Juice, a founder-focused lender platform, has secured £25m in funding to unlock new funding options for thousands of UK SMEs.
The FinTech raised the investment from family offices Aern Capital and Falco Capital, underpinned by a credit line from Paragon Bank.
In the UK, there is currently a £22B funding gap for SMEs, with over 55% of companies moving away from their high street banks when it comes to their lending needs.
The significance of Juice’s raise unlocks growth capital for thousands of high-growth businesses in the UK who suffer from constrained liquidity and will assist in driving these businesses to create jobs, fuel innovation and grow the UK economy.
Founded in 2019, Juice was created as a funding solution with trust at its core. Unlike traditional lending models, Juice uniquely blends real-time financial data, predictive analytics, and flexible credit lines, offering SMEs tailored capital exactly when and how they need it without dilution or hidden fees.
“This funding round represents a critical step for Juice. Our mission is to give SME founders not just capital, but the actionable insights and flexibility they need to grow their businesses sustainably,” said CEO Kathrine Chan.
“Thanks to our partners at Paragon Bank, Aern Capital, and Falco Capital, we’re positioned to improve the way UK SMEs access finance – providing speed, transparency, and genuine founder-focused solutions.
“With this funding, Juice has an exciting future ahead of it, as it takes one step closer to becoming one of the largest SME funders in the UK, empowering thousands of founders with the capital and confidence to achieve their ambitions.”
The funding announcement comes on the back of a number of successful partnerships. Juice’s first investor, Falco Capital, contributed to the raise alongside new investors Aern Capital.
Aern Capital’s investment is a direct result of its attraction to how Juice harnesses technology and data to provide a genuine growth capital alternative to dilutive equity investments. A new partner banking relationship with Paragon Bank underpins the round.
Operating during some of the most difficult economic periods in recent memory (including the Covid-19 pandemic cycle), Juice’s business model, underwriting, and tech platform has a proven track record in supporting SME founders during difficult times.
Its consistency in support for founders and a proven lending model caught the eye of investors who will further power Juice’s own growth goals. This includes looking to expand its product from digital SMEs to the wider SME market so all businesses can benefit from the capital flexibility that their services offer.