Lunch & Learn: How to Finance Your Business Without Giving up Equity
Event description
Struggling to understand which funding opportunities are best for your business and its stage of growth? Financing your company is no doubt a challenging process, warranting considerations about debt, equity, and the relative growth of your business.
In this workshop, join Melissa Widner, CEO of Lighter Capital, to learn how to determine the best way to fund your company.
Key Takeaways
- Assessing your company's stage of growth relative to funding pathways
- Understanding when debt is an appropriate funding source for growing a business
- Learning about non-dilutive funding and the benefits of retaining ownership in your company
About the Speaker
Melissa Widner is the CEO of Lighter Capital, the pioneer and leader in revenue-based financing for tech start-ups and scales ups, backed by National Australia Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, and Voyager Capital. With extensive experience in building and leading companies, Melissa has a deep understanding of both the entrepreneur’s journey and the role a funding partner can provide.
As CEO, Melissa led two companies to successful exits returning over a 10x return to her investors. She was the founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based 7Software (acquired by CNQR, acquired by SAP). As the Managing Director of NAB Ventures, the VC arm of the National Australia Bank, Melissa led the bank’s investments into high-growth fintech businesses, including Lighter Capital.
Melissa is also the co-founder and Chairperson of Sydney-based Heads Over Heels, an organization that supports women entrepreneurs running companies with high growth potential. As a lecturer at the University of Washington's Graduate School of Business, she also taught courses on venture capital and entrepreneurship. She was previously on the board of the AIC (AVCAL) and has served on the boards of several venture-backed technology companies in both the US and Australia.
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How to Find Us/Housekeeping
If you are feeling unwell, please do not attend our physical event. Tune in virtually instead!**Please note photos may be taken during the event. If you wish to opt-out, please let one of our staff members know or email hannah@fishburners.org for any other concerns. Go directly up to Level 3 of the Sydney Startup Hub and walk down the yellow corridor. Limited places available so registration is essential.
About Fishburners
Fishburners is much more than a coworking space. We are a not-for-profit, passionate community of 300+ scalable tech startups that only exists thanks to our amazing sponsors - Google for Startups, UTS, Chartered Accountants, and Jobs for NSW. We are dedicated to inspiring and helping startups get started, grow and succeed. Our goal is to make the hardest thing you’ve ever done easier! We do this through our different memberships which provide the facilities, resources, learning and development, mentoring, and connections that you need for your idea to come to life and flourish. We also open our doors and host some of the largest, regular events in the Australian startup ecosystem, including our bi-weekly lunch & learn workshops, and Shark Tank-style, Friday night pitches. Member or not, you're welcome to attend and/or get involved! Any questions about memberships or events, please feel free to email events@fishburners.org.