Reimagining SME Finance: How 276 Holdings Is Turning Receivables Into Growth Engines

In South Korea’s rapidly changing financial landscape, few companies have matched the impact and momentum of 276 Holdings. Led by Jason Shin, the firm has gained attention for its innovative supply chain finance platform, recently awarded the title of “Most Innovative Wealth Management Korea, 2025.” At the core of its offering is a bold rethinking of how small and medium enterprises access liquidity—not through traditional credit lines, but by unlocking the hidden value in their accounts receivable.

 

In this conversation with Leaders InFocus, Jason Shin explains the mechanics of 276 Holdings’ Flow-point and Flow-pay services, their AI-driven credit scoring model, and a distribution-led financing approach that’s rewriting the rules of regulatory compliance. From empowering SMEs at the procurement stage to building a dynamic asset-financing ecosystem, Shin shares how his team is not only providing capital but also serving as a catalyst for transformation. With ambitious plans for monetizing SME assets beyond receivables, the journey of 276 Holdings offers a glimpse into the future of intelligent finance.

 

 

276 Holding Interview

Jason Shin & Owen Smith – Leaders InFocus

 

Owen

Congratulations on winning the “Most Innovative Wealth Management Korea, 2025” award. Our readers are keen to learn more about your approach. Could you start by explaining the key differentiators of your supply chain finance platform that have contributed to this prestigious recognition?

 

Jason

Thank you, Owen. It’s an honour to receive the award, and I appreciate the opportunity to share our story. Our platform stands apart primarily because we don’t simply offer a loan product in the traditional sense. While most banks restrict SMEs to borrowing funds based on rigid criteria, our solution—known as Flow-pay—empowers small and medium enterprises to leverage what they already have: their accounts receivable. Instead of waiting for banks to extend credit, we let these businesses use their own pending payments as a means to unlock liquidity. Essentially, we are transforming what many consider just a line item on a ledger into a dynamic financial asset.

 

Owen

Given that liquidity challenges are a common hurdle for SMEs, could you elaborate on how your technology-driven platform specifically streamlines the procurement process and the operational side of funding?

 

Jason

Certainly. Our platform is built around two interrelated services: Flow-point and Flow-pay, each designed to address different facets of the SME financing challenge. Let’s start with Flow-point. Traditionally, an account receivable was nothing more than an entry in a ledger—a promise of payment that wasn’t readily accessible. With Flow-point, we digitize these receivables, turning them into a tradable, digital ticket that represents immediate value. This process not only validates the receivables but also makes it possible for SMEs to use them in real-time for transactions, such as transferring funds, paying suppliers, or even securing additional credit.

 

For companies that have yet to generate accounts receivable, we offer an alternative pathway. In these cases, the SMEs might need the raw materials to kickstart their production process, which in turn would generate receivables. Our platform steps in by providing these raw materials upfront, thus enabling the company to create its own accounts receivable. Once these are in place, they, too, can be digitized through Flow-point. On top of that, Flow-pay works as a “buy now, pay later” service that bridges the gap in working capital by financing the procurement of these raw materials.

 

This dual approach means that whether an SME is already generating receivables or just starting out, they have a clear, tech-driven route to access the funds they need. By transforming static data into dynamic assets, our platform significantly reduces friction in the funding process and directly addresses the liquidity issues that have long plagued small and mid-sized businesses.

 

Owen

Can you share a specific success story where your financing solution has transformed an SME’s operations and supported significant growth?

 

Jason

Absolutely. One example that really stands out involves an SME that was at a critical juncture in its growth trajectory. This company was generating substantial revenue, but traditional lenders were stuck with outdated financial metrics—data from one or two years prior. Their rapidly expanding operations weren’t accurately reflected in these historical records, which led to a severe mismatch between their financing needs and the funds available through conventional channels.

 

When they approached us, we deployed our AI-driven credit scoring system, Flow Score, which is tailored to assess the real-time financial health and growth stage of a business. Unlike standard models that rely heavily on historical data, Flow Score integrates current transactional data and growth indicators. This allowed us to accurately gauge the company’s capacity and provide funding that was truly reflective of their present needs.

 

By financing their raw materials procurement through Flow-pay, we enabled the company to scale up production swiftly. On average, SMEs using our services see revenue growth in the realm of 50%. In this particular case, the company experienced an astonishing 250% increase in revenue, a surge that even led to an attractive merger and acquisition opportunity down the line. Essentially, what happened was that we didn’t just provide capital—we catalysed a growth engine that transformed the way the company operated and expanded. It’s a perfect example of how our platform is more than a financing tool; it’s a growth enabler.

 

Owen

That’s an impressive turnaround story. With technology as a core component of your operations, security and efficiency must be paramount. How do you ensure that your platform remains secure, efficient, and user-friendly, especially when dealing with sensitive financial data?

 

Jason

Security, efficiency, and ease of use are indeed the pillars upon which our platform is built. Being a FinTech company, we are deeply committed to maintaining the highest standards of cybersecurity. We adhere strictly to regulations set forth by the Korean government, which means our systems undergo regular and rigorous audits. These audits are designed to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure that our compliance protocols remain robust.

 

On the technical side, our platform uses state-of-the-art encryption and security protocols to safeguard every transaction. We recognize that our clients are dealing with sensitive financial information, and as such, we have implemented multiple layers of security. This includes continuous monitoring of our systems, real-time threat detection, and rapid response strategies to any potential breaches.

 

Efficiency is achieved through our streamlined digital processes. Our user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are constantly refined based on direct feedback from our SME clients. The design philosophy is straightforward: make it as simple as possible for a business owner to convert an invoice into liquidity. We’ve even incorporated a touch of intuitive design—so that users can accomplish what they need in just a few clicks, without the steep learning curve that some traditional financial systems demand.

