Early-Stage Capital
Startup Business Funding for Newer Companies
Businesses under two years old often struggle to qualify for bank financing that requires several years of tax returns and financial statements. Valhalla evaluates newer businesses primarily on bank deposit consistency, offering direct funding from $10,000 to $5,000,000 with decisions and funding turned around in as little as 24 hours.
- 6+ months in business considered
- $10,000 to $5,000,000 available
- Approval based on deposit activity
- Funded in 24 hours
Risk-free, no-commitment application. No hard credit pull to check options.
The Startup Gap
Why Newer Businesses Struggle With Traditional Financing
Banks and SBA lenders typically require two to three years of tax returns, detailed financial projections, and often a personal guarantee backed by collateral before approving a loan, which effectively excludes most businesses under two years old regardless of how well they are performing. This creates a well-known funding gap for startups that have moved past the initial launch phase and are generating real revenue but have not yet built the multi-year track record traditional underwriting requires.
Valhalla's model addresses this gap by underwriting from four months of bank statements rather than years of tax returns, focusing on whether current deposit activity supports repayment of a specific advance amount. A business with six months of operating history and $15,000 or more in average monthly deposits can qualify for funding sized appropriately to that shorter track record, even without the multi-year history a bank would require.
- Minimum six months in business, not two to three years
- Deposit consistency weighed more heavily than deposit size
- Conservative initial sizing that grows with performance
- No requirement for multi-year tax returns or projections
What Underwriters Look For in a Newer Business
For a business under two years old, consistency matters more than absolute deposit size. Steady, predictable deposits over the available statement history signal a stable operation, even at a modest revenue level, while erratic deposits with large gaps raise more concern regardless of the average. Underwriters also look at whether deposits are trending upward, which suggests growth momentum worth funding.
Sizing an Offer for a Shorter Track Record
Because there is less history to evaluate, offers for newer businesses are typically sized more conservatively relative to monthly deposits than offers for an established business with years of statements. This is a starting point, not a ceiling: a newer business that performs well on an initial advance often qualifies for larger, better-priced funding on subsequent applications.
Businesses Under Six Months
Businesses that have not yet reached six months in operation face a harder qualification path, since there is limited deposit history to evaluate. In these cases, personal credit strength, industry, and any available deposit activity are weighed together, and approval is handled case by case rather than through standard criteria. Some very early businesses may not qualify for any advance until additional operating history accumulates.
Owners in this position are often better served focusing on building three to four consistent months of business banking activity, even at modest volume, before applying, since that history is what unlocks standard underwriting. Personal savings, a co-signed personal loan, or vendor financing may be more appropriate bridges during the first few months of operation.
How Startup Approvals Are Structured
Beyond the deposit and time-in-business review, standard requirements apply: a personal credit score of 500 or higher and four months of bank statements. There are no upfront fees to apply, and the review process is the same as for any Valhalla application, just calibrated to weigh the available data appropriately for a shorter operating history.
Structured terms are typically presented within 48 hours, with funding following within 24 hours of a signed agreement. Businesses across all 50 states are eligible to apply, and Valhalla's underwriting team will explain clearly what additional history or documentation, if any, would improve an offer for a business that does not yet qualify at the level requested.
Minimum qualifications
- 6+ months in business
- $15,000+ monthly deposits
- 500+ FICO floor
- Active business bank account
The path to the hall
Funded in one working day.
Apply
One-page application. Entity details, monthly revenue, and what the capital is for.
Submit four statements
Your four most recent business bank statements. Underwriters return offers in 2–4 hours during business hours.
Choose your structure
Multiple offers side by side: factor or rate, term, daily vs weekly debit, holdback options.
Sign and fund
Sign before the 1 PM ET cutoff and funds wire the same day. After cutoff, next business morning.
FAQ
Startup Business Funding — questions worth answering.
How new can my business be to qualify?
Valhalla generally looks for a minimum of six months in business, though businesses with less history may still be considered case by case if deposit activity is strong and consistent. Businesses under six months without meaningful deposit history typically need more operating time before a standard offer can be structured.
Do I need a business plan or financial projections?
No. Unlike SBA or bank financing, Valhalla does not require a business plan, projections, or multi-year tax returns. The core underwriting document is four months of business bank statements showing actual deposit activity.
Will my startup get as much funding as an established business?
Typically, newer businesses receive more conservative initial offers relative to their monthly deposits because there is less history to evaluate. Offers generally grow in size and improve in pricing as the business builds a longer track record with Valhalla or demonstrates continued deposit growth.
What credit score does a startup owner need?
The same minimum applies as for any Valhalla applicant: a personal credit score of 500 or higher. Since business credit history is typically thin or nonexistent for a new company, personal credit and bank deposit activity carry more weight in the underwriting decision.
Can I use startup funding for initial equipment or inventory?
Yes, funds are general-purpose and can be used for equipment, inventory, marketing, payroll, or any other operating need. Businesses planning a specific equipment purchase may also want to compare pricing against Valhalla's equipment financing alternatives, which can offer different terms for asset-backed purchases.
What if my startup does not qualify yet?
Valhalla will explain what is missing, typically additional months of consistent deposit history, and welcomes a reapplication once that history is built. There are no fees or penalties for applying and not qualifying, so there is no downside to checking eligibility as the business grows.
Take your seat
Earn your seat at the table.
Submit your file. Receive structured terms within 48 hours. Risk-free, no-commitment application.