Patient Capital
Patient Capital is simply long term capital. Patient capital has a high tolerance for risk, has long time horizons, is flexible to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, and is unwilling to sacrifice the needs of end customers for the sake of shareholders. Patient Capital is the scarce resource that allows new, sometimes crazy, potentially world-changing ideas see the light of day.
For us, patient capital is understood as a debt or equity investment in viable businesses, with repayment or expected return beyond 2yrs. Our patient capital ultimately demands accountability in the form of ability to service the loan (debt capital) or a return of capital (equity capital): proof that the underlying enterprise can grow sustainably in the long run.
Loans / Investments NOT Charity
Starting a new business is always tough and starting a business in the developing world can be much tougher. The patient capital GhanaStartups.org (leader in Ghana's Patient Capital Market) provides is accompanied by a wide range of management support services (if required by your business) nurturing the company to scale. Our aim in investing patient capital is not to give free money to non-existent or dumb businesses, but rather to jump-start the creation and/or growing of businesses that are transforming the lives of their customers, and are creating jobs that lead directly to economic growth via life-changing or innovative products and services, enroute to a profitable business.
We define patient capital as having these characteristics:
• Long time horizons for the investment (2-30yrs)
• Risk-tolerance
• A goal of maximizing sustainable overall returns
• Lenient repayment terms
• Providing management support to help new business models thrive (optional)
Time Horizon
Patient capital does not have a rigid definition, but generally refers to long-term time horizon, where capital providers are prepared to wait a considerable amount of time (2-5 years in some sectors, 10-15 years in others, and even up to 30 years when tied to tangible property) before seeing any financial returns.
The typical repayment period for our loans are up to 60 months (5yrs) and up to 30 yrs for loans tied to residential or commercial mortgages.
Covid-19 Business Recovery
It’s clear many entrepreneurs are now in need of long-term capital fundraising, to help nurture their high-potential companies from startup through to scaleup. Patient capital could be the answer.
Patient Capital vs Venture Capital
Both patient capital and venture capital seek a return on investment. But where patient capital funds focus on long-term growth, venture capitalists prioritise more immediate financial returns, such as those delivered by a high-valued IPO—venture capital funds are willing to sacrifice future gains in order to maximise ROI in the short term.
Besides its longer time horizon, patient capital also has a higher risk tolerance than traditional funding sources, and patient capital will often provide greater support to entrepreneurs, helping them to build sustainable business models and long-term growth.
Relevance
Whilst venture capital has backed some of the greatest success stories, startup founders are increasingly looking to alternative forms of growth finance, which let them retain more control over their business.
Looking beyond traditional VC funding sources can also reduce the pressure on entrepreneurs to grow and exit their startups as fast as possible (‘growth at all costs’). By securing investment from patient capital funds that share their values or vision for the company, founders can focus their time on building sustainable growth plans, instead of frequent fundraisings or increasing their valuation.
For us, patient capital is understood as a debt or equity investment in viable businesses, with repayment or expected return beyond 2yrs. Our patient capital ultimately demands accountability in the form of ability to service the loan (debt capital) or a return of capital (equity capital): proof that the underlying enterprise can grow sustainably in the long run.
Loans / Investments NOT Charity
Starting a new business is always tough and starting a business in the developing world can be much tougher. The patient capital GhanaStartups.org (leader in Ghana's Patient Capital Market) provides is accompanied by a wide range of management support services (if required by your business) nurturing the company to scale. Our aim in investing patient capital is not to give free money to non-existent or dumb businesses, but rather to jump-start the creation and/or growing of businesses that are transforming the lives of their customers, and are creating jobs that lead directly to economic growth via life-changing or innovative products and services, enroute to a profitable business.
We define patient capital as having these characteristics:
• Long time horizons for the investment (2-30yrs)
• Risk-tolerance
• A goal of maximizing sustainable overall returns
• Lenient repayment terms
• Providing management support to help new business models thrive (optional)
Time Horizon
Patient capital does not have a rigid definition, but generally refers to long-term time horizon, where capital providers are prepared to wait a considerable amount of time (2-5 years in some sectors, 10-15 years in others, and even up to 30 years when tied to tangible property) before seeing any financial returns.
The typical repayment period for our loans are up to 60 months (5yrs) and up to 30 yrs for loans tied to residential or commercial mortgages.
Covid-19 Business Recovery
It’s clear many entrepreneurs are now in need of long-term capital fundraising, to help nurture their high-potential companies from startup through to scaleup. Patient capital could be the answer.
Patient Capital vs Venture Capital
Both patient capital and venture capital seek a return on investment. But where patient capital funds focus on long-term growth, venture capitalists prioritise more immediate financial returns, such as those delivered by a high-valued IPO—venture capital funds are willing to sacrifice future gains in order to maximise ROI in the short term.
Besides its longer time horizon, patient capital also has a higher risk tolerance than traditional funding sources, and patient capital will often provide greater support to entrepreneurs, helping them to build sustainable business models and long-term growth.
Relevance
Whilst venture capital has backed some of the greatest success stories, startup founders are increasingly looking to alternative forms of growth finance, which let them retain more control over their business.
Looking beyond traditional VC funding sources can also reduce the pressure on entrepreneurs to grow and exit their startups as fast as possible (‘growth at all costs’). By securing investment from patient capital funds that share their values or vision for the company, founders can focus their time on building sustainable growth plans, instead of frequent fundraisings or increasing their valuation.