Global embedded financing platform YouLend and payments provider Dojo have reached a milestone in their strategic partnership, deploying more than £2 billion in flexible capital to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the United Kingdom.
Over the past six years, the collaboration has funded more than 30,000 merchants operating in hospitality, retail, and e-commerce. Financing approvals occur at an average rate of one merchant every 20 minutes, addressing structural liquidity constraints in the traditional corporate lending ecosystem.
Tackling the SME Credit Gap with Embedded Finance
Data from the British Business Bank indicates that approximately 50% of UK small businesses actively seek external financing to regulate operational cash flow. Traditional commercial bank lending channels often present high barriers for small businesses due to lengthy underwriting periods, rigid collateral requirements, and inflexible amortization schedules.
YouLend and Dojo solve this structural friction through API-driven embedded financing. Rather than redirecting merchants to third-party underwriters, funding is integrated directly into the Dojo payments terminal and dashboard:
Rapid Underwriting: Merchants complete digital applications within minutes, with credit decisions and payouts executed in as little as 24 hours.
Revenue-Linked Repayment: Repayments fluctuate dynamically as a fixed percentage of daily card sales, automatically adjusting down during seasonal downturns and rising during peak turnover.
High Renewal Rates: More than 1,000 merchants have completed 10 or more funding rounds, with overall renewal demand standing at 83%.
Retention Impact: Merchants utilizing integrated working capital demonstrate an average reduction in platform churn of up to 48%.
Supporting Real Economy Resilience
The flexible financing facility has enabled independent business owners to manage seasonal volatility, finance inventory intake, upgrade physical commercial spaces, and hire staff without taking on fixed monthly debt burdens.
"Our long-standing partnership with Dojo demonstrates how embedded finance creates tangible value for payment platforms and merchants alike," said Francisco Rubistein, VP of Growth at YouLend. "With an 83% renewal rate and a 48% reduction in merchant churn, access to capital within a trusted platform directly fuels client growth."
Michael Winwood, General Manager at Dojo, added: "Providing over 30,000 customers with fast, accessible working capital allows UK business owners to navigate uncertain economic environments and seize expansion opportunities without operational friction."