Lighter Capital, which specializes in revenue-based loans to small businesses, said that it has increased its capital base to $17 million. The Seattle firm also recently completed its 50th loan, noting that funding volume has increased 400 percent in the past 12 months.
Lighter Capital invests up to $1 million in startup companies, and said it plans to boost its investment pace to about eight investments per month in the near future. The firm said it can complete a revenue-based loan in about a month, faster than other financing methods.
“We are changing how small technology businesses are funded,” said CEO BJ Lackland in a release “Historically, the process has been extremely painful and distracting for entrepreneurs. Between the networking, presentations, due diligence and negotiations, it’s like an entrepreneur takes on a new full time-job for 3-6 months. It’s a highly manual and relationship-driven process.
Lighter Capital has helped companies such as Cloudbilt, Refer.com, Fusion Labs, Redspin and other with financing, providing an alternative to venture capital where entrepreneurs must forfeit equity.