GMO Payment Gateway, a Japanese payment and financial services provider, has invested US$3 million in the Helicap Income Opportunities Fund.
This is a flagship credit fund managed by a regulated subsidiary of Singapore-based fintech Helicap.
The fund offers debt financing to fintech companies across Southeast Asia, supporting their growth in a rapidly expanding market.
The investment was made through GMO-PG’s Singapore subsidiary, GMO-Z.COM PAYMENT GATEWAY PTE. LTD.
This comes at a time when fintech startups in Southeast Asia raised US$899.3 million in the first half of 2024, driven by the region’s digital shift, strong demand from a large youth population, and technological innovation.
Helicap, a fintech firm focusing on private debt opportunities, aims to address Southeast Asia’s US$500 billion funding gap by providing capital to underserved sectors.
Through advanced data analytics, Helicap has deployed over US$400 million in capital, indirectly serving more than 5 million MSMEs and individuals over the past six years.
Helicap is backed by investors such as Kenanga Investment Bank, Credit Saison, Tikehau Capital, PhillipCapital, and East Ventures.
Featured image: Issei Ainoura, President and CEO of GMO Payment Gateway and David Z Wang, Co-founder & CEO of Helicap Securities