Merwave

While Merwave had been entirely bootstrapped from the start, 2024 brought ambitious plans for growth. The business needed to place a large, custom bottle order, enough to sustain supply for the next 12 months and support their scaling strategy without risking stock shortages.

Though the company had strong payment terms with suppliers, such a significant inventory investment required extra cashflow security.

Abi and Tom weren’t facing an immediate cash crisis, but they knew having a flexible funding safety net in place would help them scale without disruption.

Abi first came across Female Founder Finance at a Department for Trade event in Leeds, where Roxanne Goodman was speaking on a panel about the funding gap for women entrepreneurs.

“I didn’t actually speak to Roxanne that day, but what she said really stuck with me. When we needed finance, we didn’t look anywhere else, I just remembered Female Founder Finance and reached out.” – Abi

From there, the process was straightforward. Roxanne proposed funding options that fit Merwave’s needs without requiring them to switch banks. The couple chose a flexible line of credit, available when they need it, without any urgency to draw on it immediately.

Although Merwave hasn’t yet used the funding, having it in place has given the founders peace of mind and the freedom to move quickly when required.

“It’s really a safety net. We didn’t want to be scrambling for finance at the last minute when larger payments are due. Now it’s just there, ready for when we need it.” – Tom Reid

The line of credit will likely be drawn upon in the coming months as larger inventory payments approach, allowing the business to maintain momentum without compromising operations.

For a long time, both Abi and Tom avoided networking, until they realised how isolating running a business could be. Joining communities like Buy Women Built and engaging in founder groups has been transformative.

Tom explains that he now participates in online founder networks where advice flows freely, while Abi attends in-person events to connect with other entrepreneurs. “You get a sounding board from people in the same situation. It’s hard to start, but worth it.”

“We’d definitely recommend Female Founder Finance. The process was seamless, the options were clearly broken down, and Roxanne really understood what we needed. It was flexible, it worked for us, and it’s going to be worthwhile for our growth.” – Abi & Tom

Female Founder Finance is proud to support Merwave as they continue to scale their business and champion a unique, underserved segment of the haircare market.