Through this partnership, SMEs can now apply for financing via Capsphere’s platform and benefit from credit risk-sharing support arrangement through CGC Digital. The offering includes Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) financing. AR financing allows SMEs to access early payment on invoices, while AP financing supports timely supplier payments in enhancing cash flow, operational continuity, and supplier relationships.

“The launch of Capsphere’s AP and AR financing backed by CGC Digital Guarantee represents a key milestone in our mission to unlock fair and secure access to capital for SMEs,” said Yoon Jun Jie, CEO of Capsphere. “With CGC Digital’s support, we are raising the bar for trust and impact in Malaysia’s P2P financing space.”

This initiative reflects CGC Digital’s commitment to enabling inclusive, tech-driven financing for underserved and growing MSMEs. It also helps foster a more robust digital financing ecosystem through strategic de-risking partnerships.

“This collaboration with Capsphere is a strong addition to our expanding fintech ecosystem,” said Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital. “We’re proud to support emerging digital platforms in broadening financing access while sharing risk to promote SME resilience.”

Key Features of the Capsphere and CGC Digital Initiative:

• Credit guarantees on a risk-sharing basis for eligible SME transactions
• Enhanced financing access for underserved and growth-stage businesses
• Seamless integration into Capsphere’s asset-based financing model.

The product is now live, with the first SME financing note currently open on the Capsphere platform. SMEs across Malaysia can apply online and benefit from CGC Digital’s credit risk-sharing support in helping reduce barriers to funding while safeguarding commercial discipline.

For more information, please visit

www.cgcdigital.com.my | www.imsme.com.my | www.b2bfinpal.com

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, its primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my.

About Capsphere
Capsphere is Malaysia’s first peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform focused on asset-based funding. As a licensed Registered Market Operator (RMO) by the Securities Commission Malaysia, Capsphere connects SMEs and investors through innovative and secured financing structures.

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Supporting SME Digitalization and Financial Inclusion

This innovative collaboration is aimed at improving financing access for private clinics—many of which operate as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—by embedding loan and financing options within their existing digital workflows. It forms part of a broader effort to strengthen financial resilience among healthcare SMEs through alternative data and platform-based delivery.

A Digital Platform for End-to-End Clinic Management

Remedi provides an integrated solution for managing the full range of clinic operations. This includes appointment scheduling, billing, medical records, inventory control, and patient engagement, all in a seamless digital environment. The platform also captures valuable business insights that support predictive features, such as forecasting inventory needs.

“We are committed to helping clinics digitalize not only their operations, but also their access to financial and procurement services. Embedded financing is an innovative approach and natural step in building a full-service ecosystem for clinics and ensuring their operational sustainability as well,” said Khairul Faizi Khalid, Managing Director of Remedi.

In addition, the platform has launched a built-in procurement marketplace that allows clinics to order medical supplies and consumables directly, streamlining inventory management and making operations more efficient. By embedding financing into this ecosystem, clinics will be able to access working capital and business loans directly through the platform, reducing administrative burden and improving access to tailored funding.

“This initiative allows us to bring the alternative financing ecosystem closer to the point of need—supporting SMEs with both access and affordability,” said Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital.

Bridging the Financing Gap by Connecting Ecosystems

This collaboration brings together critical components of the healthcare and lending ecosystems to address long-standing challenges in accessing financing:

• Remedi acts as the central hub, embedding financing tools within its operational interface and generating data to support credit evaluation.
• CGC Digital plays a facilitative role by enabling risk-sharing arrangements and connecting a broader network of financing partners to the platform leveraging CGC Digital’s financing marketplace, imSME.
• Seedflex provides flexible, performance-based financing tailored to clinics’ actual business activity, making capital more accessible and aligned with day-to-day operational realities.

By integrating financing into a platform already central to clinic operations, the partnership lowers barriers to funding, streamlines the application process, and enables more responsive and appropriate financing solutions—ultimately bridging the financing gap for a critical segment of healthcare SMEs.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Remedi and CGC Digital to provide flexible financing to address the real-life credit needs of healthcare clinics. This partnership allows us to continue pursuing our vision to bridge the credit gap for SMEs and give business owners of any size the same fair access to capital regardless of their background,” added Ritwik Ghosh, Co-Founder and CEO of Seedflex.

