scale-up

Start-up Loans
Start-up Loans 1 1 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

A startup loan is a valuable source of funding for new businesses that need capital to launch and grow. It is a type of business loan that provides a lump sum of money, which the borrower must pay back with regular repayments at a fixed interest rate.

To qualify for a startup loan, lenders will typically require details about your business plan, turnover, trading history (if any), founders, and projected earnings. While many types of businesses can obtain a startup loan, some areas of industry are excluded. For example, companies that engage in illegal activities such as drugs, weapons, and chemical manufacture are not eligible for a startup loan.

Startups that obtain a government startup loan don’t have to worry about their business ownership being affected. The loan is designed to help seed or early-stage businesses get off the ground, and it can be used for a variety of purposes, including concepts, testing, designs, prototypes, machinery, plans, legal needs, premises, marketing, and staff costs. In many cases, a startup loan is the only cash a company has when it first begins to operate.

There are several options for obtaining a startup loan, including traditional business loans, asset-backed loans, merchant cash advances, funding from angel investors, business grants, and business credit cards. Choosing the right source of funding is critical, and factors such as the amount of funding required, the length of time the money must last, the company’s ability to repay, and the retention of ownership must all be considered.

One significant advantage of a startup loan is that it allows you to start your business and usually lets you retain full or majority ownership. Additionally, government startup loans require no security or personal guarantee and often have lower interest rates and deferred payments. Lenders provide the loan based on the business plan and financial projections, not on historical business accounts, and startup loan providers will consider riskier businesses or ideas than most traditional lenders. Startup loans can also help you build business credit.

However, there are also some disadvantages to consider when taking out a startup loan. The application criteria for the government scheme can be restrictive and slow, and non-government backed loans can be expensive and may require collateral. Furthermore, taking out a startup loan can put your personal credit rating at risk.

Overall, a startup loan can be an excellent option for new businesses that need funding to get off the ground. When used wisely, it can help you bring your ideas to life, grow your business, and achieve long-term success.

Bloomberg Línea: 2023, a challenge or an opportunity for entrepreneurs to scale up?
Bloomberg Línea: 2023, a challenge or an opportunity for entrepreneurs to scale up? 1024 683 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

Bloomberg Línea spoke to experts and entrepreneurs of European companies with a presence in Latin America to identify the five main challenges they face and what will determine a business’s ability to secure venture capital.

Innovation-driven companies, including both startups and established companies, called “scaleups,” are facing a difficult year. This is due to widespread layoffs in the technology industry globally, and the current economic climate of rising interest rates, high inflation, and lower demand, which will result in less available funding. As investors become more cautious, these companies must come up with strategies that prioritize their project’s viability. 

Scaleups are companies that have achieved a certain level of success and are now looking to grow further. They typically have a proven business model, a large customer base, and a team of experienced professionals. Scaleups are often differentiated from startups in that they have a more established presence in the market, and are more likely to have access to capital, a more mature product, and a larger customer base. Scaleups are in a unique position to take advantage of the current environment of low capital, as they have the resources and experience to effectively manage their growth.

A Dynamic and Evolving Environment

This presents both a challenge and an opportunity, according to Joan Riera, president of Active Development and a professor at ESADE Business School. He thinks that there’s no better time to start a company. In this environment, startups are more flexible and quicker in making decisions and adapting to changes. Riera has started 12 companies during his career, many of which were founded during times of crisis.
Alejandro Gutiérrez-Bolivar, co-founder and CEO of Ladorian, a provider of digital point-of-sale advertising in Europe and Latin America, shares this view. He says, “This will be a year for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, for those who know how to navigate uncertainty.”

More Costly Capital and Less Investment

The current macroeconomic situation is not favorable, with central banks worldwide raising interest rates and consumer purchasing power declining due to high inflation. This has reduced the capital available for investment, and supply chain efficiency is another challenge for 2023.
According to Crunchbase, global VC funding in 2022 was $445 billion, a 35% year-on-year decline from the $681 billion raised by startups in 2021. This decline is steeper than what was seen after the 2008 financial crisis or the dotcom bubble, as reported by consulting firm Preqin.

Ability to Monetize and Grow

Gutiérrez-Bolivar from Ladorian says that with more challenging conditions, entrepreneurs will have to leverage their competitive advantages more effectively, and demonstrating business models that positively impact the bottom line in the short-term will be essential.
Albert Nieto, the founding partner of Seedtag, which provides AI and ML-based contextual advertising solutions, anticipates a difficult global situation. He believes that companies must show they can generate revenue and grow quickly to secure funding. The key is to demonstrate that the product can be sold on an international scale.

War for Talent in the Tech Industry

The tech industry is currently facing massive layoffs while at the same time, society is undergoing rapid technological change. Keeping talented employees in this environment of crisis and intense competition is a concern that experts have highlighted.

Joan Riera also highlights the shift in behavior brought about by the pandemic. “The concept of freedom has taken shape after Covid, making talent retention both a challenge and an opportunity,” he notes.

For Ladorian Gutiérrez-Bolivar, talent retention is critical as it affects companies on both a tactical and strategic level. He explains for Bloomberg Linea that we need to integrate talent in a productive way, adapting to the hybrid scenario of remote and in-person work. However, the new ecosystem has made it difficult to maintain team cohesion, so when it comes to talent, it is crucial for people to work with those who can make a positive contribution.

Juan de Antonio, a founding partner of Cabify, states that the startup and scaleup environment is always striving to refine its tools to better manage talent. He also points out that Spain’s recent startup law, which improves tax conditions for stock options, is a step forward in valuing professionals in the industry.

Innovation at the Forefront

Venture capital is seeking out companies that offer disruptive technologies without sacrificing profitability and scalability. According to Ladorian Gutiérrez-Bolivar, from a commercial standpoint, the markets need to keep a close eye on thriving sectors and those with a stronger presence.

On the other hand, Riera believes that healthcare innovations will have a major impact, particularly in mental health, followed by exponential tech trends such as digital transformation, AI, 5G, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
He concluded that customers are demanding more experiences, they are connected and eager to learn.

Source: Bloomberg Linea

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