Global Founders Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2013 and based in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on empowering entrepreneurs globally. The firm is stage agnostic, investing in companies across various sectors, including internet, software, fintech, e-commerce, and telecommunications. Global Founders Capital typically invests in the equity of young technology companies, with a preference for startups located in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Vietnam, Colombia, Europe, the United States, and China. Investment amounts range from €0.01 million to €10 million, with specific allocations varying by stage: seed investments typically between €0.1 million and €1 million, early-stage investments between €1 million and €3 million, and growth-stage investments between €3 million and €8 million. The firm often seeks to be the lead investor and aims to secure board representation in its portfolio companies.
Advantage Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 1992, specializing in growth equity, lending, and mezzanine debt investments in companies at various stages of development, excluding seed stage. The firm focuses on small businesses and invests in low-income communities, both urban and rural, to support state and local economic development efforts. Advantage Capital seeks to invest in companies that develop or apply proprietary technologies primarily in industries such as communication, information technology, business services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, life sciences, and energy. Additionally, the firm provides debt and equity capital to real estate development firms and projects. It primarily invests in underserved states and communities in the United States, with an initial investment range between $0.5 million and $10 million. Advantage Capital partners with other investment firms and government agencies to support bank lending and economic initiatives, aiming to bring businesses, technologies, and jobs to communities in need.
Enhanced Capital, founded in 1999 and headquartered in New York, is a national investment firm that specializes in equity and debt investments in small and mid-sized companies across the United States. With over $400 million in assets under management, Enhanced Capital focuses on providing various investment options designed to foster business growth and expansion. The firm adopts a flexible and practical investment approach, aimed at maximizing the growth potential of companies positioned for rapid development. As a subsidiary of P10 Holdings, Enhanced Capital remains committed to supporting the success of its portfolio companies through strategic financial partnerships.
Endless is a UK-based private equity firm established in December 2005, specializing in equity investments and acquisitions in special situations, particularly targeting middle-market companies. The firm focuses on buyouts, non-core business acquisitions, refinancings, and turnarounds, providing both financial investment and operational expertise to companies facing challenges. Endless does not invest in startups or speculative ventures and has no specific sector limitations, although it often targets industries such as property, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and engineering services. The firm typically invests between £0.25 million and £80 million in companies with annual revenues ranging from £10 million to £1 billion, with equity investments in buyouts and turnarounds ranging from £1 million to £20 million. Endless primarily seeks to support small and medium enterprises in the UK, with a focus on regions including Yorkshire, London, and the Midlands. The firm generally holds its investments for about three years, though it may consider different timeframes based on specific circumstances. Endless operates from multiple offices in Leeds, Manchester, London, and Birmingham.
Valor Equity Partners is a private equity firm based in Chicago, established in 1995, that specializes in operational growth investments across various sectors, including consumer, infrastructure, industrial services, and manufacturing. The firm focuses on high-growth companies at different stages of development and aims to partner with entrepreneurs who are dedicated to excellence and industry transformation. Valor Equity Partners typically invests between $10 million and $75 million in platform companies with revenues ranging from $30 million to $200 million and EBITDA between $5 million and $20 million. The firm also has a presence in North America and India, targeting investments in a wide array of industries, including healthcare, technology, clean energy, and financial services. With a commitment to solving the challenges of growth and scale, Valor Equity Partners seeks to be a lead investor, emphasizing both control and non-control equity investments.
Norwest Mezzanine Partners, founded in 2000, is a Minnesota-based firm that partners with private equity sponsors to support their investments in growing middle market companies. They provide junior capital to help create value and enable companies to become industry leaders in sectors such as business services, consumer, distribution, industrials, and healthcare in the United States. With a focus on delivering flexible solutions and reliable financial capacity, Norwest Mezzanine Partners collaborates closely with their partners to drive success in their portfolio companies. Operating as a standalone investment partnership with an affiliation to Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), they bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table as thoughtful and creative investment partners.
East Ventures is an early-stage, sector-agnostic venture capital firm founded in 2009, with offices in Tokyo, Singapore, and Jakarta. The firm has invested in over 170 companies across Southeast Asia, with a strong emphasis on Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is recognized as a pioneer in the Indonesian startup ecosystem, being the first investor in notable unicorns such as Tokopedia and Traveloka. East Ventures' diverse portfolio includes prominent companies like Mercari, Ruangguru, and Fore Coffee. In 2018, the firm established a growth-stage fund called EV Growth to provide further support to startups in the region. East Ventures has garnered accolades for its consistent performance, being named the most active investor in Southeast Asia and Indonesia, as well as a top-performing VC fund globally by various industry observers. The firm primarily targets investments in technology, consumer web, fintech, and mobile sectors, typically investing between $0.1 million and $0.5 million in early-stage ventures.
The Stephens Group is a private, family-owned investment firm based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with additional offices in Frankfurt, London, and New York. Established in 1933, the firm focuses on investing in private and public companies with strong management teams across a diverse range of industries, including agriculture, energy, technology, healthcare, and consumer products. The Stephens Group provides growth equity, recapitalization, and leveraged buy-out financing, typically targeting companies with enterprise values between $50 million and $400 million. The firm seeks investments in companies that demonstrate significant potential for high returns on invested capital, often taking either majority control or substantial minority stakes while aiming for a board seat in its portfolio companies.
MASSACHUSETTS CAPITAL RESOURCE COMPANY was established in 1977 as a limited partnership privately owned and funded by Massachusetts-based life insurance companies. The Company’s mission was to create a source of risk capital to fill the senior debt to equity funding “gap” experienced by growing companies. Their investment activity complements, rather than competes with, the financing provided by senior lenders and equity investors. Mass. Capital provides higher risk growth and acquisition capital to manufacturing, distribution, service and technology companies. They focus on emerging growth and middle market companies with operations in Massachusetts. Their investments are structured to fit the specific needs of portfolio companies and to complement funding available from senior lenders and equity investors.