For more information, please visit

www.cgcdigital.com.my | www.imsme.com.my | www.b2bfinpal.com

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, its primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my

About Remedi

Remedi, a leading digital health company specialising in Electronic Medical Record solutions is renowned for its fast-growing cloud-based Clinic Management Solutions trusted by over 500 clinics nationwide. Remedi is dedicated to enhancing the patient experience by improving primary care healthcare service efficiency and delivery with the use of innovative automation and digitalization of workflow in clinics.

About Seedflex

Seedflex is a new way of accessing credit for cashless businesses, co-founded by two former Grab executives who built the superapp company’s fintech lending business in Southeast Asia. Seedflex provides a new frictionless form of credit to cashless businesses by underwriting and collecting loans based on online sales alone. Real-time and granular transaction data provides sufficient basis for robust underwriting driven by proprietary credit scoring and strategy, while daily settlement of sales enables an opportunity for fractional and automated collection through Seedflex’s proprietary “Pay-As-You-Sell Advance”™ solution.

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This collaboration introduces a bespoke credit guarantee scheme by CGC Digital to support B2B Finpal’s Purchase Financing product—an innovative, short-term financing solution designed to help MSMEs meet capital needs during procurement cycles. The initiative addresses long-standing financing gaps by combining digital innovation with tailored risk-sharing mechanisms.

Key features of the Purchase Financing programme include:

• Financing of up to RM300,000 – Empowering MSMEs to fulfil larger purchase orders.
• Short-term tenure of up to 120 days – Supporting efficient procurement and fulfilment without immediate financial strain.
• Fast approvals within five days – Ensuring quick access to funds when MSMEs need it most.

The partnership marks the first phase of a broader, scalable programme, with both parties committed to co-developing more financing products to further strengthen MSME financial inclusion across Malaysia.

In addition, the Purchase Financing product will be made available on imSME, Malaysia’s first online financing referral platform for MSMEs, operated by CGC Digital. This integration is set to increase visibility and accessibility, helping more businesses identify and secure suitable financing solutions.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to accelerating MSME growth by collaborating with alternative finance providers,” said Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital. “At CGC Digital, we champion open and inclusive partnerships that go beyond platforms. By embracing innovation and collaboration, we are building a more inclusive financing ecosystem that meets the evolving needs of Malaysian MSMEs.”

Through this strategic alliance, CGC Digital and B2B Finpal are poised to make a meaningful impact on the country’s MSME financing landscape.

For more information, please visit

www.cgcdigital.com.my | www.imsme.com.my | www.b2bfinpal.com

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, its primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my.

About B2B Finpal

B2B Finpal is an approved peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform registered with the Securities Commission Malaysia. Focused on serving the needs of Malaysian businesses, B2B Finpal connects creditworthy MSMEs with investors, offering fast, flexible, and transparent financing solutions to support business growth.

For more information about B2B Finpal, please visit www.b2bfinpal.com.

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KUALA LUMPUR, 20 MARCH 2025 – Boost Bank, the nation’s first homegrown digital bank has partnered with CGC Digital, a fintech subsidiary of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (“CGC”) to enhance support for eligible underserved Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Malaysia. Under this partnership, a total of RM130 million has been earmarked for Boost Bank’s financing solutions – Term Loan facility and Revolving Credit facility. 

CGC Digital will provide CGC’s guarantee cover through bundling with Boost Bank’s MSME financing solutions to further strengthen MSME access to finance. This offering aims to reach out to thousands of MSMEs and bridge the critical financing gap these businesses face, while enabling businesses to enhance operations and capitalise on growth opportunities. 

Boost Bank’s Term Loan financing offers MSMEs a convenient application process with minimal documentation required for loan amounts from RM50,000. The facility features a financing tenure of up to 36 months with no early settlement fees, facilitating effective cash flow management by MSME borrowers. Businesses can also enjoy flexible repayment options to be more in sync with their cash flow needs without incurring any penalty. 

The Revolving Credit financing offers MSMEs flexibility to manage their cash flow and rise to business opportunities with ease with its swift financing disbursement feature, which enables businesses to receive funds in as fast as two working days upon approval of the loan. 

