CardUp started as a simple idea: let people pay rent with credit cards to earn rewards. But that consumer-centric product evolved into a scalable B2B payments solution, unlocking credit card-based cash flow for SMEs.



In this episode of Open For Business, Diana Lim, Vice President of Partnerships and founding team member at CardUp, walks us through the platform’s early days, their product-market fit journey, and the pivot into SME solutions. We also unpack the rationale behind CardUp’s 2022 acquisition by Funding Societies, and how the deal supercharged expansion, cross-selling, and new product development.



Diana breaks down CardUp’s current product mix, its receivables solutions, and why their installment plan rollout in Malaysia could reshape SME financing. We also explore post-acquisition autonomy, regional expansion into Indonesia, and what it takes to make a payments model profitable in an era of lean startups and capital efficiency.



From USD 1B in transaction volume to doubling growth post-acquisition, this is the story of how and why CardUp tackled the payments space.

CardUp started as a simple idea: let people pay rent with credit cards to earn rewards. But that consumer-centric product evolved into a scalable B2B payments solution, unlocking credit card-based cash flow for SMEs.In this episode of Open For Business, Diana Lim, Vice President of Partnerships and founding team member at CardUp, walks us through the platform’s early days, their product-market fit journey, and the pivot into SME solutions. We also unpack the rationale behind CardUp’s 2022 acquisition by Funding Societies, and how the deal supercharged expansion, cross-selling, and new product development.Diana breaks down CardUp’s current product mix, its receivables solutions, and why their installment plan rollout in Malaysia could reshape SME financing. We also explore post-acquisition autonomy, regional expansion into Indonesia, and what it takes to make a payments model profitable in an era of lean startups and capital efficiency.From USD 1B in transaction volume to doubling growth post-acquisition, this is the story of how and why CardUp tackled the payments space.

The flagship entrepreneurship show on BFM, featuring personal business stories from early stage start-ups, all the way to billionaire octogenarians in Malaysia and abroad. Notable guests include Martin Cooper (father of the mobile phone), Julian Assange (founder of WikiLeaks), Ralph Henry Baer (father of video games), Tony Buzan (Mindmap Guru), Isaac Tigrett (Hard Rock Cafe founder), Robert Kiyosaki (Financial Guru), Nick Vujicic (motivational speaker) and more. Tap into this valuable resource of shared experiences for the SME industry, which also touches on news, issues and trends affecting the business community and beyond.

Open For Business

Discover fresh concepts, tackle obstacles, and unleash growth - Open For Business is the dynamic show where BFM engages with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry trailblazers, igniting inspiration, sparking success, and exploring new business models.