Olea raises $30m to expand AI-driven trade finance globally
Singapore-based Olea closed a $30 million Series A to scale its AI-led trade finance platform and extend reach across major trade corridors. The round was led by BBVA, with participation from XDC Network, theDOCK, and existing investor SC Ventures. It follows a separate financing facility announced in November 2024, arranged by HSBC and Manulife | CQS Investment Management.
Founded in 2022, Olea operates a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)-licensed platform connecting institutional capital to real-economy trade flows. The company reports more than $3 billion financed to date, with over 30 institutional funders and 1,000+ clients across 70 trade corridors.
Where the new capital goes
- AI-driven analytics to sharpen risk assessment, pricing, and fraud detection.
- Web3 readiness to future-proof digital asset workflows across trade instruments.
- Embedded finance products for changing supply chain and buyer-supplier needs.
- Scaling origination in high-growth markets through partnerships with banks, investors, and tech providers.
Why it matters for finance teams
Trade finance remains under-digitised, leaving many suppliers-especially small and mid-sized exporters-short on working capital. Platforms like Olea are closing that gap by pairing regulated infrastructure with data-driven risk models, speeding up decisioning and improving access to liquidity.
For CFOs and treasury leaders, this means faster onboarding, clearer risk visibility, and more flexible funding routes beyond traditional credit lines. Expect tighter integration via APIs, improved data fidelity, and closer alignment between payables/receivables cycles and capital access.
Strategic partners and market expansion
BBVA's lead investment is positioned to support expansion across Europe, the US, Latin America, and Asia. Olea and BBVA plan to collaborate on digital supply chain solutions and enhanced risk analytics.
SC Ventures, which incubated Olea, is exploring deeper collaboration across AI and digital assets. Together with XDC Network and theDOCK, this sets the stage for broader distribution, broader asset pools, and better interoperability across trade ecosystems.
Key numbers at a glance
- $30 million Series A led by BBVA
- $3+ billion in financing facilitated to date
- 30+ institutional funders, 1,000+ clients, 70 trade corridors
- MAS-licensed platform
Quote
Amelia Ng, CEO of Olea: "This funding marks an important milestone in Olea's journey. The confidence shown by our new and existing investors is a powerful validation of the business we've built, institutional-grade, scalable and ready for the next phase of growth. We are committed to building an efficient and accessible trade ecosystem that connects capital, commerce, and technology."
What to watch next
- Speed and accuracy gains in underwriting from AI-driven models.
- Adoption of embedded trade finance in B2B platforms and ERP ecosystems.
- Cross-border expansion velocity in core corridors supported by BBVA and SC Ventures.
- New investor channels and how Web3 readiness shows up in tokenization or on-chain settlement workflows.
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