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IFS Capital
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The Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) 2025, held at Singapore Expo Hall 3 from 12-14 November, brought together thought leaders, financial innovators, and industry stakeholders to explore the future of finance on a global stage. IFS Capital participated as a key host at the PhillipCapital booth on 12-13 November, marking its debut at this prominent event.
During the two-day engagement, IFS Capital took part in panel sessions that addressed pivotal themes shaping the future of financial services in Southeast Asia, as part of the global financial landscape. These themes included private market tokenisation, the evolving landscape of private credit, and the role of responsible AI in lending. Executives from IFS Capital shared the stage with experts from PhillipCapital and other leading organisations, highlighting the company’s thought leadership and its commitment to driving innovation and responsible governance in the region’s financial ecosystem.
Throughout the discussions, several key trends emerged, each one with the potential to reshape the future of finance. Here’s a closer look at the insights and innovations that are shaping the industry.
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On Day 1, Randy Sim, Group CEO of IFS Capital, took the stage to join a panel on “Private Market Tokenisation: Solving Market Pain Points”. The discussion focused on how tokenisation is reshaping private markets, offering greater liquidity, accessibility, and transparency.
Randy highlighted the growing importance of operational efficiencies for asset managers, particularly in managing cross-border portfolios. He noted, “For us, even though we manage other people’s funds, we also deploy a significant portion of our own capital. It’s crucial for us to find efficient and transparent ways to manage that portfolio, especially with the volatility we're seeing today.”
Throughout the panel, the speakers explored the transformative power of tokenisation in breaking down traditional market barriers. While the panelists emphasised the operational advantages, there was a shared focus on how technology is opening new pathways for innovation, making private markets more agile and accessible than ever before.
The first panel on Day 2, titled “Private Credit: Connecting SMEs to Investors”, explored how private credit is empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the ASEAN region. Charis Liau, Chief Investment Officer at IFS Asset Management, Henry Toh, CFO of IFS Capital Limited, and Huan Kiat Seh, Fintech Director at PhillipCapital, shared their expertise on how technology and data-driven solutions are bridging gaps left by traditional banks.
Charis observed that more SMEs are turning to alternative financing options as traditional credit remains constrained. She highlighted that this shift is not just about securing funding but is also driving innovation in the private credit market. “SMEs are increasingly looking for faster, more flexible solutions, and private credit is stepping in to fill that need,” Charis explained.
Henry added that technology has become an essential tool for lenders, helping to manage risks more effectively. He pointed out that data, automation, and AI now allow for quicker, more accurate decision-making in the lending process. “By using these technologies, we’re able to better assess risk and make decisions that are both faster and more reliable,” Henry emphasised.
Huan Kiat expanded on the growing maturity of the private credit ecosystem, noting that fintech platforms are playing a critical role in improving risk assessment and creating more sustainable lending practices. He mentioned that the infrastructure for private credit is evolving rapidly, and we are seeing significantly stronger participation from both lenders and investors.
The second panel of the day, “Technology + Human Engagement: Engaging Borrowers Responsibly”, featured Benjamin Lam from Lendingpot and Sebastian Lau from Friday Finance. They discussed how fintech platforms are leveraging digital tools and maintaining human connection to build a more inclusive lending ecosystem.
Benjamin noted how digital platforms are reshaping the borrower experience by improving accessibility, transparency, and turnaround times. He shared, “We look at underserved markets mainly. We're always thinking like, okay, they are not able to get access to traditional lending because they're using traditional data.”
His point underscores the importance of using alternative data to bridge gaps in traditional lending models, offering underserved borrowers better access to credit. At the same time, the same data and technology that enable this shift also empower lenders to scale their operations, ensuring that processes remain fair and focused on the customer.
Sebastian emphasised that while digital tools like AI and automation are advancing rapidly, they are ultimately just tools that support the core value of lending: trust. “Lending is still fundamentally about trust. Technology helps us be more efficient, but it doesn’t replace the human element,” he said. This reinforces the idea that, despite technological advances, the human touch and trust remain central to the lending process.
He further explained how fintech platforms are now able to assess borrowers with greater precision and confidence. “We are able to assess whatever information that the applicant gives to us accurately. It is fully verifiable. So in that sense, we are able to make a decision.” This ability to verify and assess data accurately not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures that trust and fairness remain foundational in the lending process, especially as more individuals gain access to credit.
Both panellists reinforced the idea that financial inclusion is crucial, particularly in markets with underserved borrowers. Alternative data models and more refined credit assessment tools are opening new doors for individuals who previously struggled to access credit.
The final panel of the event, “AI + Credit Risk Management: Opportunities and Risks”, explored the evolving role of AI in reshaping credit risk management. Renchun Zeng, Singapore Country Head of IFS Capital, and Dr Chuang Chienmin, Chief Solution Officer at Criat, discussed how AI is transforming the way institutions assess risk, while ensuring that transparency and governance remain top priorities.
Renchun shared how IFS Capital is integrating AI into its credit risk frameworks, not just to enhance efficiency but to improve the accuracy and consistency of credit evaluations. He emphasised that AI helps lenders make faster decisions, which is particularly valuable for serving SMEs where time is often critical. However, he noted that despite the advancements, maintaining fairness and transparency is essential to ensure that AI-driven decisions remain unbiased and aligned with the company's commitment to ethical lending practices.
Dr Chuang outlined the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in financial institutions, emphasising that while AI offers tremendous potential for efficiency, it also requires strong governance. “AI’s true value lies in collaboration with human judgment. It’s about creating a partnership where AI enhances decision-making, but doesn’t replace the critical human oversight needed in financial services,” Dr Chuang explained.
Also, both speakers acknowledged that AI's evolution presents challenges, particularly when integrating it into legacy systems. Renchun noted the importance of overcoming obstacles such as data quality, system integration, and change management. Dr Leon added that strong governance is essential to avoid risks like bias and overreach, emphasising the need for continuous monitoring and accountability.
The discussions at SFF 2025 underscored the vital role of responsible innovation in the future of finance, particularly in the ASEAN region. From the potential of private market tokenisation to the growing role of AI in credit risk assessment, it is clear that technology will continue to play a central role in transforming financial services.
For IFS Capital, the festival was not only an opportunity to showcase its expertise but also to deepen its commitment to driving meaningful change in the financial landscape. By fostering collaboration with leading industry players like PhillipCapital, IFS Capital is helping to shape the future of finance in ASEAN, where trust, technology, and transparency converge to build a more inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystem.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the discussions highlighted the growing importance of responsible governance and strategic partnerships in scaling innovation. As the ASEAN region continues to evolve, IFS Capital remains dedicated to its leadership role in empowering SMEs, advancing fintech solutions, and fostering the responsible adoption of AI in credit risk management.
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Singapore, IFS Capital Limited is an SGX-listed financial services group focused on private credit, asset management, and insurance. Through its fintech subsidiaries (Friday Finance and Lendingpot) the Group also advances financial inclusion through digital consumer lending and loan marketplace innovation, creating a holistic ecosystem that connects SMEs, consumers, and investors across Southeast Asia.
IFS Capital Limited, established in 1987, is a trusted Singapore-based financial institution. Specializing in tailored financial solutions for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), IFS Capital offers factoring, invoice financing, and various loans to support business growth. Rely on our expertise for your financial needs.
