
This allows merchants to easily access capital through their existing digital platforms, such as point-of-sale systems, payment processors, marketplaces, and e-commerce
solutions.
Ant International has complementary strengths in inclusive financing through its Global Credit Services unit, which launched SME working capital solutions in Brazil earlier this year.
This development marks the latest milestone in Ant International’s continued focus on supporting growth in LATAM by working with local partners.
“Partnering with Ant International is a defining step in R2’s journey,
“Together, we will combine world-class risk management, AI-driven underwriting, and capital to bring inclusive credit at scale – empowering millions of small and micro businesses while keeping true to our mission of making access to finance frictionless at the point of need,” said Roger Larach, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of R2.
R2 was founded in 2020 and operates in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Brazil.
The company pioneers its innovative revenue-based financing model through major digital platform partners in the region such as inDrive, Uber Eats, Rappi, Haulmer, and PayU, and has supported over 100,000 SMEs in LATAM, where it is estimated that only 13 percent of SMEs’ demand for credit is currently met by banks and fintechs.
The partnership will also allow R2 to access innovative tech solutions from Ant International’s credit services, such as its global credit engine, which helps financial institutions, fintechs, and other qualified lenders make credit decisions with greater efficiency, accuracy, and speed.
By improving access to credit for SMEs, R2 and Ant International aim to catalyze economic growth in the region with their shared expertise.
“R2 has been clear in its mission and drive to support SMEs – the backbone of LATAM’s economy – from day one, underpinned by its founders’ deep understanding of the difficulties faced by small businesses, and a strong belief in overcoming these challenges with a digital-first approach,
“With this shared commitment to inclusive growth, we are confident that we will be able to accelerate access to opportunities for businesses in the region by turning cutting-edge technologies into real, practical financing solutions,” said Quan Yu, General Manager of Global Credit Services, Ant International.