Capital Evolving: Alternative Investment Strategies to Drive Inclusive Innovation

2018 report from Village Capital details gaps in equity and geographical distribution of innovation capital, with suggested solutions including Revenue Share Structures, Place-Based Multi-Asset-Class Funds, and Peer-Based Decision Making.

Says author and VilCap President Ross Baird: "Our current capital structures – particularly the most well-publicized options of venture capital and bank loans – reward the few and leave the many on the sidelines. Billion-dollar tech “unicorns” distort our view of a successful startup economy. Most startup capital goes to just a few people, in a few places, and a few industries. Half of the world’s venture capital goes to just three US states...

 In 2017, only 15% of venture capital went to female-led ventures, and 1% of venture capital went to people of color. 

The vast majority of entrepreneurs are not able to find investors who will provide them with the funding they need. Kauffman Foundation noted in July 2018 that over 81% of American entrepreneurs starting a business do not receive capital from either bank loans or venture capitalists. 

​As investors we often talk about why we invest, or what we invest in, but we too rarely talk about how we invest. When we speak about innovation in entrepreneurship, it’s usually in the context of some transformative product or service. As more of us make an effort to support entrepreneurs solving challenges in critical industries, we’ll need to start innovating ourselves."

PDF, 61 pages