Business

From Startup to Success: How Venture Debt Can Help Your Business Grow

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2023

A new kind of funding is on the upswing for startups — venture debt. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, now that venture capital is drying up, “companies of all sizes look to raise more expansion capital via this alternative form of financing.”

As success stories proliferate of entrepreneurs using this funding solution in their early stages, interest in it naturally increases. Yet, venture debt isn’t the right choice for every business.

“Venture debt can open up exciting opportunities, but the decision to take on these loans is complex,” says Jay Jung, founder and managing partner of Embarc Advisors, a corporate finance advisory firm. “Problems can crop up when startups take on debt, so it’s important to weigh all aspects of this approach carefully.”

Venture debt explained

Venture debt is similar to other types of loans in that a business founder borrows money from the lender (usually an institutional bank, private investor, or fund that specializes in venture debt) and pays it back with interest over time. Companies that have already raised venture capital but are looking for more money to fuel their growth in-between equity rounds i.e., runway extension, typically use it.

“Venture debt provides funds with a short payback period — usually between 18 months and three years,” Jung says. “Lenders work with companies based on what makes sense for them at any given point in time.”

Venture debt helps businesses bridge funding gaps. “Startups are expensive,” Jung explains. “In their early days, most businesses need to spend time building their products or services while figuring out their go-to-market motion, so they usually don’t have a lot of revenue coming in. At the same time, they still need to pay the bills: employee salaries, rent on space, and other overhead.”

Indeed, as one recent study has discovered, “47% of startup failures in 2022 were due to a lack of financing.” For this reason, successfully securing venture debt can mean the difference between a company’s success and failure.

Venture debt also offers startups the ability to grow their business. “It can be a great option for any business looking to expand its operations, hire more employees and make strategic investments in technology or marketing,” Jung says.

Traditional versus venture debt

“Venture debt differs from traditional loans in a number of critical ways,” Jung says. “Traditional lenders look at a business’s past performance when determining whether or not to approve a loan. But for many startups, there isn’t a track record of past revenue. Plenty of new businesses operate in the red for years.”

For this reason alone, a traditional loan may be out of the question for some businesses.

“With venture debt, business owners can leverage the startup’s profitable future,” Jung explains. “While a traditional bank usually makes founders guarantee repayment by staking their personal property as collateral, founders can give venture-debt investors the right to purchase shares in the future, which is called a ‘warrant.’ In this way, they can use equity stakes to entice investors and other possible lenders.”

According to Jung, venture debt attracts investors because these loans tend to have higher interest rates than traditional loans. “In my experience, interest rates for venture-debt loans usually fall between 9 and 20 percent,” he says.

Options for venture debt

Startups have three options when it comes to venture debt. The first of these is term loans. “These operate much like traditional loans,” Jung says. “The lender loans the startup funds that must be repaid with interest after a certain period.”

Another option is revenue-based financing, which is paid back through a percentage of future revenue. “These loans can either be short- or long-term,” Jung says. “The important thing is that these startups need to have an established track record of generating revenue.”

The third option is factoring. “With factoring, the lender buys your accounts receivables for less than their face value,” Jung explains. “This gives the startup immediate funds, while the investor reaps the difference between their purchase price and the full amount of the bill.”

However, Jung urges caution with this method. “I’ve seen businesses get mired in situations in which they are never able to finish loans based on factoring,” he says. “They fall into a vicious cycle of relying on the factoring company and never actually get ahead, so the true cost of this approach can be a lot higher than it might first appear.”

Maximizing your success

The benefits of venture debt are numerous. Not only can these loans help you get your startup off the ground, but they can also give you the funds needed to grow as a company and expand into new markets. In the current environment where valuations have declined, extending runway through the use of venture debt may allow a company to grow back into its valuation and avoid a down-round. Still, employing this kind of funding successfully requires care.

“If you are interested in pursuing venture debt for your business, then do your due diligence,” Jung advises. “In particular, success will depend on accurately assessing your business’s needs, choosing the exact right financing option, developing a solid plan for repayment, and following it ruthlessly.”

While these steps may seem daunting, entrepreneurs who appreciate their difficulty may well be on the right track. This is one domain in which overconfidence could prove disastrous, but the good news is that — according to Jung — there’s a way to mitigate this risk.

“If you don’t have a lot of experience with corporate finance in general and venture debt in particular, then consider getting advice from a specialist,” Jung says. “With the help of an experienced advisor, you can be confident in choosing the right option and moving your company forward with the maximum chances of success. It’s important to remember that obtaining financing is only the beginning. Managing the finance post-funding is just as important.”

Business

How Black Banx Has Sped Digital Payments Into Its Global Phase

Published

11 hours ago

March 13, 2025

Matthew Wiles

The payments industry has grown substantially in the last decade, with digital transactions now practically a given in most parts of the world. A key contributor to this globalization of payments has been Black Banx, a Toronto-based global digital bank founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer.

Through innovative fintech solutions, a commitment to financial inclusion, and strategic investments in blockchain and artificial intelligence, the company continues to make transactions quicker and easier no matter where the sender or receiver is in the world.

