COMPANIES POSITIONED FOR THE FUTURE
Conscious Markets seeks to finance companies that are doing well in their local markets and are ready to scale, generate jobs, or introduce new technology. These are led by passionate founders who pursue a double-bottom line of creating socio-economic value.
We seek to finance companies primarily in these areas:
- Local Industries
- Emerging Technology (Fin-tech, Green-tech, Health/Bio-tech, and Housing-tech, etc.)
- Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Sustainable Energy and Agriculture
- Real Estate Development
- Investment Product Structuring
Current Funding Sizes (2022)
- Small and Medium Business Loans: up to $500,000
- Early-Stage Equity Investments: up to $100,000
- Project Finance Loans: up to $2,000,000
FUNDING OPTIONS & ELIGIBLITY
OBJECTIVES
We seek to acknowledge the resource gaps for SMEs and impact entrepreneurs and consistently leverage our unique expertise, to place ourselves in the entrepreneurs shoes, as well as working with Community Advocates, all to source deal flow and bring flexible financing options and advisory to companies.
ELIGIBILITY
- Social Impact Enterprises in the US or Companies focused primarily on serving low to moderate income communities in California – primarily San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego and/or Central Valley
- Companies with significant portion of workforce from low- income or disadvantaged communities (15%+)
- Strong asset and cash flow coverage for loan or cash flow based loans
OPTIONS
- Cash-flow based loans & credit lines – loan based on periodic cash flows of the borrower
- Revenues-based loans – loans repaid on the revenues of the borrower
- Asset-backed loans – lower interest loans collateralized by the borrower’s assets
- Bank loan guarantees – guarantee a bank loan on behalf of a borrower in order to secure a lower interest for them
- Mezzanine equity-debt hybrid loans – such as convertible notes and hybrid loans
OBJECTIVES
The Project financing portfolio is mission-driven, therefore intending to drive:
- Innovation in communities
- Neighborhood diversity representation
- Outcomes that have high relevancy to locales
- Strong associations with the low-income community
- Strong collaboration between Management, developers and other contractors, Community Representatives, local government and investors
ELIGIBILITY
- Strong principals team
- Positive business environment and outlook
- Positive project credibility, developer credibility
- Positive principals and project’s financial histories
- Public sector support available
OPTIONS
- Mezzanine debt-equity financing
- Syndicated project loans
- Equity
OBJECTIVES
Our equity venture capital portfolio is a significant focus due to its far-reaching ability for outsized socio-economic returns. The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) revealed that VC funds contributed, directly or indirectly, about 20% of the GDP of developed countries, and about 11% of the private sector jobs created in the last decade.
ELIGIBILITY
- Strong and proven team, not just CEO, as ESG challenges are typically more complex
- Strong measurable impact, potential for scalability of impact
- Strong revenue growth, near or beyond profitability, or if pre-revenue, having commercial contracts of value or assets
- Defensible competitive advantages
- Minority-run and women-run enterprises from any sector (20%+ ownership requirement), OR companies serving communities in California – primarily San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego and/or Central Valley
OPTIONS
- Direct equity investment
- Convertible instruments, SAFEs
- Co-investment through an existing fund
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Our primary objectives by performing development services are to be:
- A market alterative to mainstream financiers in our communities
- A market catalyst to innovation from disadvantaged communities and founders
- Scale for lasting market impact and economic return for our portfolio companies and their communities
- A community quarterback, uniquely positioned to bring key public and private stakeholders together
- A key fintech advisor to regional and community banks, facilitating partnership banking by introducing fintech partners to enhance small-dollar loan offerings
Venture Advisor Network
We will launch a web platform where small businesses in/outside of our portfolio can ask questions to venture professionals and connect for opportunities. Our seasoned experience includes helping companies with getting through by:
- Business development, networking, franchising and commercialization
- Professionalizing, developing front and back offices
- Corporate governance and board advisory
- Programs and grants advisory
- Digital transformation and marketing
- Investor relations and long-term capital planning