Fozia Amanulla, CEO of Boost Bank, shared, “At Boost Bank, we understand the unique needs of MSMEs and the critical role financing plays in their growth. In line with our mission to drive financial inclusion and growth for underserved communities, we are committed to providing a platform that opens doors to growth, empowering businesses to overcome challenges and achieve success. This partnership with CGC Digital strengthens our ability to offer seamless, fast, and accessible financing solutions, empowering MSMEs to overcome challenges and seize growth opportunities. We will continue to innovate transformative offerings that will elevate the MSME landscape in Malaysia.”

“Boost Bank is our first digital bank partner, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards facilitating access to financing with digital-first partners. By collaborating with Boost Bank, we can offer seamless, efficient, and accessible financial products that cater to the unique needs of MSMEs,” said Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital. “This partnership is a significant step forward in our mission to support underserved MSMEs by providing them with the financing they need to succeed. It also aligns perfectly with the purpose for which CGC Digital was established—collaborating with digital-first partners. We are excited about the potential this partnership holds and are eager to explore further collaborations with other digital-first players in the industry. Our goal is to continuously enhance our offerings, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial innovation.”

Boost Bank and CGC Digital are committed to addressing the needs of underserved MSMEs and promoting financial inclusion while ensuring MSMEs receive the support they need to thrive in today’s economy.

To learn more about Boost Bank, please visit www.myboostbank.co. For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my. 

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Addressing Food Security in Malaysia

Food security remains a critical concern for Malaysia as the nation grapples with challenges such as climate change, urbanization, a growing population and reliance on imported food. Despite the importance and urgency to address food insecurity issues, MSMEs in agriculture sector face significant hurdles in securing financing to grow their businesses and to enhance productivity. Many small-scale farmers lack the necessary collateral to secure traditional loans, which further limits their access to financial resources. A gap in financial literacy among farmers also hinders their ability to navigate complex financing options effectively. Furthermore, agriculture segment is often perceived as a high-risk sector due to its vulnerability to climate change and market volatility, making financial institutions hesitant to extend credit.

Potential Impact on Local Farmers

The collaboration between CGC Digital, Funding Societies, and FarmByte aims to have positive impact on local farmers. By providing innovative financing options, local farmers will have better access to the capital needed for sustainable operations and business expansion. Improved financial literacy and access to modern agricultural technologies will enhance farmers’ productivity and efficiency. Implementing risk assessment and management strategies will help farmers manage uncertainties related to climate change and market fluctuations. The focus on sustainability will ensure that farming practices are environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long term. By addressing the financial challenges faced by farmers, this collaboration will empower them to become more resilient and self-sufficient.

Yushida Husin, Chief Executive Officer of CGC Digital said, “At CGC Digital, we are deeply committed to supporting initiatives that address the critical issue of food security in Malaysia. By collaborating with Funding Societies and FarmByte, we aim to close the funding gap and enable local farmers with financial access they need to thrive. We believe that leveraging farming data as an alternative credit scoring metric will not only enhance the accuracy of credit assessments but also provide a more inclusive and supportive financial ecosystem for our agricultural MSMEs. This collaboration is a significant step towards building a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector that can meet the growing demands of our nation.”

Wong Kah Meng, Group Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Funding Societies Malaysia remarked, “This partnership with CGC Digital reflects our shared commitment to empowering underserved businesses across Malaysia. We strive to build a more inclusive financing ecosystem that fuels the growth of micro and small enterprises. By integrating CGC Digital’s expertise in credit enhancement with Funding Societies’ advanced digital financing platform, on the back of FarmByte’s agricultural ecosystem, we aim to empower farmers and agribusinesses with greater access to capital that they need to expand, create jobs, and drive economic progress. This collaboration not only strengthens the agricultural value chain but contributes to food security and economic resilience in Malaysia.”

According to Syed Aiman Kifli Syed Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer of FarmByte, the partnership with CGC Digital and Funding Societies aligns with the company’s vision to revolutionize farming by providing farmers with both financial and technological resources. “Our goal is to empower MSMEs in the agriculture sector with greater access to financing, enabling them to scale their businesses and enhance productivity,” he shared. “Through this collaboration, we are bridging the financial gap and equipping agropreneurs with the resources and support needed to drive a more resilient and sustainable agrofood ecosystem.”

