State-run banks are often reluctant to lend to private companies that do not have the hard assets (such as land) or implicit government backing that State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) enjoy.

FORBES: China's Alarming Risk Of Financial Instability

SharesPost, which is known for its website for buying and selling private company stock, is launching a new program to lend cash to shareholders in private companies in order for them to exercise their stock options.

FORBES: SharesPost Launches Lending For Startup Stock Options