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How Scale-Ups Can Join the Growth Basket in Europe

For start-ups and scale-ups looking for debt facilities, there is only one place to go in Europe. Find out how to qualify for the Growth Basket program and what it looks like.

  • By Joerg Bartussek
  • Success Stories

Last week, our start-up financing program added the innovative developer of battery packs, LION eMobility, to the portfolio. Another great customer for the „Growth Basket“! 

When a product meets the exact needs of its customers, the start-up scene calls this a “product-market fit”. The Growth Basket, providing fast and flexible debt financing to European scale-ups, is a big success.

The market feedback is loud and clear:

  • “You have the very best program in the market. I would have never thought that RBI would do something like this.” (Citi Bank)
  • “I have never seen anything like this. This is great!” (BayBG)
  • “I have already written the first intro email.” (ActonCapital)  

The only bank in Europe offering pure debt facilities to scale-ups

Created in RBI’s Corporate Customers Digital Department, the Growth Basket is designed to support the very best of Europe’s fast-growing start-ups. On their way to become future large corporate customers, those companies get the financial support and flexibility they seek. Portfolio companies like Glovo, Staffbase, LION, Nuki, or Storebox appreciate this tailor-made product, because the Basket – as opposed to VC equity and Venture Debt – does not take any equity and consequently does not dilute founders’ and shareholders’ shares.

Joerg Bartussek

The elite group of the scale-up scene

Of the 350+ applicants, only a dozen scale-ups have qualified for the program so far. The scale-ups must prove their potential to be the market leaders of tomorrow – in addition to economic KPIs like net revenues, equity raised, positive gross margins and a clear path to EBITDA profitability.

While the due diligence and rating process is tough, it is also very fast: Time is money, and the Growth Basket delivers. If needed, RBI is able to pay out within 15 business days from the very first customer meeting. The high-quality analysis of the companies due to the Basket team’s expertise results in a 0% non-performing assets rate.

5 hard facts about The Growth Basket

  1. It is open for fast scaling start-ups from all over Europe and from all industries.
  2. Ticket sizes go up to € 15mn per start-up, depending on size and track record of the applicant.
  3. Loans generally run for 4 years.
  4. Priced at 6 % to 12 % margin, they are very attractive alternative or add-on financings to VC rounds.
  5. RBI does not take any equity or collateral.

The European Investment Fund joined a first of its kind co-operation with RBI, guaranteeing up to 70% of selected Growth Basket loans.  

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