A Collaborative Approach to Empower MSMEs

Through this MoU CGC Digital, Funding Societies, and FarmByte will leverage their combined expertise to implement innovative financing solutions that address the unique needs of MSMEs in the agriculture sector. CGC Digital will play the key role of mitigating risks as a leading credit guarantee provider and enhance its probability of default model with farm-level data as an alternative risk measurement for agribusinesses, thereby de-risking lending and improve access to financing through data-driven credit evaluations.  Funding Societies, will provide fast, flexible funding solutions utilizing alternative credit assessments to serve underserved farmers and agribusinesses that may lack traditional collateral. FarmByte, will contribute farm-level data and insights to enhance credit scoring models, improving risk evaluation and financial inclusion.

About FarmByte

FarmByte is pioneering a new era in Malaysia’s agrofood industry through innovative technology and data-driven solutions. As a subsidiary of Johor Corporation (JCorp), FarmByte is committed to enhancing national food security, improving production efficiency, and uplifting the livelihoods of farmers across Malaysia.

For more information, please visit: www.farmbyte.com

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, its primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my

About Funding Societies | Modalku

Funding Societies | Modalku is the largest unified SME digital finance platform in Southeast Asia. It is licensed in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, registered in Malaysia, and operates in Vietnam. The FinTech company provides US$1 billion annually of business financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In recent years, it has made strategic milestones including its acquisition of regional digital payments platform CardUp and co-investment into Bank Index in Indonesia.

Funding Societies | Modalku is backed by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Maybank, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, CGC Digital (the digital arm of the Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad), SBVA (previously SoftBank Ventures Asia), Peak XV Partners (previously Sequoia Capital India), Alpha JWC Ventures, SMBC Bank, BRI Ventures, VNG Corporation, Rapyd Ventures, Endeavor, EBDI, SGInnovative, Qualgro, and Golden Gate Ventures among others.

It has received accolades through the years including: Brands for Good (2019, 2023), Global SME Excellence Award, Global SME Finance Awards by IFC (2021-2023) Global Startup Awards (2020), MAS FinTech Award (2016, 2021), Singapore’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2024 (a list of 100 companies compiled by The Straits Times and Statista), High-Growth Companies in Asia-Pacific 2024 (a list of 500 companies compiled by the Financial Times and Statista) .

For more information, please visit: www.fundingsocieties.com.my

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The expansion of the partnership marks a key milestone following CGC Digital’s investment in Funding Societies earlier this year. It represents a major step forward in providing critical support to Malaysia’s MSMEs, positioning them for greater success amidst a competitive and dynamic economy. Funding Societies together with CGC Digital have developed two new digital credit guarantee products: Digital Term Financing and Micro Credit Line. These products not only provide access to financing but also offer micro and small businesses profit rate savings of up to 2% per annum.

In addition to Digital Term Financing and Micro Credit Line, Funding Societies and CGC Digital have expanded its DSCF programme to include a broader range of industries and suppliers with longer tenors, as part of the joint continuous effort to bridge the gap and address the challenges in micro and small businesses in accessing financing.

As at publication, since the launch of the two new programmes in September, more than RM10 million has been disbursed, benefiting over 200 creditworthy micro and small enterprises. This further underscore both organisation’s commitment to fostering financial inclusion and growth for Malaysia’s MSMEs and validates the demand for such financing solutions among micro and small businesses.

These initiatives align with the broader goal of focusing on inclusivity, digital growth, and sustainability, as well as enhancing MSMEs’ long-term resilience and competitiveness both domestically and internationally.

Chai Kien Poon, Country Head of Funding Societies Malaysia, remarked, “This partnership with CGC Digital represents a shared vision of empowering underserved businesses in Malaysia. We are committed to creating a more inclusive financing ecosystem that supports the growth of micro and small businesses across Malaysia. By combining CGC Digital’s extensive expertise in credit enhancement with Funding Societies’ state-of-the-art digital financing platform, our digital financing solutions allow business owners to access the capital they need to expand, employ, and contribute to the economy enabling improved access to capital and fostering financial inclusion.”

Yushida Husin, Chief Executive Officer, CGC Digital said, “I am delighted with the extended partnership, which has already made a profound impact on the financial accessibility for Malaysian MSMEs. This extension is a testament to our unwavering dedication to financial inclusion and product innovation. Furthermore, I am also excited for the expansion of our partnership, where we continue to push boundaries through product innovation. By breaking new ground, we are not just providing access to financing; we are enabling dreams and driving economic growth. Our joint efforts are paving the way for a future where every business has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.”