 

In sum, while our focus on innovation drives us to explore new frontiers in SME financing, we never lose sight of the critical importance of secure, efficient, and user-friendly service delivery.

 

Owen

Shifting gears a bit, what were some of the significant challenges you encountered when launching these SME-focused financial services, and how did you overcome them?

 

Jason

Every innovative endeavour comes with its share of challenges, and ours was no exception. One of the most critical hurdles we faced was securing a consistent and reliable source of capital to support our Flow-pay service. Unlike traditional lending models, where banks can simply extend credit based on established protocols, our approach required us to provide immediate liquidity to SMEs using their receivables. This meant we needed a substantial reservoir of working capital right from the start.

 

Over time, as we accumulated data and demonstrated consistent results through our platform, our initial sceptics became our strongest partners. The success stories, like the one I mentioned earlier, helped validate our approach and further cemented our reputation in the market. In overcoming these challenges, we learned the importance of resilience, innovation, and the willingness to disrupt conventional paradigms to serve a largely underserved segment of the economy.

 

Owen

That’s a remarkable journey. In the context of Korea’s evolving financial regulatory landscape, how do you ensure that you remain competitive while still maintaining full regulatory compliance?

 

Jason

The regulatory environment in Korea is indeed dynamic, and many competitors often find themselves constrained by conventional loan products. Typically, these products are subject to a strict regulatory cap on interest—around 20% per year. This limitation not only restricts profitability but also hinders innovation. In contrast, our approach is fundamentally different because we don’t simply issue loans; we provide a financing product that is based on the conversion of tangible assets into liquid capital.

 

We have structured our offering as a distribution model, which means that rather than extending a traditional loan, we’re essentially selling a product that’s backed by real assets. This approach allows us to sidestep the typical regulatory interest rate limitations. In addition, we have partnered with insurance companies to underwrite every digital ticket created on our platform. This extra layer of security not only mitigates risk but also enhances investor confidence.

 

Moreover, our focus on commerce rather than direct lending means that we’re operating in a space that isn’t as tightly regulated as traditional financial services. This distinction has given us the flexibility to innovate and expand our product offerings without being hamstrung by regulatory constraints. In effect, our model enables us to achieve effective margins averaging around 60% per year while fully complying with the regulatory framework—a balance that many traditional lenders struggle to maintain.

 

Owen  

It seems that by redefining the very nature of financing, you’ve managed to turn regulatory challenges into opportunities. Looking forward, what future trends do you foresee for your financial platform, and are there any new features or markets you plan to explore?

 

Jason

We firmly believe that what we are doing with accounts receivable is just the beginning. The current model has provided us with a solid foundation, but the potential for expansion is enormous. Once we’ve further refined our AI-driven credit scoring system—our Flow Score—and established an even broader SME client base, we plan to diversify our asset base considerably.

 

Imagine a platform where not only accounts receivable but also other SME assets—such as inventory, import/export receivables, and even intellectual property rights—can be transformed into working capital. In the near term, we are gearing up to launch Flow-pay Inventory within the next year. This will enable SMEs to leverage their existing inventory as collateral to access funds. Two years down the line, we plan to roll out Flow-pay Import/Export, designed specifically for businesses engaged in international trade. Looking further ahead, around four years from now, we will introduce Flow-pay Intellectual Property, allowing companies to monetize their intangible assets.

 

Our vision is to create a comprehensive marketplace—a total asset finance ecosystem for SMEs. By continuously expanding our suite of services, we hope to provide a one-stop financial solution that covers every facet of an SME’s operational needs. It’s an exciting journey because each new product not only opens up additional revenue streams for our clients but also strengthens our platform’s position as an industry leader in innovative finance.

 

Owen

Finally, could you discuss the role of client feedback in your ongoing process of refining your solutions, and how this input has helped shape the evolution of your platform?

 

Jason

Client feedback is at the heart of everything we do. Once an SME begins using our Flow-pay and Flow-point services, they quickly become an integral part of our continuous improvement process. In fact, our client retention rate is over 70%, with many businesses engaging with our platform multiple times a year—often up to 10 times. This high level of engagement means that we are constantly receiving real-world insights into the evolving needs and challenges of our clients.

 

For instance, we’ve noticed that as businesses expand, their requirements can vary significantly. One month, a company might need specific raw materials for cosmetics production; the next, they might require different inputs such as food-grade supplies or industrial materials like steel. Our system is designed to be agile, enabling us to respond swiftly to these demands. As soon as we identify a new trend or requirement through client feedback, we mobilise our resources to acquire the necessary licenses and adjust our offerings accordingly. This not only improves our service but also solidifies the trust that our clients place in us.

 

In many ways, client feedback acts as a real-time roadmap for innovation. It tells us where the market is heading and what our clients need most at any given time. We treat this feedback as a valuable asset—one that continually drives our research, development, and refinement efforts. Our commitment to listening and adapting is one of the key reasons why we’ve been able to maintain such a strong connection with our clients and stay ahead of industry trends.

 

Owen

Thank you very much, Jason. Your insights provide a clear picture of how 276 Holdings is revolutionising the SME financing landscape through technology, innovation, and a commitment to client-centric solutions. It’s evident that your journey is just beginning, and we look forward to seeing how your platform evolves in the coming years. Congratulations again on your award and on paving the way for a more dynamic future in wealth management.

 

Jason

Thank you, Owen. It’s been a pleasure discussing our journey. We remain dedicated to helping SMEs grow and thrive by continuously innovating and adapting to their needs. I’m excited about the future and confident that our platform will continue to set new benchmarks in the industry.