#207 – Melissa Widner Has Money for SAAS Companies

As a CEO, Melissa Widner has led two companies to successful acquisitions that provided over a 10X return to investors.  Do you need money to grow your company, without giving up equity?  David talks with Melissa about funding your company's growth and the challenges financial folks see in entrepreneurs.  Every startup leaders have a different journey, but there are key similarities that separate high-growth visionaries from those who get stuck.  Money for growth can be a tipping point. Melissa has a deep understanding of the entrepreneur's journey and the importance of growth capital.  If you're looking for alternative methods to finance your next big move, then join this conversation! Melissa Widner is the CEO of Lighter Capital, the pioneer and leading provider of revenue-based financing to SAAS companies.  Previously, she was the Managing Director of NAB Ventures, the venture capital arm of National Australia Bank, where she invested in and served as a director for several global fintech companies, including Lighter Capital. Melissa served as a general partner at SeaPoint ventures, a US-based venture capital firm focused on mobile technologies and SaaS enterprise software solutions.  She is an active angel investor who served on the board of the US-based Alliance of Angels, one of the longest-running and most active angel groups in the world.  She was a lecturer on the subjects of Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington's MBA program. In 2009, Melissa relocated to Sydney with her Australian husband.  She is the co-founder and chair of Heads Over Heels, an organization that works with women entrepreneurs leading high-growth companies.  She served on the boards of AIC (The Australian Investment Council--formerly AVCAL), and currently serves on the board of the Shore Foundation and Heads Over Heels.  She is the proud mother of four boys. Spotify Apple Podcast Google Podcast Manage2Win ------- This Manage 2 Win Podcast episode is brought to you by Habitly.  I (David) review Habitly best practices regularly, and teach these essential people skills to clients weekly.  This advice has changed my life, and made millions for our clients. I started developing Habitly content in 2004.  Habitly's powerful best practices have now been taught to thousands of people worldwide.  For instance, you can learn how to Create time in your day;  Get more from meetings;  Stay calm;  Achieve significant targets;  and Become a great leader.  Simply study and apply the expert knowledge provided in Habitly courses and micro-learning episodes. Whether you're just out of college, or someone with over 20 years work experience, learn the habits of highly successful people on Habitly.  First 7 days free, including access to the entire Habitly knowledgebase – www.habitly.com.