MSMEs make up more than 97% of businesses in Malaysia, contribute 39% to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employ a substantial portion of the workforce. However, these businesses are often constrained by limited access to financing options. By joining forces, Funding Societies and CGC Digital aim to strengthen the financial backbone of the Malaysian economy, fostering resilience and economic growth through improved access to capital.

About Funding Societies | Modalku

Funding Societies | Modalku is the largest unified SME digital finance platform in Southeast Asia. It is licensed in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, registered in Malaysia, and operates in Vietnam. The FinTech company provides US$1 billion annually of business financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In recent years, it has made strategic milestones including its acquisition of regional digital payments platform CardUp and co-investment into Bank Index in Indonesia.

Funding Societies | Modalku is backed by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Maybank, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, CGC Digital (the digital arm of the Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad), SBVA (previously SoftBank Ventures Asia), Peak XV Partners (previously Sequoia Capital India), Alpha JWC Ventures, SMBC Bank, BRI Ventures, VNG Corporation, Rapyd Ventures, Endeavor, EBDI, SGInnovative, Qualgro, and Golden Gate Ventures among others.

It has received accolades through the years including: Brands for Good (2019, 2023), Global SME Excellence Award, Global SME Finance Awards by IFC (2021-2023) Global Startup Awards (2020), MAS FinTech Award (2016, 2021), Singapore’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2024 (a list of 100 companies compiled by The Straits Times and Statista), High-Growth Companies in Asia-Pacific 2024 (a list of 500 companies compiled by the Financial Times and Statista) .
For more information, please visit: www.fundingsocieties.com

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, our primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.
For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my.

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Funding Societies is a regional financial technology (“FinTech”) company that provides financing to micro, small and medium enterprises (“MSMEs”), especially micro and small businesses currently unserved by existing financial institutions. Since its inception, Funding Societies has disbursed over US$3.5 billion (RM16 billion)[1] in business financing through five (5) million transactions, positively impacting over 100,000 businesses across its five (5) markets in Southeast Asia, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In the context of Malaysia, Funding Societies aims to address the RM90 billion [1] (US$19 billion) funding gap for MSMEs. Established in 2015, Funding Societies was one of the first companies to be registered as a Recognised Market Operator by the Securities Commission Malaysia.

With this investment, Funding Societies aims to expand its Malaysian coverage to areas beyond Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, and Johor. By the end of 2025, it targets to serve more than 25,000 MSMEs across Malaysia, thereby improving MSME’s access to financing, growth, and scalability while fostering job creation and income development for those employed by these businesses.

Moreover, the company intends to widen the reach of its Islamic financing solutions introduced in Malaysia earlier this year. Since its launch in May 2023, it has disbursed over RM100 million in Shariah-compliant financing in Malaysia.

Khazanah’s investment falls under its Dana Impak mandate, a fundamental pillar under its Advancing Malaysia strategy. The investment complements the government’s aspiration of enhancing MSMEs’ performance through greater access to financing, creating opportunities and promoting socioeconomic growth for rural, semi-urban and underserved communities with limited access to financial services.

In order to create a greater impact on the Malaysian MSME ecosystem, Khazanah’s investment in Funding Societies is made alongside CGC Digital. CGC Digital aims to advance financial inclusion through the development of innovative digital guarantee products as well as its own guarantee credit scoring model that can close the gap and address the pain points in micro and small businesses’ demand for financing. These nation-building initiatives target to level the playing field for MSMEs, especially thin-file MSMEs. To reinforce the partnership, Funding Societies will continue to collaborate with CGC Digital to provide digital guarantee products on its platform, which will further aid Malaysian micro and small businesses in getting financing in the long term. A digital-first approach through its digital guarantee product leveraging alternative data will allow micro and small businesses broader and more affordable access to financing.

Khazanah’s Managing Director, Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, said, “The investment in Funding Societies reflects our commitment to fostering financial inclusion and bridging the funding gap, especially within the MSME community. Being the backbone of Malaysia’s economy and contributing nearly half of the nation’s employment, MSMEs are both critical and critically underserved. Hence, this investment aligns with our mission of contributing to nationbuilding and socioeconomic growth”.

