Ant International's AI-Driven Lending Platform Bettr Launches in Brazil, Partners with AliExpress

Ant International launches lending services in Brazil

This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. As a first move, it formed a strategic partnership with AliExpress to bring a new financing solution, Bettr Working Capital, to local merchants operating on AliExpress. This enables simple and streamlinedaccess to working capital and supports business expansion in one of the world's fastest-developing e-commerce markets. Bettr Working Capital will gradually roll out, with the first batch of disbursements starting on March 17. As Latin America's largest digital economy, Brazil continues to experience rapid e-commerce growth, with millions of SMEs and micro-business owners thriving in this dynamic sector. However, access to financing remains a challenge for many, as SMEs' limited collateral, lack of standardized financial documentation, and other constraints make it difficult to secure funding. Through this partnership, Bettr integrates its AI-powered lending technology into the AliExpress platform to offer smarter and more accessible financing solutions. By analysing merchants' sales record and other unstructured business information from AliExpress, Bettr Working Capital provides affordable and tailored loan options, helping sellers access funds more easily to manage cash flow, grow their business, and expand into new categories. Leveraging AI, Bettr makes credit more inclusive. With alternative data-based modelling, it can conduct credit assessments quickly and accurately. Bettr is also enhancing its lending capabilities in compliance with Brazil's regulatory framework. AliExpress's deep e-commerce ecosystem enables seamless integration of financing solutions for sellers, allowing them to access the tailored credit product within its operational workflow through its merchant portal. Sellers can apply for flexible Bettr Working Capital via the "Financial Services" section in the AliExpress Seller Centre, with a simple digital application process featuring intuitive page interactions, real-time approval tracking, rapid fund disbursement and responsive customer service. With loan amounts starting from as small as BRL1,000, competitive interest rates, flexible instalment options and no collateral requirements, Bettr Working Capital is designed to reduce financing costs and ease the financial burden on SME borrowers. Merchants can access Bettr Working Capital on AliExpress Seller Centre, selecting loan amount and repayment options (*Actual credit line and interest rates are subject to the rates displayed in the system at the time of loan application.) "We are thrilled to launch Bettr's lending service in Brazil, a market with vibrant economy landscape and strong entrepreneurial spirit," said Quan Yu, General Manager of Ant International's Global Credit Tech, who also oversees Bettr's expansion in select markets. "Our partnership with AliExpress marks a meaningful first step in broadening financial access for local businesses, and Bettr looks forward to expanding this impact to more regions. SMEs make up the vast majority of businesses globally, yet many still struggle to secure the funding they need to grow. By harnessing the power of AI and collaborating with diverse local partners, we are dedicated to turning cutting-edge technologies into real and practical solutions with offerings like Bettr Working Capital, empowering SMEs to unlock new growth opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute to the real economy. This commitment lies at the heart of our mission to bring small and beautiful changes to the world." "We are very excited about this partnership with Bettr, which will further enhance the support offered to local sellers in Brazil. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive by providing accessible and efficient financial tools that can take their operations to the next level. In this way, we are not only supporting the individual growth of these entrepreneurs but also contributing to the advancement of e-commerce in the country. Together, we are building an ecosystem where sellers have more resources and opportunities to innovate, expand, and reach new levels of success," said Briza Bueno, LatAm director of AliExpress.

Ant International's Bettr Launches Small Business Financing Solution in Brazil | PYMNTS.com

Ant International's artificial intelligence (AI)-driven lending business, Bettr, has officially launched in Brazil and will work with local partners to expand lending to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The company's first partnership in Brazil is with eCommerce marketplace AliExpress, the companies said in a Monday (March 17) press release. Together, the companies are rolling out a new financing solution called Bettr Working Capital that will focus on local merchants operating on AliExpress, according to the release. "Our partnership with AliExpress marks a meaningful first step in broadening financial access for local businesses, and Bettr looks forward to expanding this impact to more regions," Quan Yu, general manager of Ant International's Global Credit Tech, said in the release. Bettr's use of AI and collaborations with local partners enable the company to offer financial access to SMBs that often struggle to secure funding, according to the release. Its partnership with AliExpress enables Bettr to integrate its lending technology into the AliExpress platform, analyze merchants' sales records and other unstructured business information from the platform, and provide loan options that are tailored to the merchant, the release said. Merchants can apply for the tailored credit product through the AliExpress merchant portal, see real-time approval tracking and get rapid fund disbursement when approved, per the release. "This collaboration reinforces our commitment to helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive by providing accessible and efficient financial tools that can take their operations to the next level," Briza Bueno, LatAm director of AliExpress, said in the release. Embedded finance is reshaping what it means for banks, businesses and FinTechs to interact, in real time, with customers, generating new revenue and giving end users a broad range of payments options, according to the PYMNTS Intelligence report commissioned by Visa, "Embedded Lending: From the Lender's Perspective." The report found that embedded lending has particular appeal for lenders because they are able to reach new customers and expand financial inclusion, while leveraging data to help tailor offers that boost sales. AliExpress offers an extensive marketplace with more than 100 million products, connects buyers with sellers worldwide, offers global shipping and provides a buyer protection program. The company is ranked No. 3 on PYMNTS' Provider Ranking of Shopping Apps.