SINGAPORE, December 15, 2025 — Instarem, the global digital payments platform under Nium, has partnered with growth-financing provider Choco Up to embed non-dilutive financing directly within the Instarem Business portal, allowing eligible SMEs to apply for growth capital without leaving the platform.
The service, which went live on 1 September 2025 in Singapore and Australia, enables SMEs to access revenue-linked financing of up to US$1 million from within their Instarem accounts, marking a significant step in reducing friction for cross-border businesses seeking fast and flexible funding.
The launch comes as intra-Southeast Asia cross-border commerce continues to accelerate. According to IDC, trade within Southeast Asia is projected to reach US$14.6 billion by 2028, representing nearly a 2.8-fold increase from 2023.
As more SMEs operate across multiple markets, access to timely working capital, faster settlements, and simpler foreign exchange (FX) has become increasingly critical to capturing regional growth opportunities.
By integrating financing directly into its business portal, Instarem aims to help SMEs manage payments, FX, and funding through a single digital platform.
Fast, Data-Driven and Collateral-Free Financing
Through the partnership, eligible Instarem Business users can apply for collateral-free growth financing backed by Choco Up. Underwriting is data-driven and aligned with business performance, using transaction history rather than traditional balance-sheet metrics.
Once approved, funds are typically disbursed within two business days to the SME’s Instarem account or operating bank account. The financing structure requires only a personal guarantee from one director, alongside basic Know Your Business (KYB) documentation and recent transaction data.
Choco Up Founder and CEO Percy Hung said the embedded model reflects how modern SMEs operate. “Fast, flexible, non-dilutive financing lets owners stay in control of how and when they scale,” Hung said. “Many digital-first businesses do not fit traditional credit boxes, yet their growth moves in real time. Embedding financing within Instarem means businesses can act at the point of need — from inventory and marketing to supplier terms — without giving up equity.”
Both partners bring significant scale to the collaboration.
Choco Up has supported more than 1,000 SMEs across Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, enabling approximately US$2.5 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV).
Instarem, meanwhile, processes over US$6 billion in annual payment volume, completing transactions up to 12 times faster than traditional banks, and serving cross-border businesses with multi-currency payment and FX solutions.
Michael Minassian, Global Head of SME Business at Instarem, said the partnership strengthens the platform’s value proposition for regional businesses. “Southeast Asia’s SMEs increasingly sell across borders, tapping suppliers and customers in multiple markets,” Minassian said. “By partnering with Choco Up, we add a practical growth lever to our payments and FX stack so businesses can collect, convert, and capitalise inside a single platform.”
Roadmap: Deeper API Integration and Regional Expansion
Looking ahead, Instarem and Choco Up plan to deepen API integrations to automate data sharing and further accelerate credit decision-making. The companies are also evaluating invoice financing and trade finance offerings to address broader working-capital needs.
Expansion into Hong Kong is targeted for the first quarter of 2026, extending the embedded financing model into another key Asia-Pacific SME hub.