Global SME Finance Forum 2025

My attendance at SMEFF19 was mainly related to presenting and introducing Q-Lana Inc. with its own product Q-Lana - a Knowledge-based SME lending platform for the banking and similar financial sector,... which was one of the exhibitors at the Marketplace. Therefore, I did not follow the plenary sessions and workshops at the Forum. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity to visit the Funding Circle on the third event day, which is a start-up company that has developed a platform for linking and matching MSMEs in need for loans from one side and investors, private and legal entities willing to lend to specific projects, from the other side. Managers from the Funding Circle explained their business model, told the story of how they started and managed in growing their business. The company was founded in the UK, then spread to the USA, Germany and finally the Netherlands. It is about technology innovation in lending process, dealing through the platform with application of risk management algorithms in assessment, but with human evaluation as well. So, the assessment process is doubled, meaning the machine assessment is checked and eventually corrected by people. What is evident is that demand for loans exists, while in parallel, there are people willing to invest their money in business loans and for entrepreneurship projects need. The platform is here to link both sides, provide business presentations, assess and calculate risks and scores, track repayments and alert on defaults. Benefits have both sides through interaction, and through back-end support. Managers are there to react and intervene. Hence, technology is easing and fastening the process tracked and supported by experts. I was impressed with the FC model, as I recognized the microfinance lending process almost the same as we had at Microfinance institution, but with more automation influence. We at MFI, until recently, did the same, but more in person with clients, and with Loan Officer appraisal of the loan and or but with no algorithms. I imagine that if we had the opportunity to work as a Microfinance institution nowadays, we would need to implement and use the benefits of new technology and digital solutions, but would not neglect to set the relationship, track and support entrepreneurs and their businesses, online or in person. The point is the same. Entrepreneurs and small businesses needed and need financial sources. Most of them choose lending, which is nowadays pretty affordable. Technology contributes the process. Businesses satisfies their needs and grows. The whole society benefits at the end. Read more

The event was very little engaging, a lot of formal talks — nowadays people are requesting ore entertaining content, not panel discussions where people are talking and not really discussing. Additiona...lly: - Pitches were also long (standard format is 3 min) and the purpose wasnt clear. - Study tours were, for me, most interesting part - Too big of a venue for so small number of attendees who were attending the sessions - Maybe for the next time include a space which is suited for people with disabilities - There is a lot more and better ways of using digital technologies Read more

Global SME Forum was an excellent opportunity to learn more about different trends and challenges in SME finance - both in traditional and alternative finance. I loved the study tour we had on the fir...st day, visiting MyTripleA and the pitches were refreshing. Overall, it felt like this event was well organized and designed, but what I saw lacking were more conversations about alternative funding models (less banking, more other opportunities) and we spoke little about key societal and environmental issues and how SME financing can support those who are dealing with these challenges, and not only focusing on profits and scaling. The event was also predominantly male - which is a shame, as there are many more women worthy of a seat at the stage as well as participants of the event. I suggest more mindfulness about these issues for the next edition - the event can only profit from that. Read more