Our parent company has decades of experience structuring private credit for investors, so we sourced a few suggestions for those looking to capture high returns by lending money to companies.  Several years ago, we were approached by a small import/export consumer goods company to raise capital to build inventory. In the course of conducting our due diligence, we discovered that the More >

Would you expect a pro football player to become the CEO of a successful cosmetics company?  We didn't.  But, then, we listened to his story.  And it made sense. This is an interview by Bruce Smith, Carofin’s Vice President of Investor Development, with Chris Kolodziejski, CEO and Founder of Mosaic Distributors, a developer and distributor More >

Consistency is critical in our business.  When it comes to investment analysis, this “First Principle” – “What primary market opportunity is the issuer pursuing?” – is the first question successful investors apply in their consistent approach to company analyses.   Identifying the fundamental rationale for an enterprise is central to helping retain your focus on the ball.  It’s what we consider first before bringing More >

We all have challenges to overcome. But, when it comes to private investments, understanding the challenges a business must overcome in order to capture a market opportunity is fundamental when considering an investment in that company. In our series of articles on First Principles, we show you how to easily define the basic elements of a More >

They all use something called First Principles to simplify complex problems. We use them for analyzing private investment opportunities. You might be surprised at how simple, yet effective, it can be.  Investment analysis can be highly challenging.  Each Issuer of securities (the company seeking your investment) is likely rather unique and is different from the previous company you analyzed. More >

To provide value (and generate income as an individual or a business), you need to solve a problem for someone.   It’s actually why we get out of bed every day and go to work. If a company you’re looking to invest in doesn't do the same, it’s likely that company will fail.  In this series of articles on First Principles, More >

It may seem clear at first – your tenant (Jeff) signed an iron-clad lease.  Now, he hasn’t paid rent for 2 months. So, do you go through the time-consuming (and, oftentimes, expensive) process of an eviction, hoping you land a new (paying) tenant quickly, or is it more reasonable for you try to fashion a deal — one that never was envisioned in the rental agreement? More >

My grandson asked me whether he should “give” some money for six months to some other 8th graders who had started a shoe painting business. No, I didn’t make that up. It reminded me of conversations we have every day with investors about loans to private companies. Without drawing too close a parallel, you’d probably More >

History is replete with famous, even eccentric, successful entrepreneurs.  But the great ones also had the capacity to motivate others to do their best, to make great personal sacrifices for the company and to stay the course during tough times (e.g., Steve Jobs).    Before making an investment in a new venture, ask whether a capable More >

Psychology plays a massive role in a customer’s purchasing behavior, and consumer products companies take advantage of this. Obviously, this is not news, but any company in which you invest must have a clear understanding of what motivates potential customers to buy their products.    Are you sure that the company’s buyers are just as motivated to buy as you are to invest? Consider carefully More >

A freight train without a track ahead is just 200 tons of metal.  Until a new Venture has a distribution channels and a robust pipeline, it's basically the same. One important aspect to determine when evaluating the future prospects of a company (and the investment you are considering) is whether the company has “laid the track” More >

Are there other businesses vying for the same sale and/or aggressively protecting their turf?  Competition can limit a new venture’s success — and your investment return. So be aware of other businesses — or the status quo — before investing.  There’s good news about the competition!  More businesses are educating customers on the buying opportunity.  Unfortunately, the company must convince customers More >

Any new venture can project growth.  Before investing, check the practical realities that support the 10x, 100x, 1000x growth.  All too often, the relatively mundane is ignored during the analysis process - the unexpected “snakes in the grass” often seriously derail business growth.  In general, businesses which are manufacturing a physical product are much more challenging to scale.  This is, in part, More >

(watch 3 minute the video related to this article) Let’s start with some facts: In year one, 20% of small U.S. businesses fail. By the end of the 5th year, 50% do so.  Throw in a newbie entrepreneur, and those statistics may be generous.  Studies have pointed to a myriad of reasons; no market need, ran out of cash, and wrong team rated high on More >

(watch the 3-minute video related to this article) You may not remember what was happening in information technology around the turn of the century (It’s known as the “The dot-com bubble”). For many people, the lesson we’re talking about in this article was learned the hard way.  According to FactSet, in the early part of 2000, More >

(watch the 3-minute video related to this article) If what you are investing in “rocks the world,” be prepared for the company to face unexpected challenges convincing customers.  Double any timeframe presented as well as the cost of success.   Significant sales will take longer (see  Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore) and cost more per early customer.       In our series More >

Sure, there may be 7 billion people in the world with close to 14B legs, but how many of those individuals will stop what they’re doing and switch to this company’s brilliant new brand of pants? Customers, or a lack thereof.  It’s why businesses thrive or eventually fold. Every business plan projects ever-increasing sales (often exhibiting More >

Accounting 101 – Not your best subject.   But, if you intend to invest in a private company, spend a few minutes on these crib notes. They may save you a bundle down the road.  More >

It’s hard enough keeping this baby in running condition. But, to get the best performance, you work with your mechanic closely, asking additional questions, avoiding risks where you can.  While you rely on your mechanic, it just makes sense for you to have a deeper understanding… The same should be true of your investments.  Here More >

The following outlines the importance placed upon careful, independent Investor analysis of private market investments. “Due diligence” is a process whereby Investors evaluating a potential investment conduct independent analysis and verification of the information presented to them by the Issuer. Due diligence analysis goes beyond simply reading the Offering documents, such as a Private Placement More >