Instarem, a digital payments platform under Nium, now lets SMEs apply for non dilutive funding directly inside its business platform after integrating Choco Up’s growth financing service.

The feature has been live since 1 September 2025 in Singapore and Australia.

It launches as Southeast Asia’s cross border commerce expands, with IDC projecting intra regional trade to reach US$14.6 billion by 2028, about 2.8 times the 2023 level.

Eligible Instarem Business users can apply for up to US$1 million in revenue linked financing.

Underwriting draws on business performance data, and Choco Up typically disburses approved funds within two business days to a client’s Instarem account or operating bank account.

The financing is collateral free and requires only a personal guarantee, supported by basic KYB documents and recent transaction history.

Choco Up has backed more than 1,000 SMEs across Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, contributing to about US$2.5 billion in gross merchandise value.

Instarem processes more than US$6 billion a year and completes payments up to 12 times faster than traditional banks.

“Fast, flexible, non-dilutive financing lets owners stay in control of how and when they scale. 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. We chose Instarem because it is where cross-border SMEs already operate daily: payments, foreign exchange, and now funding, in one place.”

said Percy Hung, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Choco Up.

“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.

It is about reducing friction and helping regional champions scale internationally with confidence.”

said Michael Minassian, Global Head of SME Business at Instarem.

Instarem and Choco Up plan to deepen their API integration to automate data sharing and speed decision making.

They are also evaluating invoice and trade financing products to support broader working capital needs and aim to expand the service to Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2026.

SMEs can apply through the Instarem Business portal.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by mkmult via Freepik