FSM

FSM, operating as Finmaq, is a Colombian financial technology company addressing the significant credit access gap for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Latin America. Founded in 2014 by Diego Sanz de Santamaría and Diego Acero, the company was restructured in 2019 to better focus on its core mission. Both founders bring backgrounds in investment banking and financial structuring, an experience Sanz de Santamaría described as an accelerated learning curve when shifting from the corporate world to entrepreneurship.

The company's business model centers on financing productive assets for businesses and individuals, particularly those traditionally excluded from the formal financial system. It operates primarily in the health, construction, agriculture, and industrial sectors within Colombia. Finmaq generates revenue through credit and leasing solutions for machinery and equipment. Its clientele consists largely of MSMEs, which constitute 90% of the business ecosystem in Latin America. A significant portion of its borrowers have no prior credit history, are women-led, or are located outside of major cities, with the financed asset often becoming the client's primary source of income.

Finmaq has developed a proprietary credit risk analysis system that diverges from traditional models by focusing on the client's experience and the specifics of the financed asset rather than relying solely on conventional income metrics or hard-to-meet collateral requirements. This technological approach allows the firm to pre-approve loan applications in minutes and complete disbursement in under eight days. The company's product suite includes traditional credit, leasing (renting), and revolving credit lines for maintenance and consumables. This strategy has enabled Finmaq to achieve notable growth, securing a $29 million pre-Series A funding round in early 2025 to expand its portfolio and enhance operational efficiency.

Keywords: productive asset financing, SME lending, financial inclusion Colombia, fintech, credit risk analysis, equipment leasing, machinery financing, alternative lending, MSME credit, social impact finance, construction equipment finance, medical equipment finance, agricultural machinery loans, Latin America fintech, asset-backed lending, digital lending, small business loans, impact investing, Bogota startup, Diego Sanz de Santamaría