Nudea was founded in September 2019 by Priya Downes to give modern women luxury products that fit perfectly and are environmentally responsible. A focus on recycled fabrics and sustainability earned the brand B-corp certification and a growing reputation for purposeful design.
The pandemic brought both opportunity and pressure. As more women shopped online, demand surged and propelled the brand through its first two years. But post-pandemic supply chain disruption and falling consumer spending put ongoing strain on the business.
As Nudea expanded beyond direct-to-consumer into partnerships with established retailers, it needed substantial working capital. The conventional route, raising equity, meant diluting ownership and months of founder time spent fundraising instead of running the business.
Lenkie's CardPay let Nudea pay all of its invoices using the credit cards the business already qualified for, even where suppliers didn't usually accept card payments. Priya had access immediately on signing up, and was offered a Lenkie Credit Facility within 48 hours of applying.
Together the two products gave the brand a straightforward source of working capital, shifting focus from raising equity to driving growth. As Priya puts it, raising equity to manage cash flow doesn't make sense; the facility bought time to grow, and CardPay unlocked credit the business already had.
The journey
01
Instant CardPay access: supplier invoices paid through existing credit cards from day one
02
Credit Facility offer inside 48 hours of applying
03
Ongoing cash flow control: dashboard insights used to plan repayments and time investments
Priya Downes
CEO and Founder, Nudea
Since applying for funding in January 2023, Nudea has grown revenue 20% year over year. Funding has gone where it moves the business: digital marketing campaigns and inventory purchases, timed with precision using Lenkie's dashboard. By cutting out the equity fundraising process entirely, Priya has been able to put her energy into the product and the brand's future.
20%
year over year revenue growth since funding
48 hrs
to a Credit Facility offer
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