Revenue-based financing has 55% higher approval rates for women than traditional VC. And you don't give up equity or control.
If you've been bootstrapping for a while and need cash to scale without giving up your board seat, this might be the move →
Today’s Issue:
Why RBF is a game-changer for female founders
How it works + real numbers
UK/US providers with actual links
Step-by-step for getting your first offer
What RBF Actually Is
I know what you’re thinking ‘Resting Bxtch Face’ - But no, I which…
You get upfront cash. You pay back a fixed percentage of your monthly revenue until you've repaid a set amount (usually 1.2–1.5x what you borrowed).
No board seats. No investor drama. No dilution. Just cash in, repayment out as you grow.
Why It Works Better for Women
Algorithms don't care about gender. If you have sales, you get approved.
That's it. No pitch deck perfect enough. No warm intro needed. No wondering if they "believe" in you.
If your revenue checks out, you're in.
This matters because women bootstrap longer, grow sustainably, and often have proof of concept before they even think about raising. RBF rewards that
The Real Numbers
Let's say you borrow £100K at 1.3x repayment:
You owe back £130K total
You repay 10% of monthly revenue until that's paid off
If you make £20K/month → you pay £2K back per month
If you make £50K/month → you pay £5K back per month
The faster you grow, the faster you repay. But if you have a slow month, your repayment adjusts down. It scales with you.
Where to Actually Apply
UK:
US:
How to Get Your First Offer
1. Gather 12 months of revenue history Most platforms want to see consistent revenue. If you're doing £10K+/month, you're in the zone.
2. Compare offers Look at:
Percentage fee (how much over the original loan you'll repay)
Term length (how long you have to pay it back)
Max funding amount (some cap you at £50K, others go up to £500K+)
3. Submit online Most don't require a credit check. You connect your bank or accounting software, and they pull revenue data directly. Decision in 24–48 hours.
When RBF Doesn't Make Sense
If your revenue is inconsistent or you're pre-revenue, this won't work yet. RBF is for founders who've already proven the model and need fuel to scale.
If you're earlier stage, grants or angel funding make more sense (I'll cover both in upcoming newsletters).
What's Next
If you've got revenue and want to explore this, I can help you review your numbers or figure out which provider fits your business model.
Just reply to this email with your monthly revenue and what you'd use the funding for. I'll walk you through it.
Free Money Alerts:
Start Up Loans UK – Government-backed loans up to £25K
Grant Directory by IFundWomen – Searchable database of grants for women
That's it for this week. If RBF isn't your route, at least now you know it exists.
See you next week,
