This paper includes the outcomes of the work around issues related to the alternative methods to finance SMEs. Given the difficulty of obtaining finance for SMEs, this work outlines different alternatives of getting money from investors, not only from banks - traditional ways of financing, as it was mainly in the past, before FinTech revolution.The purpose of this dissertation is to understand why SMEs, but mainly start-ups, are looking for alternative financing options when starting and expanding their businesses. The final objective is to understand which are the main success factors for the increase in new ways of financing SMEs.The very beginning of this work deals with a definition of alternative financing and SMEs. Then there is an outline of Alternative financing ecosystem in Europe where the reader can find an information about the volume of alternative funding and Alternative finance market allocation in Europe. Since start-ups are a significant part of SMEs, the paper holds more information values about Start-ups alternative financing, i.e. start-up accelerators. From the point of view of the investors, success factors of these companies are the next point which can help reader to understand measurable parts of business and their importance when looking for additional finances in an alternative way. Then the work deals with success factors of alternative financing itself. In order to highlight the reasons for the increase in popularity of new ways of financing for start-ups and SMEs, two case studies are analysed.To sum up all the information briefly, this dissertation helps people to understand not only what are the success for the increase in new ways of financing for SMEs, but also the way the alternative financing works and how does the evolution of this market of new financing means looks like.<br /
