Securing funding for startups in the digital space can be a steep hill to climb. While companies with large orders and receivables can get factoring financing, and companies that need significant equipment or property can borrow against assets, software companies have not traditionally had access to borrowing. What’s more, companies that could qualify for venture capital backing may not want to dilute their equity or might want to time an equity raise. How can tech companies secure the funding that fuels their growth strategies while preserving maximum ownership? Thankfully, there is a funding option that involves no equity dilution, covenants, or personal guarantees: revenue-based financing. In this thoughtful session, Leah Edwards, Investment Director at Lighter Capital, will guide you through the fundamentals of revenue-based financing and how it can be used to scale.

Key Takeaways:

• What is revenue-based financing? How does it differ from other funding options?
• How to prepare for a funding application or pitch for financing from any lender or investor
• What financial results lenders and investors focus on
• Tips for cash management

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Leah Edwards

Investment Director with Lighter Capital

Leah Edwards is an Investment Director with Lighter Capital, funding recurring-revenue companies with non-dilutive funding. Previously she was a Partner with Pegasus Technology Ventures, investing in collaboration with corporate limited partners. Leah is also an active angel investor, particularly focused on social ventures and founders from underrepresented groups.

Leah started her career in management consulting then launched new products for Intuit, Oracle and a joint-venture of Apple and IBM. She then joined the founding team of an enterprise SaaS company, Post Communications, which was acquired by Netcentives within two years for $380 million. After advising and serving in interim leadership roles for other startups that she helped sell to major companies including the US Green Business Council and SolarCity, she co-founded another marketing technology company, Overstat, which was purchased by Tealeaf Technology (now IBM).

Leah serves on the Boards of Cumplo.com, an SMB lending platform, and NameCoach, an enterprise SaaS company that serves both Higher Education and Enterprise markets. Leah is also an executive coach and a Lecturer for UC Berkeley’s and Stanford’s Engineering Departments teaching leadership and innovation skills. Leah’s involvement in Higher Education began in 2012 when she became the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Leah holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA and Certificate of Public Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

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