FI Capital X Wiserfunding: Driving Confident Lending Decisions for SMEs

FI Capital X Wiserfunding: Driving Confident Lending Decisions for SMEs

FI Capital Limited has become a powerful force in invoice financing, helping small businesses access cash quickly by advancing payments on invoices. Unlike traditional invoice financing, businesses can finance as many or as few invoices as needed, with no red tape or long-term contracts. This flexibility enables small businesses to maintain predictable cash flow and avoid financial strain, setting FI Capital apart from competitors. 

In this interview, Giles Hannah, CEO and Founder of FI Capital and Nimbla, reflects on the company’s journey and the crucial role Wiserfunding has played in their success. He shares valuable insights into their operations, their long-standing partnership with us from the very beginning, and how our advanced risk assessment tools have become a key element in their lending decisions. Join us as we explore how Wiserfunding has supported FI Capital’s growth and continued success. 

— Could you tell us more about FI Capital and the services you offer? 

— FI Capital, established six years ago, specialises in providing tailored invoice financing solutions for SMEs, with a focus on single-invoice financing offered on a selective basis. This unique approach enables businesses to access the funds they need exactly when they need them, without the obligation to finance an entire ledger of invoices. This flexibility is a key differentiator for FI Capital, allowing us to deliver quick, agile funding solutions that meet the dynamic needs of SMEs. 

— How does Wiserfunding impact your company's risk assessment process? 

— From the outset, we wanted an independent, third-party assessment of the businesses we lend to. Wiserfunding has been instrumental in providing this service. They not only evaluate the creditworthiness of the companies we lend to but also offer an objective, external analysis, which is reassuring for our investors. 

We rely on Wiserfunding’s scoring model, particularly their Z-score system, which allows us to assess whether an SME is a good lending prospect. If an SME’s score falls below a certain threshold, we avoid lending to them. If the score is in the gray area, we engage Wiserfunding’s team to further investigate, which can include reviewing management accounts or answering specific technical questions. 

The ability to quickly discuss the analysis with Wiserfunding’s team helps us make informed, timely lending decisions. 

— What led FI Capital to choose Wiserfunding initially, and why do you continue to rely on it despite the many other platforms available? 

— One of the key reasons we chose Wiserfunding is their ability to incorporate both filed and management accounts into their scoring system. This provides a much more accurate and up-to-date picture of a business’s financial health compared to relying solely on public information. 

Furthermore, the ability to see how a business’s score has evolved over time—especially for younger SMEs—is invaluable. We often work with businesses that are in the early stages of development, and many of them do not have extensive financial histories. Wiserfunding allows us to evaluate these companies based on growth potential, not just historical data. 

Another important feature is Wiserfunding’s ability to analyse the creditworthiness of international customers. As we lend to businesses with customers around the world, it is crucial for us to understand the financial stability of these international clients. While some platforms offer international credit reports, Wiserfunding provides this analysis quickly, often within 24 hours, which is a significant advantage. 

— Would you like to share any further thoughts on your partnership with Wiserfunding? 

— The partnership with Wiserfunding has been crucial to the success of FI Capital. The independent scoring and technical expertise provided by Wiserfunding give our investors confidence that we are lending to the right businesses. The easy access to their team and the ability to quickly resolve any queries has made the collaboration smooth and efficient. 

Overall, working with Wiserfunding has been an extremely positive experience. Their platform and services have evolved to meet our growing needs, and we look forward to continuing our partnership. 

Building the Future Together 

It was a pleasure speaking with Giles and learning about how FI Capital supports growing SMEs in a high-risk segment. As FI Capital continues to expand, we are thrilled to contribute to their success. FI Capital’s focus and ambition in an underserved financing area are inspiring, and we are proud to be a part of their and their clients’ success stories. 

At Wiserfunding, we are committed to helping businesses thrive in any environment. If you’re looking for a trusted partner to support your growth, reach out to us today. We are here to help your business succeed: https://wiserfunding.com/contact-us/