SINGAPORE, April 16, 2026 – Choco Up has secured a USD 30 million private credit facility from CHUAN to accelerate financing solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Asia-Pacific.
The facility is aimed at addressing persistent liquidity challenges faced by SMEs, particularly as payment cycles lengthen and access to timely financing becomes increasingly uncertain.
SMEs across the region continue to face structural financing constraints, with the annual funding gap estimated at USD 2.5 trillion, according to industry estimates.
Against this backdrop, the new facility is designed to provide faster and more reliable access to working capital, enabling businesses to better manage cash flow, maintain operational stability, and respond to market fluctuations. The first drawdown from the facility has already been completed, signalling an early start to its deployment.
Faster, data-driven access to capital
The partnership combines CHUAN’s access to institutional capital with Choco Up’s AI-driven credit assessment capabilities. This integrated approach allows funding approvals to be completed within hours, significantly faster than traditional lending timelines that can extend up to six months.
For SMEs, this translates into a more predictable financing experience, with access to capital aligned to business performance. This helps companies bridge cash flow gaps, manage delayed payments, and sustain operations without disruption.
The collaboration also introduces greater transparency into the financing process. By leveraging real-time business data and CHUAN’s investor-facing infrastructure, capital providers are given near real-time visibility into the performance of underlying assets. This improves confidence in the asset class while enhancing its attractiveness to institutional investors.
The model reflects a broader shift in SME financing across APAC, where speed, transparency, and performance-based lending are becoming increasingly important.
Choco Up brings experience in flexible, equity-free financing, having supported businesses generating over USD 1 billion in gross merchandise value. CHUAN contributes its capital markets expertise, global investor network, and infrastructure designed to aggregate and distribute diversified credit opportunities within the digital economy.
The partnership is expected to enable scalable deployment of capital while maintaining disciplined credit management and oversight.
As SMEs continue to navigate volatile operating conditions, access to efficient and reliable financing is expected to remain a key priority. Platforms that combine data-driven underwriting with institutional capital are likely to play an increasingly important role in bridging the region’s financing gap, while creating new opportunities for investors seeking exposure to the SME segment.