Chilean fintech Xepelin has launched a new working capital solution designed to give small and medium-sized enterprises rapid access to liquidity without invoices, collateral, or guarantors. The product, unveiled on November 20, 2025, comes amid weaker economic activity and tighter bank credit conditions that have squeezed SME cash flows. Xepelin positions the tool as a direct response to gaps left by traditional banks in serving smaller businesses.
New Working Capital Solution For SMEs
The new product, branded Capital de Trabajo, allows companies to access up to $53,607 in funding with terms ranging from 60 to 360 days. The entire process is digital, from application to approval and disbursement, which Xepelin says reduces friction for time-constrained business owners. Unlike classic factoring or bank loans, the mechanism does not require the assignment of invoices or the provision of future payment evidence.
Faster Access Compared With Traditional Banks
Once an application is approved, funds are deposited within minutes, a timeline that contrasts sharply with the days or weeks often required by conventional bank credit reviews. Traditional channels typically involve extensive financial files, collateral requirements and robust credit histories that many SMEs struggle to provide. Xepelin argues that these barriers leave viable businesses without timely working capital, particularly during periods of long payment cycles or operational stress.
Addressing SME Liquidity Pain Points
“Companies must access capital when they need it, not when the system decides to make it available,” said Nicolás López Lecube, Country Manager of Xepelin Chile. He framed the solution as an answer to recurring liquidity bottlenecks that can paralyze operations despite healthy demand or solid underlying business models. By easing access to short-term financing, the fintech aims to help SMEs smooth cash flow and avoid disruptive delays in payroll, inventory purchases or supplier payments.
Impact On SME Performance And Survival
Data shared by Xepelin suggests that access to financing can significantly change SME performance trajectories. Businesses that manage to obtain funding register an average sales increase of 22 percent, compared with only 7 percent among those that do not secure credit. The difference is also visible in business continuity, with a closure rate of 3 percent for financed companies versus 9 percent for firms that remain without financing.
Data And AI At The Core Of Risk Assessment
The company states that Capital de Trabajo relies on an artificial intelligence-driven analysis model that uses operational and financial data to assess risk and set financing amounts. This approach aims to accelerate approvals and reduce dependence on traditional documentation, which often penalizes firms with thin or irregular credit histories. For SMEs lacking collateral or formal guarantees, the model is presented as a way to be evaluated on real business performance rather than legacy credit scoring alone.
Fintech’s Expanding Role In Business Finance
The launch reinforces a broader trend of fintech players gaining ground in SME and corporate financing, a segment where digital processes and flexible underwriting have enabled faster product innovation. Market observers have highlighted that banks, facing lower growth and higher perceived risk, have generally taken a more cautious stance toward SME lending. Xepelin’s move reflects how non-bank actors are trying to fill that gap with technology-led solutions targeting specific pain points such as working capital.
By combining rapid digital onboarding, AI-based risk analysis and the removal of collateral or invoice requirements, Xepelin’s Capital de Trabajo seeks to lower the barriers that keep many Chilean SMEs from accessing credit. The company argues that the product can help sustain sales growth and reduce closure rates at a time when stricter banking criteria and the cost of idle capital are constraining traditional lending. If adoption scales as intended, the initiative could further cement fintech providers as critical liquidity partners for small and medium-sized businesses in the current economic environment.
Source: Fintechile