Crowd Genie – Transforming SME Financing In Singapore by Making Borrowing Faster, Cheaper, and Simpler

The Silicon Review

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the heartbeat of Singapore’s economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and fueling growth. Yet, for many of these businesses, securing funding to expand or manage cash flow remains a significant hurdle. Traditional banks often impose strict requirements, leaving SMEs struggling to access the capital they need. Enter Crowd Genie, a game-changer in the world of small business financing. Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Crowd Genie is revolutionizing how SMEs access funds through crowdfunding, offering flexible, fast, and reliable solutions that empower entrepreneurs to thrive.

Crowd Genie, a leading peer-to-peer lending platform, was founded with a mission to bridge the financing gap for SMEs in Singapore. By connecting small businesses with a network of individual and institutional investors, the company provides accessible, efficient, and transparent funding options. With a focus on simplicity and speed, Crowd Genie has assessed over 100 SMEs, offering loans ranging from S$30,000 to S$2 million. Its innovative approach has earned it a reputation as a trusted partner for businesses, with over 50% of borrowers returning for additional funding. Here’s a closer look at how Crowd Genie is transforming the SME financing landscape.

A Seamless Process for Investors and Borrowers

Crowd Genie makes the crowdfunding process straightforward for both investors and SME borrowers. For investors, the journey begins with a simple online sign-up. Once registered, they can fund their accounts and choose to either manually assess loan offerings or opt for auto-investment, allowing the platform to allocate funds based on their preferences. Approvals are lightning-fast, often completed within 24 hours, ensuring investors can quickly start earning returns. With lender yields starting at 15% per annum, Crowd Genie offers an attractive opportunity for those looking to support local businesses while growing their wealth. Repayments are seamlessly credited to investors’ accounts, making the experience hassle-free.

For SME borrowers, Crowd Genie provides a lifeline to capital that might otherwise be out of reach. The platform offers a range of financing products tailored to different business needs, with interest rates starting at 9% per annum. Whether it’s managing cash flow, purchasing inventory, or funding expansion, Crowd Genie’s solutions are designed to help businesses succeed without the bureaucratic red tape often associated with traditional loans.

Diverse Financing Products for Every Need

Crowd Genie offers a suite of financing options to cater to the unique challenges faced by SMEs. Its flagship product, Invoice Financing, allows businesses to unlock up to S$2 million by leveraging invoices from established companies. This is a game-changer for businesses waiting on payments from clients, as it provides immediate cash flow to keep operations running smoothly.

For businesses seeking unsecured funding, the Term Loan offers up to S$300,000 with flexible repayment terms of up to 24 months. This product is ideal for SMEs looking to cover operational expenses or invest in growth without pledging collateral. For larger funding needs, the Property-Backed Loan provides up to S$2 million, secured against property, offering businesses a robust option for significant investments or expansion projects.

Crowd Genie also offers a unique Zero Interest Bridging Loan, an unsecured loan of up to S$100,000 with three-month tenure and a bullet repayment structure. This short-term solution is perfect for businesses needing quick funds to bridge temporary cash flow gaps, such as fulfilling a large order or covering unexpected expenses.

Why Crowd Genie Stands Out

What sets Crowd Genie apart is its commitment to empowering SMEs while providing investors with a transparent and rewarding experience. The platform’s MAS licensing ensures it operates under strict regulatory standards, giving both borrowers and investors confidence in its reliability and integrity. By assessing over 100 SMEs, Crowd Genie has developed a rigorous evaluation process to ensure only credible businesses are listed, minimizing risk for investors while maximizing opportunities for borrowers.

The platform’s impressive track record speaks for itself. With over 50% of borrowers returning for additional funding, Crowd Genie has built lasting relationships with SMEs, becoming a trusted partner in their growth journeys. Its focus on speed—approving loans in under 24 hours—means businesses can act quickly on opportunities without being bogged down by lengthy approval processes. For investors, the high lender yields of 15% or more make Crowd Genie an attractive alternative to traditional investment options.

A Human-Centered Approach to Financing

At its core, Crowd Genie is about people—entrepreneurs with big dreams and investors who believe in them. The platform understands the challenges SMEs face, from cash flow crunches to the need for rapid expansion. By offering tailored financing solutions, Crowd Genie helps business owners turn their visions into reality. For example, a small retailer might use invoice financing to keep stock flowing during peak seasons, while a tech startup could leverage a term loan to hire talent and scale operations.

Investors, too, are at the heart of Crowd Genie’s mission. The platform empowers individuals to support local businesses while earning competitive returns. Whether it’s a retiree looking to diversify their portfolio or a young professional passionate about entrepreneurship, Crowd Genie makes it easy to invest in Singapore’s vibrant SME ecosystem.

Meet the Visionary Leader

Akshay Mehra, Co-Founder and CEO of Crowd Genie, brings over 15 years of experience in new growth advisory, seed investing, startup operations, and business building. He is certified in Capital Markets and Financial Advisory Services (CMFAS) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and has served as an innovation consultant at Innosight Consulting. As a seed investor at Anchanto Pte. Ltd., a leading e-commerce fulfillment provider, and former CEO of a retail startup in India featured in Eric Ries’ “Lean Startup,” Akshay has a proven track record of success. He also held a brand management role at Procter & Gamble and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management.