Seattle’s Lighter Capital announced today that it is making its debt financing offerings, including term loans and lines of credit, available to the Canadian market.
Lighter Capital provides founders up to $3 million of non-dilutive growth capital in a fraction of the time it takes to raise from traditional sources. Rather than take equity, the company takes a percentage of monthly revenues over the life of the loan. Unlike traditional funding sources, Lighter Capital doesn’t require board seats, warrants or personal guarantees from its borrowers.
Since 2012, Lighter Capital has invested over $200 Million in more than 350 U.S.-based startups in over 650 rounds of financing. Twenty percent of these companies have had a successful exit, such as Jive Communications, MapAnything, and Steelbrick.
The expansion of Lighter Capital’s debt-financing business will provide Canadian entrepreneurs with an alternative to traditional equity sources such as venture capital or bank financing.
“There’s no question that debt is the most cost effective form of capital for early stage companies,” stated Thor Culverhouse, CEO of Lighter Capital. “Equity is comparatively very expensive, especially for early-stage entrepreneurs. What we’ve done is create a fast, easy way for revenue-generating startups to access financing without having to give up any equity or control.”
Lighter Capital is already in active discussions with Canadian startups and will open an office in Vancouver in April with a dedicated team led by John Can Karayel focused on growing its presence in Canada.
Lighter Capital has also partnered with the Canadian outpost of the Founder Institute, the world’s largest startup accelerator, in order to provide startups with the advice and support needed to grow their companies.