Invest With Ignite Capital
Access to startup capital is a major hurdle for Black and women-owned enterprises, particularly social enterprises focused on mission-driven innovation. Social enterprises, though less appealing to traditional investors, offer substantial societal benefits, addressing community needs and enhancing neighborhood appeal.
Ignite Capital stands out with the comprehensive ability to make strategic and patient capital investments, combined with below market rates, enduring relationships, technical assistance, and post-investment support to accelerate the growth of Black and women-owned enterprises in historically disinvested Baltimore neighborhoods.
Since inception, Ignite Capital has invested in more than 25 social enterprises, deploying over $100K in microgrants to pre-revenue enterprises, and over $2M in investments into enterprises currently supporting more than 100 new livable wage jobs.
How To Invest In Ignite Capital
FRANK KNOTT PIPELINE SUPPORT FUND
Named in honor of Innovation Works’ Founder, Frank Knott, grants and donations made to the Frank Knott Pipeline Support Fund specifically allows for micro-grants to pre-revenue enterprises, supports the loan loss reserve for the fund’s lending activities, and covers Ignite Capital’s operating expenses.
Giving Options - *View Instructions
REVOLVING GRANTS
Grants and donations to the restricted pool of funds are used to support early stage social enterprises who need smaller investment amounts to achieve milestones that will make them more investment ready in the near future. These 0% forgivable investments are short term in nature, allowing the funds to be recycled and improve the investment readiness of the enterprises in the pipeline.
REVOLVING NOTES
Ignite Capital offers a note with a December 2030 maturity at 0% interest to mission-aligned investors seeking to support the launch and growth of social enterprises in the Innovation Works/Ignite Capital pipeline. There is no minimum participation amount for the 0% notes. This note supports Ignite Capital’s efforts to allow more funds to be investable without accrual of interests.
GROWTH NOTES
Ignite Capital offers a note with a December 2030 maturity at 2% interest to mission-aligned investors seeking to support the launch and growth of social enterprises in the Innovation Works/Ignite Capital pipeline. There is a $25K minimum participation amount for the 2% notes
We understand that investing directly into Ignite Capital is not the right financial decision for everyone. That is why we have created our Co-Investor Network, which gives investors the opportunity to partner with Ignite Capital by investing directly into the social enterprises in our pipeline.
If this opportunity is of interest to you, please contact Lindsey@iwbmore.org.