Embedded Advantage | Liberis unveils modular vision for embedded capital

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Editor’s Pick 📌

From Fragmented Funding to Financial Co-Pilot: Inside Liberis’ New Vision for Embedded Finance

Small businesses rarely follow a linear path—so why should their funding?

This week, Product Director Bella Renney-Thwaites shares how Liberis is tackling one of the biggest challenges in SMB finance: the fragmentation caused by rigid, one-size-fits-all funding products. From startup to scale-up, the needs of small businesses evolve constantly—and traditional lending models haven’t kept up.

Liberis is changing that. With a multi-product, modular approach to embedded finance, the company is helping platforms deliver funding that adapts to each stage of the business lifecycle. Whether it’s checkout financing like Pay with Liberis, or a central dashboard offering revenue forecasts and industry benchmarks, the goal is clear: to become a true financial co-pilot for small businesses.

For partners, it’s a model built to deepen loyalty, improve retention, and unlock high-margin growth—without the cost or risk of becoming a lender.

For small businesses, it’s access to the right capital, at the right moment, with zero friction.

Industry Trends & Innovation 💡

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Balance Partners With Alibaba.com To Facilitate Credit Access For US SMEs

Balance and Alibaba.com have collaborated to introduce Pay Later for Business on Alibaba.com, providing instant credit at checkout for U.S. small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This initiative empowers businesses with greater purchasing flexibility, addressing common cash flow challenges and simplifying the buying process. Balancing risk management and automation, it's a strategic push to enhance B2B financial solutions and improve SMEs' operational capabilities.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Green Dot Corporation's Embedded Finance Leadership and Path to Recovery

Green Dot Corporation is rallying from past regulatory and partnership challenges, evidenced by significant Q1 growth driven by their Banking-as-a-Service segment. With major alliances like Apple and Amazon contributing to over 50% of revenue, the company’s dependency poses risks if partners change course. For investors, the focus on recovery and potential acquisitions could mean undervaluation opportunities, yet caution is advised if Apple's partnership falters or compliance issues resurface.

EMBEDDED FINANCE EXPANSION

Natech Secures $33M for European Embedded Finance Expansion with AI-Driven Banking

Natech has secured $33 million to advance in Europe's embedded finance sector, focusing on innovations like the AI-powered Snappi neobank. This development promises to enhance financial technology, emphasizing Natech's commitment to market leadership and addressing the broader challenges fintechs face in balancing growth with workforce well-being.

FLEXIBLE PAYMENTS

Klarna Teams Up With Bolt For Flexible Payment Options In The US

Klarna and Bolt have teamed up to incorporate Klarna's flexible payment options directly into Bolt's CheckoutOS across U.S. merchants. This move empowers retailers to enhance customer engagement by offering payment flexibility, including the option to Pay in 4, without additional complex processes. This collaboration aims to increase conversion rates and customer loyalty by simplifying the checkout experience for shoppers.

PAYMENT STRATEGY

Bottomline's Adaptation in the Rapidly Changing Payment Environment

Bottomline is enhancing its position in the business-payment ecosystem by integrating digital-banking solutions with financial-messaging platforms, prioritizing compliance with ISO 20022 and supporting instant-payment transitions. This empowers clients to maximize operational efficiencies and meet evolving market demands, especially in cross-border transactions.