How Valkental Hit Seven-Figure Revenue in Five Years

Valkental makes bicycle bags, jackets, and reflective gear for cyclists and commuters. Founded by Erik in 2020, the brand grew from a gap in the cycling accessories market: multifunctional products with reflective fabrics that help people stay visible on the road. What started as an Amazon launch has grown into a multi-channel business across Shopify, Decathlon, Otto, and retail, with seven-digit annual revenue reached within five years.

The challenge: Cash committed months before a sale

The inventory cycle for Valkental runs long. Suppliers require a 30% deposit before production starts, with the remaining 70% due when goods are finished. Valkental produces overseas, which adds up to three months of import time before stock arrives in Germany. From order placement to first sale, the gap between paying and earning can stretch to four, five, sometimes ten months. Throughout all of it, the cash is committed.

For a growing brand, this creates a tight constraint. Scaling purchase volume means putting more money down earlier and waiting longer for the return.

"If you want to scale your purchase volume, then you need to commit the full amount upfront. That's the problem and the bottleneck."

Running a multi-channel operation added further complexity. Amazon's two-week payout cycle means a portion of turnover is always tied up in the platform. Shopify settles faster. Decathlon and Otto run on their own terms. Managing cash across all of them, while funding the next production run, requires constant attention.

When Valkental's existing financing partner became less flexible, Erik needed a new option. Traditional bank financing didn't suit the pace of the business. eCommerce moves fast, and the documentation and extended conversations that bank financing requires don't match that speed.

"An e-commerce business is really time-sensitive. You don't want to spend a long time on talks with bankers. That takes time you need for other things."

The solution: Less time on financing, more time on the business

Erik found Wayflyer through a Google search and took time comparing options before deciding. He spoke with three or four providers. Wayflyer's offer fitted Valkental's needs best. The deal worked, and the process was uncomplicated.

For Erik, the appeal came down to a clear principle: time spent on financing administration is time not spent on the business.

"We wanted to spend as little time on financing as possible, because there is no value creation in that process."

Banks had been the frustrating option, requiring documentation and extended back-and-forth. Wayflyer was the faster path.

Day to day, questions got resolved quickly via email, WhatsApp, or phone, and the capital was in place when the production needed funding.

"It's extremely easy, I would say."

The results: Hitting seven figures in five years

Working with Wayflyer, Valkental funded a production run that marked a step up in scale.

"You helped us finance a really big production, which means we had a very successful last year. That was a huge help."

In those same two years, Valkental crossed into seven-digit annual revenue.

Two years on, Erik's message to other eCommerce brands navigating the same problem is plain.

"For us, the solution was Wayflyer. So I recommend Wayflyer to other brands out there."

Interested in following in Valkental's footsteps? Wayflyer has funded over 6,000 businesses worldwide with $6 billion worth of working capital, backed by world-leading financial institutions. Apply in minutes and access funds in hours. Start your application today.