Since 2016, RevUp Capital has invested into 50+ fast-growing companies with non-dilutive capital and world-class support.
We created RevUp after working for many years as equity investors as a way to break free from the "exit or bust" constraints of the equity-only model.
Here are a few things you should know about us:
> We are strategic investors who use a high-touch, portfolio-based model of investing.
> We are not a bank, we don't make loans, and we don't offer short-term credit products.
> We invest into companies ascending the $1-$10M growth curve. If you've conquered this curve, you know how hard that is. If you haven't (but want to), having the right strategic investors on the ride is critical to success.
> Rather than take equity in a company, we use what’s called a revenue contract to generate returns, wherein companies return a small percentage of revenue over time, until reaching a predetermined cap.
> Our typical investment is $350-$500K
> We invest before, after, as an alternative to, and adjacent to other forms of capital.
If this makes sense / sounds good, here's a video from RevUp Managing Partner Melissa Withers that descibes how we select companes for investment.
Investment Basics:
We invest into both B2B and B2C companies with revenue traction, a solid growth rate, and a strong team. Across the fund’s history we are split about 70% B2B and 30% B2C. We typically invest into companies that are:
- In the market, selling, and ready to grow to $10-15M in revenue in the next few years
- Our companies typically come into the portfolio with annual revenue of $500K - $3M
- We also care a lot about growth rate. Our companies may need more fuel on the fire to go faster, but they not stalled out or stuck on the tracks
- We only invest into companies that can comfortably support a revenue-based investment. if you're still early or your business runs on very low margins, we might not be a fit for you.
- In this spirit, we invest into companies that have solid underlying unit economics and/or a path to profitability. Burning isn't always bad and there's nothing wrong with investing into growth if you have the resources. But getting your company to a place where you can hold your own is a good place to be. From there, you have more optionality in choosing future investors and capital partners.
Beyond these baseline criteria, we look for companies that have operational and cultural qualities that track with our mission and values. Through this lens, we select for companies with:
A strong leadership team with proven execution ability
Teams that are ready and able to build a more scalable marketing and sales engine
Teams that are truly diverse. Since 2018, 70+% of RevUp investments have been into companies led by a woman or person of color companies and/or into companies the founders built their businesses outside networks of privilege. These are our people and that won’t change anytime soon.
Most importantly, we select for companies where we know we add unique and strategic value. While we were one of the first to bring revenue-based funding to earlier stage companies, we remain one of very few that use a high touch, portfolio-based model, a stark contrast to the high-volume, transactional models of many others in the space.
Cash + Capacity
Our model also combines cash investment with intensive hands-on support to help companies build a stronger, more scalable marketing and sales engine.
Building this engine quickly and efficiently is critical as companies move from early traction to sustainable growth—this is a time when missed opportunities and market-facing errors can make the difference between success and failure.
To give our companies the best shot at success, we built an internal growth platform that we offer to all of our investees. The platform includes tools, processes and hands-on support to help companies build a stronger, more scalable marketing and sales engine.
Getting up the 1-10 million dollar curve is a battle, and we know that it takes a lot more than more than money to win.
Want to learn a little more about RevUp's history and thesis. Check out the video below. Still not really a video kind of person? Go here.
Bonus Material
Watch a quick and cheeky video on why we named our last two funds after the Goddess Athena.
New to revenue-based investing? Check out this video on 5 Things to Know When Considering a Revenue-Based Investment.
Are you an LP interested in joining a RevUp fund as an investor? Go here.
Check out Melissa Wither's podcast (Un)Founded.
More About RevUp Capital RevUp Capital invests in B2B and B2C companies that are revenue-driven and ready to double down on growth. We deploy cash and capacity to help companies grow from $1-3M to $10-30M, quickly and efficiently, using a revenue-based model. Companies enter our portfolio with $500K-$3M in revenue, a strong growth rate, and a team that’s ready to scale. Our typical investment range is $300K-$500K.
We invest into a company's market-facing activity using a cash and capacity model. We pair our cash investment with dedicated support from the RevUp Growth Platform: a powerful resource to build a data-driven growth engine, delivered by people who get the work done. Rather than take equity, companies return investment through a small percentage of revenue over time. More at www.revupfund.com)