Singapore-based fintech startup Aspire announced today (April 15) that its subsidiary, AFT HK Treasury Limited, has been granted three operating licenses by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. The licenses cover Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities), and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities, and the subsidiary will operate under the supervision of the SFC.

This licensing achievement marks a significant milestone for Aspire's expansion of financial services in Hong Kong and paves the way for the upcoming launch of its Aspire Yield investment product. Aspire Yield is specifically designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping companies generate returns on their idle cash. A key feature is genuinely "zero-threshold" access for businesses, with no minimum investment amount required.

Andrea Baronchelli, Co-founder and CEO of Aspire, stated, "These licenses enable us to address the long-standing challenges SMEs face in treasury management. Traditional investment options often demand high minimum balances, involve manual cash management, and require navigating complex banking relationships, conditions typically suited only for larger corporations." He added, "Companies need to make their capital work more efficiently while maintaining the flexibility to deploy funds instantly when opportunities or challenges arise. Our goal is to maximize the productivity of every dollar."

Over the past year, Aspire has obtained a total of eight licenses and registrations in Australia, Europe, and the United States. The past year also saw the company achieve 3.3-fold growth in Hong Kong, its highest recorded annual growth, driven primarily by demand from startups, AI companies, and digital businesses operating across multiple markets. Aspire has observed a trend among its clients towards "Day-One cross-border" operations—engaging with over 90 markets upon account opening, with 20% of transactions involving foreign exchange within the first month. This allows founders to generate yield from idle funds while expanding across markets, without incurring additional burdens.