Aspire Launches SME Investment Feature

Aspire, the Singapore-based business finance platform, has launched Aspire Yield, a new investment feature designed to help SMEs earn higher returns on idle funds.

The rollout follows AFT SG 2 Pte, part of the Aspire Group, receiving a Capital Markets Services License from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in April 2025. Through Aspire Yield, eligible businesses in Singapore can invest directly from their Aspire accounts, with options in SGD and USD managed by Fullerton Fund Management. Users can access returns of up to 2.0 percent in SGD and 3.9 percent in USD, compared with typical business savings rates of just 0.01 percent to 0.25 percent.

Key Highlights

• Aspire secures MAS license and launches Aspire Yield for SMEs
• Returns up to 2.0 percent (SGD) and 3.9 percent (USD) with next-day liquidity
• 55 percent of invested funds were previously idle in low-yield accounts

Notably, 55 percent of funds invested in Aspire Yield were previously sitting idle in low-yield business accounts. The feature offers next-business-day liquidity, no minimum investment requirements, and no lock-up periods, making it attractive for SMEs seeking capital preservation and flexibility. This contrasts with peer-to-peer lending platforms such as Funding Societies, which offered higher average returns (7.09 percent in 2021) but with credit risk exposure and lock-in periods of up to 18 months.

Aspire’s new product comes at a time when two-thirds of Singapore SMEs report rising costs and shrinking profitability, with 56 percent worried about weaker consumer spending. Globally, SMEs account for 90 percent of businesses, over 50 percent of jobs, and up to 40 percent of GDP in emerging economies, yet many lack access to both affordable credit and viable investment options.

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By combining conservative returns with liquidity, Aspire Yield positions itself as a safer, more flexible alternative for SMEs that need to keep working capital readily available while still generating returns.