An innovative move for SMEs

Berlin, 31 March, 2014 – Zencap, the first digital credit marketplace for SMEs, started its business in Germany today. Both small- and medium-sized companies are given the opportunity to receive financing from the Berlin start-up, quickly and hassle-free. Acting as a bridge between both sides, Zencap connects entrepreneurs and private investors – without a detour via banks – and creates a new financial freedom of action for SMEs.
Dr Christian Grobe, founder and director of Zencap, said: “About 99% of all companies in Germany are small- or medium-sized. In total they reach annual revenue of € 2 billion, which makes them the backbone of the German economy. However, credit financing is a bureaucratic and tedious process that often ends in frustration. In fact, the latest KfW-Panel about medium-sized companies came to the result that 20% of all credit negotiations are doomed to failure. It is our goal to dismantle these barriers by providing an easy and un-bureaucratic alternative to banks.”
Zencap helps medium-sized enterprises gain independence from traditional banking.
Not only does this strengthen the negotiation position of smaller businesses, but it also benefits them in very concrete ways. Besides affordable conditions, Zencap offers maximum flexibility, e.g. the opportunity to repay loans early without additional fees. Investors benefit too: they can diversify their portfolio across five different risk classes and receive returns between 2,3% and 13,9%. As opposed to current accounts, at Zencap investors get interest- and principal repayments on a monthly basis.
Dr Matthias Knecht, founder and director of Zencap, said: “We want to enable the entrepreneurial creativity of medium-sized companies and give them the freedom to realise innovative ideas. In our opinion, the keys to this are lean processes, effective risk management and un-bureaucratic user-friendly applications. This way, our customers can stop worrying about financing and refocus on what is central: their enterprise.
As the very first credit marketplace for small- and medium-sized companies in Germany, Zencap offers a unique, new source of financing.
How it works:
At Zencap entrepreneurs and investors get together without any detours via banks.
1. Credit application: Entrepreneurs apply for a loan for € 10,000 – € 150,000, with a term of 6 – 60 months on www.zencap.de. The application on the website can be completed in just a few steps.
2. Assessment of creditworthiness: The Zencap risk management team checks the company’s creditworthiness within a few days.
3. Non-binding interest rate offer: In the next step Zencap proposes a non-binding offer based on the company’s risk class and the loan’s term. After accepting the offer, the credit project appears on the Zencap website.
4. Investments by private investors: Investors now have the opportunity to select between different company profiles. An investment begins with 100€.
5. Payout to enterprises: Once a credit project is financed by investors, the credit gets paid out. Only in this case, Zencap receives an agency-fee between 1 – 4,5 %, depending on the credit’s term.