Feisal added that by supporting innovative platforms like Funding Societies together with CGC Digital, Khazanah aims to empower the MSME community, unlocking new opportunities to propel the nation in line with the MADANI Economy vision of improving socioeconomic outcomes for all.

Khazanah’s impact thesis was driven by the role of digital finance platforms, such as Funding Societies, in leading the delivery of comprehensive digital financing solutions to underserved MSMEs in Southeast Asia, enabling improved access to capital and fostering financial inclusion throughout the region.

Particularly for the Malaysian market, with Dana Impak’s investment, Funding Societies aims to have more than 50% of its annual loan disbursements from Shariah-compliant financing by 2025 – in line with the aspiration to support the growth of Bumiputera MSMEs.

Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital, said, “CGC Digital sees this investment as a strategic win for Malaysian MSMEs. We share Dana Impak’s vision and believe that, by working together with Khazanah, CGC Digital can advance financial inclusion among underserved and unserved MSMEs in the digital ecosystem. CGC Digital seeks to push the envelope by developing a suite of innovative digital guarantee products for thin-file MSMEs that can be offered together with Funding Societies’ financing products to increase their chance of obtaining much-needed financing.”

The investment also follows the success of CGC Digital’s partnership with Funding Societies earlier this year, where a new guarantee product was developed via a pilot programme. The product provides Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad’s guarantee at the transactional level of Funding Societies’ digital supply chain financing, thereby directly supporting the business activities of MSMEs and advancing financial inclusion.

Datuk Mohd Zamree Mohd Ishak, Board Member of CGC Digital and the President and CEO of CGC Digital’s parent company, Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad, echoed the sentiment, saying, “By joining forces with Khazanah and Funding Societies, this strategic investment by CGC Digital shows CGC Group’s commitment to taking Malaysian MSMEs, especially thin-file MSMEs, to the next level.”

Co-founder and Group CEO of Funding Societies, Kelvin Teo, said, “We are honoured to receive support from Khazanah and CGC Digital, who share our conviction to impact and MSMEs. This is a testament to our commitment towards extending credit to reach more underserved MSMEs. We would also progressively offer MSMEs more cash flow management solutions to power their growth.”

He added that while MSMEs represent 97% of business establishments in Malaysia and contribute 38% to the gross domestic product (GDP)[2], this group still faces significant challenges in obtaining credit, as evidenced by the RM90 billion financing gap in Malaysia[3].

“This is where Funding Societies seeks to step in by serving the region’s MSMEs’ cash management challenges and needs with our extensive reach and broad range of short-term financing solutions,” Teo added.

About Khazanah Nasional Berhad

Khazanah is the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia entrusted to deliver sustainable value for Malaysians. In line with its long-term strategy of Advancing Malaysia, Khazanah aims to deliver its purpose by investing in catalytic sectors, creating value through active stewardship, increasing its global presence, as well as building capacity and vibrant communities for the benefit of Malaysians.

For more information on Khazanah, visit www.khazanah.com.my.

About Dana Impak

Dana Impak, or impact fund, is an initiative by Khazanah and a key pillar under Khazanah’s Advancing Malaysia strategy to support investments that will increase the nation’s competitiveness and resilience in the evolving global environment, prioritising the creation of long-term societal value for Malaysians.

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, our primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my.

About Funding Societies 

Funding Societies | Modalku is the largest unified SME digital finance platform in Southeast Asia. It is registered with the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), as well as licensed in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, and operates in Vietnam. It is backed by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, SoftBank Ventures Asia, Sequoia Capital India, Alpha JWC Ventures, SMBC Bank, Samsung Ventures, BRI Ventures, Endeavor, SGInnovate, Qualgro, and Golden Gate Ventures amongst others. The FinTech company provides business financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are funded by individual and institutional investors.

It was given the Digitalizing Services for Retail Participations award by the Securities Commission Malaysia during the INVESTSMART® FEST 2019, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) FinTech Award in 2016, the Global SME Excellence Award at the United Nations’ ITU Telecom World in 2017, KPMG Fintech100 in 2018, Brands for Good in 2019, and ASEAN Startup of the Year by Global Startup Awards in 2020. In 2021, it was honourably mentioned as Responsible Digital Innovator of the Year by the World Bank IFC SME Finance Forum and won the MAS ASEAN Fintech award for the second time. Most recently, it was awarded the Top Lending/Financing Startup at the Fintech Frontiers Awards Malaysia 2023.

