SME Finance Forum // Berne Union – Joint webinar series (Introductory session)

Background

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face unique challenges when it comes to financing and insurance. SMEs have a variety of financing and insurance options available to them, each with its own advantages and considerations. The right mix of financing and insurance can help SMEs manage risks, support growth, and ensure long-term sustainability.
 

Topics

The webinar will focus on the financing & insurance options for SMEs, from startup to overseas expansion. It will showcase the challenges of financing and insuring an SME at various growth stages:

• Startup Phase – Laying the Foundation
• Domestic Growth – Expanding and Strengthening Operations
• Overseas Growth – Scaling Globally and Entering Export Markets

The key topics to be discussed are:

1. Startup phase:

• Key characteristics of startups and their financing needs.
• Financing & Insurance Options for Startups. Landscape overview: angel investors, VCs, government grants, crowdfunding platforms, bank and fintech loans and microfinance - General liability insurance: coverage for accidents or damages caused by the business; property insurance: protection for physical assets like equipment, inventory, and office space.
   

2. Domestic Growth:

• Challenges in scaling operations within the domestic market. The importance of maintaining cash flow and protecting assets during expansion.
• Financing & Insurance Options for Domestic Growth. Landscape overview: bank loans, government-supported loans, private equity & debt financing, factoring and invoice discounting, peer-to-peer lending, trade finance - Business interruption insurance, cybersecurity insurance, commercial auto insurance, property & casualty Insurance.

3. Overseas Growth:

• Key considerations and challenges when moving into international markets.
• Financing &Insurance Options for Overseas Growth. Landscape overview: export credit agencies (ECAs), export finance, export credit insurance, marine cargo insurance, political risk insurance, international venture capital/private equity, multilateral development banks, foreign currency financing.

Organizers:

The SME Finance Forum (SMEFF) is a network of 300+ members and affiliates with a coverage spanning across 190+ countries. The members are primarily financial services providers such as banks, fintechs, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, credit guarantee companies, and microfinance institutions. The affiliates consist of policy advocacy groups, academia, SME and banking associations, training providers, and non-profit organizations.
SMEFF was established in 2012 by the G20 and is managed by the International Finance Corporation with a core objective to scale financial services for SMEs.
As the leading SME finance network globally, the forum steers industry innovations, supports replication of best practices, recognizes global champions, drives thought leadership, convenes influential stakeholders, and fosters global knowledge transfer.  

The Berne Union (BU) is a not-for-profit association representing the global export credit and investment insurance industry. Our industry sits at the interface of international finance and trade. It provides a bridge between finance, trade and the real economy, acting as a catalyst for cross-border investment and economic growth. Members include the world's largest and most active export credit agencies, multilateral financial institutions and private underwriters of credit and political risk insurance, who collectively provide over USD 2.5 trillion of payment risk protection to banks, exporters and investors annually, supporting more than 13% of global cross-border trade.

*This is a public webinar

*Speakers information will be shared soon 

*The other two sessions will be dedicated to a deep dive into two specific aspects highlighted above, following a survey sent to all attendees. Tentative dates: end of April and end of June.