Problem: Larroudé had a breakout product, soaring demand, and a clear vision but had yet to find a fast, founder-aligned way to fund inventory at scale. Traditional options either meant giving up equity or moving too slowly for the pace of DTC retail.

Solution: Clearco provided flexible, non-dilutive capital through Invoice Funding, allowing Larroudé to pay suppliers upfront, shorten production timelines from 120 to 45 days, scale 100% YoY, and meet demand without stockouts or sacrificing control of the brand.

From Shopify Side Hustle to 100% YoY Growth

‍Marina Larroudé had a vision. She wanted to bring high-quality, accessible designer shoes to women everywhere. Starting in 2020 with just $4,750 and 3,000 pairs of shoes in her apartment, she launched Larroudé on Shopify to make that dream a reality.

“First and foremost, it’s all about the highest quality product. A brand can be a marketing genius, but if the product’s not there, then you don’t have a brand.” — Marina Larroudé

Larroudé quickly became one of the fastest-growing luxury footwear brands in DTC. But with rapid growth came capital challenges.

Why Traditional Financing Didn't Fit Larroudé

Marina set out to make beautifully crafted shoes that didn’t force women to choose between style, comfort, or affordability. But as Larroudé’s growth accelerated, so did its working capital needs. Manufacturing high-quality shoes requires major upfront investment, and traditional funding paths didn’t align with their values:

• Equity funding meant giving up control.
• Bank financing was too slow for fashion’s pace.
• Their factory couldn’t wait  and neither could customers.
  

Like many DTC founders, the Larroudés were caught between growing fast and staying independent.

Unlocking Inventory Funding with Clearco

That’s when the Larroudés discovered Clearco.

Clearco's Invoice Funding provided fast, non-dilutive capital to pay suppliers upfront and fund inventory without delays..

“With Clearco’s Invoice Funding, we could pay suppliers fast, reduce production cycles from 120 days to 45, and move from idea to market in a matter of weeks. That’s unheard of in luxury footwear.” — Ricardo Larroudé

With the capital in place, Larroudé scaled their Brazil-based factory to produce up to 200,000 pairs per year. They used a pre-order model to validate demand in real time, and Clearco helped them fulfill it without stockouts or giving up ownership.

The Results: Faster Production, Higher Profitability

• 100% Year-Over-Year Growth
• 6 Rounds of Clearco Capital
• 88% Ownership Retained
• Profitable within the first year
• Never stocked out despite explosive growth
• Expanded retail footprint and brand presence

"We can now design a shoe and get it to market in 10 days. That kind of speed is only possible because we control our supply chain and have the capital to scale it." — Marina Larroudé

Growth Without Compromise

Clearco helped Larroudé move fast and stay founder-led. With vertically integrated operations and flexible capital, they brought joy and quality to every step of the customer journey.

"We represent women, their struggles, their funny moments, from drop-offs to weddings. Our mission is to be joyful, beautiful, and authentic—and now, we can do that at scale.” — Marina Larroudé

See What Flexible Capital Could Unlock for Your Brand

Looking to scale without giving up equity? Clearco helps ecommerce brands fund inventory with speed and flexibility.

Share this post