SME (small and medium enterprise) funds fall under the Category 1 SIF (Alternative Investment Funds) that prefer investing in listed/unlisted micro, small and medium enterprises.

SME sector is an impediment to the growth of an emerging economy. This Sector generally tends to meet their debt capital requirements through collateral-based lending offered by NBFC’s and other financial institutions. However, there has been a constantly increasing GAP between the demand and supply of debt capital to this sector. A substantial portion of the SME sector lacks collateral security required for collateral-based lending preferred by the Banks and NBFC’s. Also this sector fails to attract the risk investors like Venture funds, angels funds as SME’s don’t offer a high risk-return ratio. Thus, creating a vacuum for equity-based funding for such companies as equity funds are normally directed towards start-ups or established listed and unlisted companies with high return potential.

SME funds help bridge this gap of capital requirement faced by the SME sector by offering equity financing to these companies. SME FUNDS earn returns if the investee company reports substantial growth above minimum return (Say 8-10 %) or if the company gets listed on stock exchange attracting public investment(s). https://www.corpzo.com/aif--alternative-investment-fund-registration