Riverchain Raises US$5M Series A to Bridge Construction Financing Gaps Across Asia

The Hong Kong-based fintech startup aims to tackle one of the construction industry’s biggest bottlenecks — delayed payments — with a tech-driven approach to liquidity and risk management.

Riverchain International Limited, a Hong Kong-based fintech company, has raised US$5 million in a Series A round led by Betatron Venture Group to expand its working capital solutions for the construction industry.

The funding will accelerate Riverchain’s regional expansion across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia while strengthening its origination, credit underwriting technology and distribution. Since 2024, Riverchain has provided more than US$100 million in financing for 115 construction projects, including Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis and Kai Tak Sports Park.

The company’s goal is to make cash flow predictable for small and medium-sized subcontractors who often bear the financial burden of slow or inconsistent payments.

Solving the $7 Billion Payment Bottleneck

In Hong Kong’s construction industry alone, an estimated US$7 billion is tied up annually in delayed or variable payments. For smaller contractors, this capital gridlock often leads to project delays, halted operations, or an inability to bid for new work.

Riverchain was founded to close this gap by offering fast, flexible financing tailored to subcontractors’ project-based needs. Through its platform, contractors can access funds within days — not months — allowing them to maintain liquidity and continue operations without relying on traditional credit lines that are often out of reach for SMEs.

Its data-driven lending model uses project metrics, payment histories, and risk analytics to assess creditworthiness in real time, giving contractors a more transparent and efficient financing channel.

Funding Momentum and Strategic Expansion

The US$5 million Series A follows Riverchain’s US$1.2 million seed round, which included participation from the Republic Asia Ecosystem Fund. The company now plans to deepen its footprint in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, regions where construction is booming but liquidity gaps persist.

The new capital will be used to:

• Strengthen Riverchain’s credit assessment and origination technology
• Scale its embedded financing products for subcontractors
• Develop distribution tools that allow institutional investors to participate in its alternative credit marketplace

This combination of financing infrastructure and digital transparency aims to make construction credit more accessible, predictable, and data-backed.

Investor Confidence in Construction Fintech

Ben Wong, Founder and CEO of Riverchain, said the funding reinforces the company’s mission to modernize construction financing:

“The closing of our Series A validates our mission to empower subcontractors and gives us the resources to scale our technology and expand our reach. By combining specialised financial products with a data-driven platform, we’re helping a new generation of builders grow their businesses with confidence and transparency.”

Matthias Knobloch, Managing Partner and CEO of Betatron Venture Group, added that construction remains one of the world’s least-digitized sectors despite its massive scale:

“Riverchain’s integrated approach and strong market position allow it to play a meaningful role in the sector’s digital transformation.”

Adrian Cheng, Venture Builder, also noted the convergence of technology, finance, and infrastructure as a driver of the next phase of economic growth:

“Riverchain is harnessing innovation to transform construction opportunities into pathways for long-term progress.”

A Broader View: Why This Matters

The construction sector — which contributes nearly 13% of global GDP — is one of the last major industries to undergo digital transformation. Payment bottlenecks and opaque credit systems continue to stifle efficiency and profitability for SMEs across Asia.

Riverchain’s success highlights a broader shift toward embedded fintech in traditional sectors. Rather than competing with banks, startups like Riverchain create vertical-specific financial systems — using real-time project data and risk models to close credit gaps that general-purpose lenders overlook.

If the company succeeds in replicating its Hong Kong model across Southeast Asia, it could reshape how liquidity flows in construction — turning one of the region’s most capital-intensive industries into a more transparent, efficient ecosystem.

Conclusion — Building Liquidity for Builders

Riverchain’s $5 million Series A round underscores growing investor confidence in applied fintech — technology that solves deep-rooted, operational problems rather than chasing consumer trends.

By merging liquidity, data intelligence, and strategic partnerships, the company aims to become a financial backbone for Asia’s construction SMEs. Its challenge now is scale — balancing growth with risk while maintaining the trust of both contractors and institutional investors.

If successful, Riverchain won’t just improve cash flow for builders — it could lay the foundation for a more efficient and transparent financing model across the region’s built environment.

Quick Takeaways

• Funding: US$5M Series A led by Betatron Venture Group
• Focus: Working capital solutions for subcontractors in the construction industry
• Impact: Over US$100M deployed to 115 Hong Kong projects since Jan 2024
• Expansion: Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and beyond
• Goal: Bridge liquidity gaps using data-driven, embedded financing solutions