Alternative Funders Continue to Look Down Under

Add CapRock Services to the growing list of US-based small business funders that have joined the scene in Australia.

CapRock has formed Sprout Funding as part of a joint venture with Sydney-based family office Huntwick Holdings. Together, they will provide small businesses with loans or revenue-based MCA products up to $100,000.

What’s truly unique is that CapRock will actually be underwriting the deals from their Dallas-based office. And they hope to fund $20 million in two key Australian markets in their first year. Luke Schmille, CapRock’s CEO, told the Dallas Business Journal that he believes the Australian market is very similar to the US. “70 percent of the population is employed by small to medium sized businesses,” he said.

Other funders in Australia that have US-backing include Capify, Prospa via Strategic Funding Source, Kikka Capital via Kabbage, and OnDeck.

Last Fall, John de Bree, the managing director of Capify’s Sydney-based office, told deBanked that he was surprised of the American interest in Australia. “The American market’s 15 times the size of ours,” he said.

One of his competitors, Lachlan Heussler, managing director of Spotcap Australia, was not so shocked. “This is a market that will evolve over time, and we think the opportunity is enormous,” he said.

In an email, CapRock’s Schmille, wrote that they were excited about the expansion abroad.

Sean Murray is the President and Chief Editor of deBanked and the founder of the Broker Fair Conference. Connect with me on LinkedIn or follow me on twitter. You can view all future deBanked events here.