Financing your SME in Switzerland
– an insurmountable and daunting process
– really?

15 Oct 2024

Sooner or later, the majority of Swiss SMEs will face the question of how to finance their activities. Whether it’s to absorb strong growth, finance working capital requirements, fund an increase in stock or obtain an investment loan, the process of applying for credit can be a complex, time-consuming task, and one in which the entrepreneur is all too often on his or her own.

It’s precisely to overcome these shortcomings that we created Kredo. Our mission is to revolutionize the way Swiss SMEs finance themselves and interact with their financial partners. We’ve rethought the credit process from A to Z to simplify it as much as possible and automate low-value-added tasks using cutting-edge technological solutions. This enables us to focus on our core business: providing Swiss SMEs with fast, flexible solutions, and providing expert advice to entrepreneurs in Switzerland.

Let’s take a closer look at how Kredo will revolutionize the financing model for Swiss SMEs.

 

Kredo’s revolutionary approach

Starting from a blank page, Kredo has rethought every necessary step of the credit granting process in order to optimize each and every one of them. By constantly keeping the SME’s interests at the forefront, we have succeeded in creating a simple procedure that can be summed up in a few points:

1. Simplified online application

When you visit Kredo’s financing platform, applying for credit is done entirely online. The intuitive interface guides the entrepreneur through each step, making the process clearer and less intimidating. An indicative offer can be submitted after the first 4 steps, and in less than 5 minutes.

2. Streamlined documentation

Once you’ve created your account and reviewed the indicative offer, it’s time to finalize your application. Kredo has optimized the list of documents required, concentrating on the essentials. For example, you will need to provide us with the bank details of the account to which we will transfer the funds, the details of the controlling shareholders, the financial statements and a debt register (template provided online). This second step should take you no more than 15 minutes, and that’s it, your part of the work is already done! Once the application has been finalized and submitted, Kredo takes over!

3. Fast, transparent analysis

Our IT platform uses advanced technologies to automate a number of tasks, enabling us to save precious analysis time and provide rapid feedback to the SME. Our process is transparent, with regular updates on the status of the request.

4. Company visit (by real people!)

Digitization plays an important role in the early stages of our process. However, we are convinced that a credit application is first and foremost a relationship of trust between human beings. Once we’ve completed our initial analysis, we’ll set up an appointment to visit the company. To do this, Kredo relies on experienced client advisors who will clarify with you the last missing elements in the understanding of your project, and provide you with valuable advice and challenge your project always in a benevolent manner.

5. Quick decision

Once the company visit is complete, the advisor submits his report to the analyst, who finalizes the application. A decision is then taken by the Kredo Investment Committee. We are committed to providing an extremely rapid response, often within just a few days of your application. Whether the answer is positive or negative, we’ll take the time to provide you with feedback on the reasons behind our decision, and suggest the various solutions available to you, whether through Kredo or another channel.

6. Flexible offers

As soon as your application has been approved by the investment committee, we will propose a tailored financing package to meet the specific needs of your SME.

7.Funds made available quickly

Once you’ve approved our offer, all that’s left to do is sign the formalities – a process that has also been digitized and takes less than 5 minutes. Once the administrative details are out of the way, the funds can be made available extremely quickly. Kredo is backed by its financing arm, an investment fund dedicated exclusively to financing Swiss SMEs. This means that the financing of your SME is secured even before you submit your loan application, enabling us to react quickly.

Conclusion

The process of applying for financing can be a daunting one, but Kredo offers a refreshingly innovative alternative. By combining cutting-edge technology, a user-centered approach and a human touch, Kredo is transforming the financing experience for Swiss SMEs. This innovative approach not only speeds up access to finance, but also gives entrepreneurs back control over their growth, enabling them to focus on what really matters: developing their business.