Yahoo Finance How one Canadian company exported its rewards software
For a small business owner, growing beyond Canadian borders is no easy feat. With hard work, organization and support from Export Development Canada (EDC), global expansion doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Discover how Canadian businesses of all sizes found international success by exporting their goods and services with the help of EDC.
Ackroo, a gift card, loyalty and rewards technology and services provider, was established in 2012 after acquiring a Vancouver company called MoneyBar Rewards. The company’s self-serve marketing platform helps merchants manage important currencies like gift cards, loyalty rewards and promotions. In its first year of business, Ackroo went public. In the following year, the company overhauled its technology and started growing in Canada.
“The first year of our business revolved around how to commercialize and how to go to market,” says Steve Levely, CEO. “Our initial theory was that maybe we would build a direct-sales organization. But really, the path of success for us has been through partnerships and acquisitions.”
In 2015, Ackroo acquired two Canadian companies and three more the year after. In 2017, it acquired a Canadian company with a large percentage of U.S. business, providing Ackroo with its first presence south of the border.
After six successful acquisitions and with plans for more, Ackroo turned to EDC for help with cash flow management.
How EDC helped
Since 1944, the financially self-sufficient agency has helped thousands of small Canadian companies respond to international trade opportunities so they can take their exporting business to the next level. Much of EDC’s work is done in collaboration with the Government of Canada.
When the bank couldn’t lend as much as Ackroo needed, it was introduced to EDC.
Through the Export Guarantee Program, EDC was able to provide a guarantee on the money Ackroo borrowed from its bank, which made the bank more comfortable with increasing the line of credit. In fact, Ackroo was able to secure a line of credit worth 100 per cent of the value of its monthly receivables.
“Our bank wants us to grow and succeed, we want to grow and succeed, and EDC was able to lend a hand in helping those things come together,” says Derek Schaaf, CFO.
The result
Accessing more working capital from EDC gave Ackroo a safety net so it no longer has to worry about cash flow.
“Now we have a month of wiggle room, and for small businesses, cash flow is king. Because of the timing of payables and receivables, having a full month of receivables through our line of credit is really helpful,” says Levely.
In time, the company plans to seek assistance from EDC with acquisition capital for markets like the U.S. “Seven per cent and growing of our revenue is U.S. based, so we want to put our energy and efforts into expanding further,” says Levely.
Ackroo is looking to export their services beyond the U.S. because the company’s technology is multilingual and multi-currency. It’s only limited in that it only supports languages that read left to right.
But, no matter where it expands, Ackroo’s growth plans will include its successful recipe of partnerships and acquisitions. “You’re always stronger together,” says Levely.
EDC’s Export Guarantee Program can help your bank provide you with additional access to financing. It shares the risk with your bank by providing a guarantee on the money you borrow, encouraging them to increase your access to working capital. Click here to learn more.
