We catch up with Katherine Chan Ceo and Co Founder of Juvie Ventures. Juice is one of the UK’s fastest growing Fintech lenders, providing flexible funding to UK SMEs. It was created to address the need for a non-dilutive form of growth capital. I am CEO and Co-founder, and have a background in corporate finance and risk management. I’m passionate about creating faster, smarter, business-led capital solutions.
- Your recent Blind the Gap research revealed a confidence gap for UK SME founders, with your research showing financial clarity is missing – what do you think the Government needs to do to improve this, to bridge the SME funding gap?
Our research uncovered something critical, the UK’s £22 billion SME funding gap isn’t primarily a supply problem, it’s a confidence crisis. When 59% of founders abandon loan applications mid-way and over half associate borrowing with shame rather than growth, we’re dealing with systemic behavioral barriers, not just capital constraints. It isn’t just about closing the funding gap, it’s about unlocking the growth potential of our SMEs, which are the backbone of the British economy.
The truth is the government alone can’t solve this. Yes, there needs to be better access to financial education, transparent and plain language frameworks, advisory support and peer mentoring networks – all which the government can set the direction for. But it requires a coordinated ecosystem response including regulators, lenders, fintechs, and founder communities to deliver the change.
Regulators could start by incentivising transparency. Requiring lenders to publish plain-language product explanations with standardised comparisons would help founders understand true costs. 82% said clearer terms would improve their confidence, making it essential infrastructure for a functioning SME finance market.
We also need better data on application abandonment rates, rejection reasons, and behavioural barriers across lender types. Without this visibility, policy remains guesswork.
Without both confidence and capital, UK SMEs will continue to underinvest in growth, and Britain will continue to leave GDP growth on the table.
- Why do you think access to funding is so challenging for SMEs?
Our research revealed a combination of complexity, cultural stigma, and systemic inaccessibility in how funding is designed and delivered. Traditional lending wasn’t designed for SMEs, who often have strong revenue streams but lack the physical assets or lengthy trading histories that conventional credit scoring demands.
Our research found that over half of founders felt overwhelmed or nervous when it came to applying for funding. Financial jargon, such as “working capital facilities,” and “asset-based lending” is often to blame, creating immediate barriers for those without financial backgrounds. When founders can’t understand products or ask questions without embarrassment, they disengage entirely.
This inaccessibility is a design failure. Financial services have long assumed founders should adapt to the system, rather than the system adapting to them. In the current economic climate, SMEs need transparency and clarity so they see funding as a growth lever and can leverage it strategically.
- Your report mentions changing the borrower mindset – what advice can you give to SME owners who fear borrowing too much in a current unstable market?
Utilising fintech options such as revolving credit lines enable SMEs to draw down what they need, when they need it. While it may seem daunting, understanding the true cost of capital and what you’re actually paying is key, along with comparing different options. While flexible funding might appear more expensive, it might be cheaper than a term loan if an SME is paying interest on capital they’re not using for example. The risk comes from making decisions without clarity, understanding, or a plan and SMEs should feel able to question lenders on their terms to feel fully informed. My advice would be to understand your numbers, ask the questions you’re embarrassed to ask, and build relationships with lenders before you’re desperate. That’s how you can continue to build something in a fragile market.
The shame stigma our research uncovered is costing UK founders growth opportunities. The goal shouldn’t be to avoid debt, rather to leverage it strategically for your business, whether that’s for marketing, inventory or to get through a quieter period. Some of Britain’s most successful scale-ups have used debt intelligently to maintain ownership while funding expansion. The question isn’t “should I borrow?”, it’s “what’s the highest-return use of capital, and what’s the most efficient way to fund it?“
SMEs who fear borrowing too much should look for lenders who use insights to help deliver capital and consider revolving credit lines that allow them to draw and repay as needed, without locking them into fixed obligations.
- What approach do you feel is needed to help transform funding?
SMEs need capital alongside clarity, confidence, and community and the future of SME finance must reflect how modern businesses actually operate.
We must move beyond rigid credit scores and use smart technology to provide a view that reflects their true capability and growth potential. Insight-driven recommendations allow SMEs to understand why and how capital can impact their growth trajectory. SMEs who know their unit economics, real profitability by product, or cash flow projections with confidence will have the clarity to understand how to leverage debt strategically. Fintechs can support this by unifying financial data, marketing spend, and operational metrics to show SMEs exactly where they stand and what capital can unlock, helping them to make smarter decisions for the long-term.
Providing customised flexible funding based on the business’s actual, immediate needs and repayment capacity, removes the guesswork from generic loan products – giving SMEs peace of mind. Combining this with plain-language explanations at decision points and building real-time calculators that show the true cost of capital across scenarios will help SMEs build confidence when it comes to borrowing.
Lending must become a relationship, not a transaction. Founders need lenders who provide data, context, and guidance throughout their journey, partnering with lenders who help build financial capability alongside providing capital.
- What is Juice Ventures doing to help SMEs?
Juice offers a fresh alternative to equity capital, informing and energising SMEs to make healthy decisions for the long-term. Juice provides tailored funding options adapted to the unique needs of SMEs, giving them the financial agility, strategic insights and support to nourish their growing business.
But Juice isn’t just a funding solution, it is a network of founders and experts who appreciate the challenges of scaling a business. We utilise AI and data- driven insights to help our clients understand and maximise their growth potential. SMEs can get a customised offer within 48 hours, which is critical for their fast-moving nature.
In addition, our Growth Hub fosters a community and exclusive network, where founders can learn from other founders’ experiences, normalising the process of seeking growth capital and helping address the stigma associated with borrowing.
- What challenges have you faced and how is Juice Ventures evolving?
The funding industry suffers from deep set mistrust, with a legacy of opaque practices and confusing terms that have historically left SMEs feeling daunted and alienated. Secondary to this is superficial pricing over financial clarity. Misleading offers that hide their true cost in complex jargon and hidden fees have led to further distrust from SMEs. At Juice we’re committed to empowering founders to confidently compare options and choose the capital that truly supports their long-term, sustainable growth.
We’re continuously evolving our products and services to meet the demands of SMEs. Our most recent notable change means SMEs can use Juices revolving credit facility for their broader working capital needs, rather than this being restricted to marketing and inventory. We’re giving these fast-growing businesses more flexibility to manage day-to-day operations and keep growth moving without interruption. We’ve also introduced direct debit payments for faster, simpler repayments. This low-touch option supports SMEs operational efficiency.
- Finally, what’s your goal for 2026 and beyond?
As more SMEs look for reliable ways to fund growth, we’re deepening our commitment to giving them access to capital with the confidence, clarity, and control they deserve. 2026 will see us continuing on our mission to empower SMEs to realise their potential through Smart Growth CapitalTM, with new product launches and bolstering our strategic partnerships to better serve the community as a whole – watch this space.
About Juice Ventures:
Juice is a fintech platform built for digital founders. backing ambitious SME brands with flexible, non-dilutive capital since 2019. Offering a new funding philosophy, replacing friction with freedom. Juice is a fresh alternative to equity capital prioritising digital-first brands. Going beyond just finance—Juice’s experts amplify their client’s marketing efforts and drive efficiency, turning opportunity into growth. Recognised in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 (2024) and the Sifted 100 (2025) as one of the UK’s fastest-growing startups.
