85% of SMEs seek credit to grow, not to pay debts, shows study by M3 Lending

With the forecast of offering R$ 50 million in credit in 2025, M3 Lending conducted a survey in its database to identify what is leading companies to resort to financing. The startup found that the absolute majority of reasons refer to the search for working capital.

Companies seek fintech to obtain resources to be applied in the purchase of a new stock (20%), opening of new units (25%), expansion of current facilities (15%) and expansion of operations (40%). “There are thus companies seeking credit for growth, for working capital, and not to pay off debts, for example”, underlines M3 CEO Gabriel Sousa Cesar.

Thus, fintech can offer better credit conditions 'OIS even compared to conventional banks.For the same case, the amount made available can be more than 50% higher than what a traditional financial institution would offer, calculates the CEO. M3 also has a special focus on small and medium-sized companies.

Due to the intense use of technology, fintech applies a differentiated methodology for the granting of credit, which enables the most advantageous conditions.The entire flow is digital, through application. “This allows operations without bureaucracy, therefore with lower costs, which means lower interest rates and zero bank spread”, Cesar points out.

For borrowing companies, the first step is to send the information about the application, which is analyzed by a credit committee M3. With the application and its approved conditions, the startup connects the company to investors interested in contributing funds in financing.

At the other end, investors also have agility. By applying M3, they evaluate the available opportunities and make their choice. When the chosen company has its credit approved, investors begin to be remunerated, based on the installments paid by the company itself.

A digital simulator, through the M3 website or application, allows companies to understand their credit possibilities. From investors, it does not require a large amount of resources: with only R$ 250 it is possible to start applications.

Currently, there are more than 2 thousand people connected to M3, both as borrowers and investors, informs the CEO.“It is a more inclusive financing model, connecting, on the one hand, those who need working capital, on the other, those who intend to invest, contributing to the growth of companies.”

M3 was founded in 2021 in Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte). By 2029, it projects to reach the R$ mark 600 million transactions.