For more information on Funding Societies Malaysia, please visit https://fundingsocieties.com.my. 

References

1. US$1 = RM4.62
2. Department of Statistics, Malaysia (2022)
3. Capital Masterplan 3, Securities Commission Malaysia

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This tripartite partnership signifies a collective commitment to address a key national-level Problem Statement, the RM90 billion financing gap to MSMEs. The digital tool to power the bridging of this funding gap will be the Alternative Credit Scoring, undertaken by CGC Digital as it explores possible alternative data to facilitate the development of its Alternative Credit Scoring model. This partnership will be led by CGC Digital in providing the digital guarantee developed for CGC, MDEC in connecting the fintech players and championing policies/frameworks, and PayNet in the utilisation of its payments data.

PayNet as the national payments network has over the years aggregated a sizeable data through its product range – DuitNow (also known as Malaysia’s National QR Code), JomPAY and FPX. MSMEs who are not SSM registered but may have registration under local councils could have transaction data in any of these data points. “Collaborating with MDEC and PayNet, CGC Digital has identified potential fintech companies to embark on proof-of-concept initiatives aimed at validating the effectiveness and viability of Alternative Credit Scoring model. This initiative is aimed to empower MSMEs and bridge the financing gap by democratising access to credit guarantee and financial services in advancing financial inclusion,” adds Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital.

Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC says, “This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to drive innovation in the financial sector and address the MSMEs financing gap. The Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative and suite of dynamic PeMangkinMD programmes aim to transform our nation’s digital capabilities, foster the growth of tech companies, and boost the digital economy. We are optimistic to facilitate more partnerships between financial institutions, fintech companies and relevant ecosystem partners with a common goal of revolutionising credit assessment methods which will be a game changer for the financial sector”.

This MOU is envisaged to spark ideas to promote and scale more pilots using Alternative Credit Scoring data points among industry players. According to Gary Yeoh, Chief Commercial Officer of PayNet adds, “Validation of Alternative Credit Scoring’ effectiveness as a complementary tool in the credit assessment of businesses across all sizes will catalyse new frontiers on how credit is assessed. This could be a tipping point in a much-needed financing ecosystem where traditional banks are limited by conventional credit scoring tools”.

Using innovative solutions, e.g. artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc., for insights and data from non-traditional sources such as transaction data, utility and assessment payments, rental payments, mobile payments and more can potentially be used to assess MSMEs’ creditworthiness based on historical payment records. Collectively, all parties are cognisant of the opportunities that can be crystalised through Alternative Credit Scoring. The ability to co-create a data sharing environment that supports: 1) Thriving community of fintech companies; 2) Accessibility of financial products across all businesses and people; and 3) Customisation of financial products and services will revolutionise Malaysia’s future financial landscape.

About MDEC

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), a government agency under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Digital, was established in 1996 to lead Malaysia’s digital economy. Beginning with the implementation of the MSC Malaysia initiative, we have since then catalysed digital transformation and growth all over the nation. By offering greater incentives and governance for growth and re-investment, we aspire to bolster Malaysia’s status as the digital hub of ASEAN, opening new doors and driving shared prosperity for all Malaysians.

For more information on MDEC, please visit www.mdec.my.

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, our primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my.

About PayNet

Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) is the national payments network and central financial infrastructure for Malaysia with the vision to empower Malaysia’s digital economy. Our extensive retail payments suite, DuitNow (QR and P2P), JomPay (Bill Payments), FPX (Online), MyDebit (Domestic Debit), MEPS (ATM), and IBG (Interbank GIRO) has near ubiquitous coverage across the nation and is part of the daily fabric of life in Malaysia. In addition, PayNet’s real time retail QR payments network, DuitNow is also interoperable with domestic schemes in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia as well as international schemes to enable seamless cross-border transactions.

PayNet is committed to promoting a secure, efficient, and innovative payments ecosystem in Malaysia, and works closely with its stakeholders to develop new products and services that meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses.

For more information, please visit www.paynet.my.

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