D2C brands seek alternative financiers as Q-comm surges

Alternative financing models offer quick access to capital without diluting equity

- Sowmya Ramasubramanian & Mansi Verma

As quick commerce platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto revolutionize consumer shopping habits, direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are increasingly turning to alternative financiers to secure larger working capital needed to stay competitive.

Platforms like Recur Club, GetVantage, Velocity, and Klub are stepping in to meet this demand, offering innovative debt solutions tailored to the fast-paced, quick commerce ecosystem.

Delhi-based debt marketplace Recur Club has disbursed as much as ₹150 crore to consumer startups to fuel their quick commerce ambitions in the last four months alone, a 3x jump from the previous four months, founder Eklavya Gupta told Mint.

"The last few months have seen almost 3x growth in debt financing requirements, proportionate to growth thanks to quick commerce. Even e-commerce was much lower before," Gupta said. Recur Club has financed over 200 consumer brands and more than half of them sell on at least one quick commerce platform.

Brands primarily use these loans to expand inventory for faster stock replenishment at dark stores. These short-term loans help brands meet rising demand as business grows on the back of quick commerce.