Capital

Kinds of funding

Plausible now: everything this kind of funding usually looks for is in place. Possible with work: some pieces are missing. Premature: something it cannot do without is missing, often a critical gate.

• Planning or research support

  Feasibility funding, research partnerships and in-kind support for testing an idea.

  Plausible now
  • In placeImmediate objective written
  • In placeThe venture is clear (Your venture rated 2 or more)
  • In placeStill testing or piloting (not yet market-ready)

  Often the right first capital: it pays for the tests that later funders will ask about.

• Grant

  Program funding for a defined project. Specific programs will come with the verified Funding Finder.

  Plausible now
  • In placeImmediate objective written
  • In placeAt least one milestone with a cost, so there is a project to fund
  • In placeTeam and governance rated 2 or more
  • In placeImpact and community rated 2 or more

  Many programs ask you to match part of the funding, in cash or in kind.

• Buyer-supported pilot or advance purchase

  A buyer commits to a pilot order, or pays ahead, so you can produce it.

  Possible with work
  • In placeRegulation and safety gate at least partly met (now partly met)
  • Not yetCustomers and market rated 3 or more
  • In placeBuyer interest documented (a letter, email or order)
  • In placeProduct rated 3 or more, so you can deliver what is ordered

  Critical gates not yet fully met: Regulation and safety. See readiness

  Milestones that would move this forward

  • Aquaculture licence approved
  • Sign two buyers for dried kelp
  • Microbial testing on dried samples

• Equipment or shared-infrastructure finance

  Loans, leases or shared facilities for drying, storage, processing or vessels.

  Possible with work
  • In placeEconomics and finance gate at least partly met (now partly met)
  • In placeThe equipment or facility you need is recorded with a cost
  • In placeCapital need written, with purpose and amount
  • Not yetEconomics and finance rated 3 or more

  Critical gates not yet fully met: Economics and finance. See readiness

  You marked a dependency others could share. Shared facilities can draw on sector or regional funding that one venture cannot.

  Milestones that would move this forward

  • Secure shared drying capacity

• Working capital or debt

  Borrowing to run and grow the business, repaid from sales.

  Premature
  • Not yetEconomics and finance gate met (now partly met) (needed for this kind of funding)
  • In placeSeaweed supply gate at least partly met (now partly met)
  • Not yetSales or contracts that can repay it (Progress and partnerships rated 3 or more) (needed for this kind of funding)
  • Not yetSales or orders documented

  Critical gates not yet fully met: Economics and finance, Seaweed supply. See readiness

  Lenders look at cash flow first. A Preliminary Financial Projection helps here.

  Milestones that would move this forward

  • Sign two buyers for dried kelp

• Community or Indigenous financing

  Capital from communities, Nations, Indigenous financial institutions or co-operatives.

  Plausible now
  • In placeOwned by or partnered with a community or Nation, or community context recorded
  • In placeMandate or consent recorded
  • In placeDecision-making recorded
  • In placeImpact and community rated 2 or more

  The community or Nation decides. The Workspace can only show whether the groundwork is recorded.

• Equity investment

  Selling part of the business to investors, for ventures that can grow well beyond their first sales.

  Premature
  • Not yetSeaweed supply gate met (now partly met) (needed for this kind of funding)
  • Not yetRegulation and safety gate met (now partly met) (needed for this kind of funding)
  • Not yetEconomics and finance gate met (now partly met) (needed for this kind of funding)
  • Not yetCustomers and market rated 4 or more
  • In placeTeam and governance rated 3 or more
  • Not yetProgress and partnerships rated 3 or more

  Critical gates not yet fully met: Seaweed supply, Regulation and safety, Economics and finance. See readiness

  Equity suits few seaweed ventures early on. Other pathways usually come first.

  Milestones that would move this forward

  • Sign two buyers for dried kelp