Ant International, a global leader in digital payments, financial technology, and digitisation, has announced a strategic investment in R2, the leading embedded lending infrastructure company in Latin America (LATAM). The partnership aims to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region, helping bridge one of the most persistent financial gaps in the market.
R2 enables digital platforms to offer quick, secure, and fully integrated financing solutions through its API-based, white-labeled infrastructure. This allows merchants to access capital directly through the platforms they already use such as point-of-sale systems, payment processors, marketplaces, and e-commerce solutions making funding faster and more accessible.
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Ant International, which launched its SME working capital solutions in Brazil earlier this year, brings deep expertise in inclusive finance through its Global Credit Services unit. Together, the two companies are combining their strengths to advance a shared mission: empowering small businesses through innovative, trusted digital technologies.
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The investment includes a primary capital injection from Ant International and will blend R2’s deep regional experience with Ant’s advanced AI and risk management capabilities. By leveraging these technologies, the partnership aims to enhance R2’s lending infrastructure, lower the cost of credit, and make financing more widely available to underserved SMEs. R2’s leadership team will continue to oversee daily operations while expanding support for existing customers and partners across the region.
“Partnering with Ant International is a defining step in R2’s journey,” said Roger Larach, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of R2. “Together, we will combine world-class risk management, AI-driven underwriting, and capital to bring inclusive credit at scale empowering millions of small and micro businesses while staying true to our mission of making access to finance frictionless at the point of need.”
Founded in 2020, R2 operates in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. The company pioneered a revenue-based financing model that serves small businesses through partnerships with major digital platforms such as inDrive, Uber Eats, Rappi, Haulmer, and PayU. To date, R2 has supported over 100,000 SMEs across the region where only about 13% of credit demand from small businesses is currently being met by banks and fintechs.
The collaboration will also grant R2 access to Ant International’s powerful credit engine, which helps financial institutions and fintechs make faster, more accurate lending decisions using AI-driven analytics.
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“R2 has been clear in its mission and drive to support SMEs—the backbone of LATAM’s economy—since day one,” said Quan Yu, General Manager of Global Credit Services at Ant International. “By combining our advanced technology with R2’s local expertise and passion for inclusive growth, we can turn innovation into practical financing solutions that empower small businesses and drive sustainable economic development across the region.”
Through this partnership, Ant International and R2 are not only reshaping the lending landscape in Latin America but also setting a new standard for how global fintech collaborations can drive inclusive growth and digital transformation in emerging markets.
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