Wolt, a local commerce network, has announced the opening of Wolt Capital, a new service that offers quick and easy supplementary funding for retailers.

Small companies, like restaurants, often need immediate access to funds to continue operations and ensure investment in future growth. This is where the new solution comes in.

Unexpected expenses are common in small businesses. For instance, a restaurant needs capital investment to pay for unforeseen costs, remodeling projects in the kitchen, the opening of new locations, and variations in regular operational expenses.

Wolt: Modifying offerings to satisfy customer demands

In order to provide a solution that can better help SMEs in need of immediate access to financing, the local commerce company considered customer demands while creating Wolt financing.

"We are always listening to our partners and adapting our services and offerings to meet their needs," says Edward Daka, Product Lead at Wolt, Banking & Payouts. We frequently discuss quick and easy access to financing with retailers.

We're happy to present Wolt Capital to you today because of this. The goal of this program is to help businesses flourish and expand by providing them with access to clear finance.

Small companies that depend on traditional financing methods may find it difficult to obtain the urgent funding they need due to the strict laws and standards that banks are responsible for managing.

Nezir Giray, a customer of Wolt, owns the well-known Finnish restaurant Ismet Jätkäsaari. He says, "I am appreciative of the assistance Wolt Capital has given me for my business and have had a wonderful experience working with them. For business owners like me, its adaptability and quick and easy procedure make it an invaluable financial instrument.

The operation of Wolt Capital

However, how does Wolt Capital operate and how are money transferred to Wolt clients in an efficient manner? Wolt's collaboration with financial infrastructure supplier Finmid makes the new service feasible.

THIS IS HOW WOLT CAPITAL FUNCTIONS:

• Pre-Approved Advances: Through their Merchant Portal, qualified merchants will be able to view a pre-approved advance amount.
• Quick Funding: If approved, money can be sent into the merchant's bank account in as little as one to two business days; no further documentation is needed.
• Transparent Costs: During the advance period, merchants pay a one-time cost; there are no further fees, ongoing interest, or penalties for early payments.
• Automated Repayment: Wolt sales serve as the basis for repayments, which are adjustable dependent on business performance.
   

More than a hundred Wolt merchants successfully used Wolt Capital during its pilot program, which will soon see the service expand to other markets.

"We aim to provide our partners an accessible financing option through Wolt Capital so they can invest in their future growth," continues Edward Daka. We'll keep creating goods and services that support our merchant community and guarantee their ongoing prosperity.

"Wolt Capital is now available to all qualifying restaurants in Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Denmark, but we are continually exploring additional markets.”

Wolt discussed implementing a safety net in the platform economy and how it produces insurance suited for this industry in an October 2023 interview with FinTech Magazine.

Wolt is a technology startup with headquarters in Helsinki that offers an online marketplace to customers, retailers, and couriers. Customers can quickly choose and purchase their favorite meals, fresh groceries, and locally produced items using the Wolt app, and have them delivered to their house, workplace, or even a park.