Lifestyle retailer Swirl wanted to open three new outlets in Malaysia but was wary of overextending its balance sheet with expensive financing. Different banks proposed very different terms and structures, making it hard to decide. With Lumina Fintech’s AI SME loan matching, Swirl modelled multiple loan scenarios, identified the best mix of lenders, and secured financing that supported growth without putting unnecessary pressure on cash flow.
fully financed with AI-matched SME loans while keeping monthly repayments within target budget
Swirl already operated several profitable outlets, but expansion required significant upfront investment in fit-out, inventory and staffing. Traditional bank conversations produced fragmented offers with different tenures, security requirements and pricing, and management struggled to see which combination of loans would be sustainable. They needed data-driven visibility into what they could borrow and how each option would affect cash flow over time.
Lumina Fintech helped Swirl build a single SME loan profile on the platform, combining financials, outlet performance and expansion plans. Our AI SME loan matching engine then scanned banks and non-bank lenders willing to finance retail expansions, ranking options by total cost and cash flow impact. Together, we modelled different drawdown timings and instalment structures so Swirl could open new outlets without straining existing operations.
Financing secured for three new outlets from two lenders, with a blended structure that balanced upfront fit-out and ongoing working capital.
Monthly repayments kept within Swirl’s targeted percentage of operating cash flow, reducing stress on existing stores.
Clearer comparison of offers helped Swirl avoid higher-cost facilities and unnecessary covenants that could have limited future moves.
Management now uses Lumina Fintech to test scenarios for future outlet expansion and refinancing decisions.
A weekly, executive-level decision mechanism to guide the process and solve problems as they arise.
"I hired Lumina Fintech for a small project & was very happy. He not only answered all my questions, but he didn't treat me like a 'small project'. I was very satisfied & would recommend."