The Cross-Border Payment Boom

Global transactions have never been more essential to the world economy. From businesses engaging in international trade to individuals sending remittances back home, the demand for fast and cost-effective cross-border payments has skyrocketed. In fact, FXCintelligence projects that the cross-border payments market will hit an astonishing US$290 trillion by 2030, driven by the rise of e-commerce and digital trade.

Historically, moving money across borders wasn’t simple. Traditional banking relied on a complex web of intermediaries, leading to slow processing times, high fees, and inefficiencies. But fintech has changed the game. Companies like Black Banx have introduced digital-first solutions that eliminate unnecessary middlemen, enabling instant, affordable transactions.

Black Banx’s Rapid Growth: A Testament to Demand

Black Banx has experienced explosive growth, reflecting the increasing demand for seamless global payments. By the end of 2024, the company’s customer base had expanded to 69 million users across 180+ countries—a staggering 76% growth from 39 million in 2023.

This growth wasn’t accidental. Black Banx’s success stems from its ability to offer frictionless cross-border banking, catering to individuals and businesses worldwide. It’s offerings include:

Instant Multi-Currency Accounts – Customers can open accounts online within minutes, eliminating the need for physical bank visits.
Cryptocurrency Integration – Black Banx has accepted Bitcoin and Ethereum since 2016 and expanded its crypto services in 2024 by integrating Solana and the Lightning Network, allowing for ultra-fast, low-cost cross-border transfers.
Zero-Intermediary Transfers – By leveraging blockchain technology, the company bypasses traditional banking infrastructure, significantly reducing fees and processing times.

AI-Powered Payments: Enhancing Speed and Security

If there’s one technology that has reshaped digital payments in 2024, it’s artificial intelligence. AI is now at the heart of fraud detection, customer service, and transaction optimization, making global payments more secure and efficient.

Black Banx has fully embraced AI, using predictive analytics and automated systems to streamline operations. AI-driven chatbots handle customer inquiries, reducing response times and improving service efficiency. Meanwhile, real-time fraud detection algorithms flag suspicious transactions, preventing financial losses and building customer trust.

The results? Black Banx achieved a cost/income ratio of just 68% in 2024—one of the best in the industry—demonstrating how AI-powered automation can drive profitability while maintaining top-tier service.

Financial Inclusion: Breaking Down Barriers

Despite living in a digital age, over 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked, according to the World Bank. Traditional banks have long failed to serve these individuals due to bureaucratic hurdles, geographic limitations, and high fees. Black Banx has made financial inclusion one of its core missions, particularly in underbanked regions like Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia-Pacific.

In 2024, the company’s impact on financial inclusion was profound:

32% year-over-year increase in SME clients in Africa and the Middle East – Black Banx empowered businesses in these regions with seamless digital banking services, reducing reliance on inefficient traditional banking channels.
Instant digital accounts with minimal documentation – Unlike traditional banks, which require extensive paperwork, Black Banx allows users to open accounts quickly, enabling greater access to financial services.
Affordable cross-border transactions – By eliminating intermediaries, the company ensures that even those in remote regions can send and receive payments without excessive fees.

The Future of Cross-Border Payments: Crypto and Blockchain

Cryptocurrency is no longer a niche asset—it’s gradually become a key cog in the global payments machine. Recognizing this early on, Black Banx became one of the first digital banks to integrate Bitcoin and Ethereum into its platform back in 2016.

In 2024, the company doubled down on its crypto-first strategy, incorporating Solana and the Lightning Network. These technologies allow users to complete cross-border transactions in seconds while avoiding the high fees and delays associated with traditional banking infrastructure.

Black Banx is also exploring crypto-based lending services, a move that could disrupt traditional financial models even further. If successful, decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions could provide businesses and individuals with access to capital without the constraints of conventional banking regulations.

A Year of Record-Breaking Financial Success

While many tech companies faced financial turbulence in 2024, Black Banx defied expectations, posting record-breaking numbers:

Annual revenue: US$11.1 billion (exceeding the forecasted US$10.8 billion)
Pre-tax profit: US$3.6 billion (far surpassing the original US$2.4 billion projection)
Customer base: 69 million users worldwide
Cost/income ratio: 68% – demonstrating operational efficiency
Capital distributions: US$2.90 per share

Black Banx’s financial success highlights the immense demand for efficient digital banking services, proving that fintech is not just a disruptor but the future of global finance.

What’s Next for Black Banx in 2025?

Given its past success, Black Banx is setting ambitious goals to build on its 2024 momentum. The company aims to:

Expand its customer base to 100 million users – By reaching more individuals in emerging markets, Black Banx hopes to further its mission of financial inclusion.
Strengthen its presence in digital asset banking – With growing demand for cryptocurrency-based financial services, the company will continue integrating blockchain solutions.
Enhance global payments infrastructure – By entering new markets and refining its AI-driven systems, Black Banx plans to make transactions even faster and more accessible.
Lower its cost/income ratio – Through further automation and AI optimization, the company aims to improve operational efficiency.

By embracing AI, blockchain, and a relentless commitment to financial inclusion, Black Banx has clearly been key in accelerating the transition of the world to a truly global payments system.