Online funding matching tool launched for Irish SMEs

A new funding matching tool that aims to making it easier for small and medium-sized businesses in Ireland to access finance is now live.

Launched by Isme (the Irish SME Association) and Irish start-up Swoop, the new Finance Finder portal aims to act as a one-stop shop for businesses looking for funding to expand, improve cashflow, refinance debt, purchase property, acquire a business or invest in a new market.

Finance Finder was created using technology from Swoop, which has developed a funding and savings platform for SMEs. Swoop helps businesses find the right funding across loans, equity and grants, and to identify and make savings easier, all ‘in one fell swoop’.

The new tool is available online and open to all businesses in Ireland. It comes on the back of what Isme believes is a hard economic time for Irish SMEs.

“SME confidence remains constrained, in an environment of high input costs and the war in Ukraine,” said Isme CEO Neil McDonnell. “Many balance sheets remain unrepaired after the pandemic.

“However, we also see opportunity in many sectors, with the OECD noting that Ireland has twice as many business creators as the EU average – 2022 will be a year of opportunity for those enterprises willing to be bold in adversity.”

According to Swoop founder and CEO Andrea Reynolds,  Ireland’s SMEs need better and fast access to funding.

“Swoop’s mission is to make access to finance a simple and smooth journey for all businesses, no matter where they are located or what stage of their lifecycle,” she said.

“Our technology brings the entire funding market together in one place and our expert team manages the funding process from start to finish. As an Irish company, Swoop is proud to be working with Isme to deliver the funding that Irish SMEs need, when they need it.”