When a technology business approached us for their first ever external funding round, they needed capital to bridge invoice payment gaps and maintain operational cashflow. We secured an unsecured term loan that gave them 100% more than they'd originally requested, with repayment terms that protected their monthly position.

Client snapshot

• Industry: Technology

• Years operating: Established business, first-time borrower

• Description: A technology business with no prior funding history needed working capital to manage the timing mismatch between delivering services and receiving payment. As a first-time borrower, they faced the classic challenge: demonstrating creditworthiness without a track record of servicing debt.

• Geography: United Kingdom

The challenge

The business had healthy underlying operations but needed capital to smooth cashflow while waiting for invoices to clear. As a first-time borrower in the tech sector, they faced scepticism from traditional lenders who wanted security or guarantees they couldn't provide. Their initial request was conservative, reflecting uncertainty about what the market would support rather than what the business actually needed to operate comfortably.

Why they came to us

• No prior funding history meant high-street banks wanted personal guarantees or security

• Overdue Invoice payment created recurring cashflow pressure that constrained growth

• The business had underestimated their actual funding requirement in their first approach

• They needed flexible terms that wouldn't burden monthly cashflow during quieter periods

• Speed mattered—delayed funding meant delayed projects and strained supplier relationships

Our approach

We mapped the business's actual cashflow cycle and identified that their initial request was too conservative. Rather than simply match what they'd asked for, we built a case for double the capital at terms that still protected their monthly position.

• Identified that Invoice finance was not suitable in this case as they had lumpy invoices that were currently overdue

• Approached lenders experienced with first-time tech borrowers and unsecured facilities

• Structured proposals around both term loans and revolving credit to test which better suited their pattern

• Negotiated for the longest available terms (42–60 months) to minimise monthly repayment impact

• Prioritised competitive interest rates across the full lender panel to ensure best-available pricing

We positioned the business to multiple specialist lenders simultaneously, presenting their cashflow model and growth trajectory clearly. By demonstrating the mismatch between their cautious initial request and their operational reality, we secured offers that gave them proper breathing room. The selected lender offered an unsecured term loan over 60 months with a competitive rate and no requirement for personal guarantees.

The impact

• Secured £50k—double the original £25k request—giving the business genuine working capital headroom

• 60-month term kept monthly repayments low enough to protect cashflow during uneven revenue months

• Unsecured structure meant no assets tied up and no personal risk to the founder

• Established a funding track record that will make future capital raises significantly easier

The business now has the capital buffer to take on larger projects without cashflow anxiety, and they've built a credit history that opens doors for future growth funding. First-time borrowing doesn't have to mean compromised terms or personal risk.

Takeaway

First-time borrowers often underestimate what's possible. We don't.

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