World Trade Center Mumbai organised a Workshop on Modern Funding Options for MSMEs to create awareness about alternative options for small and medium enterprises to raise capital other than  from banking sources on February 18, 2025.

Addressing this session, CA Vivek Chechani, Financial Consultant & MSME Funding Specialist and Founder- Croissance Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. pointed out, "“Strategic planning and focused execution can transform MSMEs into industry leaders. MSMEs with a profitable and scalable business model can raise capital for their growth without incurring interest burden by launching Initial Public Offering (IPO). By raising capital through IPOs, MSMEs can reduce debt, improve their financial ratios, enhance company visibility, increase valuation of promoters’ stake while retaining ownership of their business. By listing their enterprise, MSMEs can also improve corporate governance and incentivise employees through ESOPs. In India, there are around 6 crore MSMEs, of which hardly around 1000 MSMEs have raised capital through IPOs. More and more MSMEs can consider IPO as an option to raise long term capital for business expansion, debt reduction and working capital needs.”

CA Chechani also suggested the ideal amount to be spent on IPO related expenses such as hiring merchant bankers, marketing and regulatory compliances. For an IPO size of Rs. 10 crore -Rs. 20 crore, an SME can spend upto 5% of the IPO size on these expenses, he informed.

Apart from IPO, CA Chechani also explained modes of raising debt funding and supply chain finance for MSMEs such as TREDS platform, Invoice Discounting, loans under various government schemes, namely PMEGP, CMEGP, CGTMSE, Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme and so on.

During the event, Mr. Mayank Mehta, Branding Expert and founder of Balanced Chemistry explained how MSMEs can adopt branding & marketing strategies for expanding their business and launching a successful IPO. He remarked, “Branding and Marketing are not optional, but essential for MSMEs to scale up. Collaborations amplify reach, reduce risks, enhance credibility, while a strong branding strategy is the backbone of a successful IPO or expansion plan.” 

He explained how companies such as Boat grew their business through digital & influencer marketing, while companies such as Paper Boat earned brand loyalty through storytelling & emotional connect and how brands such as Chumbak and Jaipur Rugs strengthened their business through strategic collaboration. 

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) pointed out, “If India has to attain the Viksit Bharat vision of USD 40 trillion economy by 2047 or USD 5 trillion economy by 2027, it has to bridge the credit gap of MSME sector, which faces credit gap of Rs. 25 lakh crore. Government has taken various measures such as increased loan limit under credit guarantee scheme, established corpus for providing equity capital to MSMEs and so on. Still, MSMEs face genuine difficulty in accessing credit.”

Ms. Priya Pansare, Director – Trade & Investment & Promotion, WTC Mumbai delivered vote of thanks for the event. Ms. Pansare invited MSME exporters for the upcoming Export Conclave, organised jointly by WTC Mumbai, All India Association of Industries and YES Bank on February 21 at Mumbai.

The event was also attended by Ms. Rupa Naik, Executive Director, WTC Mumbai and Ms. Aakruti Bagwe, Director – Operations, WTC Mumbai.

Headline Image Caption: Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, WTC Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) [right] felicitating CA Vivek Chechani, Financial Consultant & MSME Funding Specialist and Founder- Croissance Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. at a workshop on Modern Funding Options for MSMEsat WTC Mumbai.