March 2022 Summaries

Airwallex’s monthly business-account update expands SWIFT payment coverage to Israeli shekel, South African rand, Mexican peso, and Turkish lira, while noting that SWIFT fees still apply. It also introduces faster, lower-cost local-currency payouts from Hong Kong and Greater China to recipients in Egypt, Bahrain, and Israel, reducing reliance on SWIFT transfers. UK customers can now assign up to three card administrators as contacts for each Company Card to authorize transactions, with future plans to allow employees to access card details and submit receipts through Airwallex Expenses. An upcoming Xero integration will let businesses add Airwallex multi-currency payment links and QR codes to invoices so customers can pay directly into their Airwallex accounts.

Startups commonly choose between debt financing, which provides borrowed capital that must be repaid with interest while preserving founder ownership and control, and equity financing, which exchanges ownership shares for capital without fixed repayments. Debt can offer tax deductions and flexibility once repaid but may strain cash flow through mandatory payments and high interest rates, particularly for early-stage businesses, while equity can supply larger investments, flexible cash flow, and investor expertise but dilutes control and future profits. Funding sources include angel investors, crowdfunding, venture capital, and small-business credit cards, each suited to different stages and needs; founders are encouraged to weigh their cash-flow outlook, growth plans, and desired autonomy when deciding. The piece also promotes Airwallex’s multicurrency business accounts as a way for startups receiving international investment to manage funds, payments, and foreign-exchange costs.