February 18, 2020
2019: A Look Back, Scott Murphy, Chief Investment Officer
In 2019, we helped to fund nearly 100 different businesses through tailored investment products designed to meet their unique needs. We finished investing in our second Solar Fund, raised a third, and supported affordable homes for 716 families across six states. We sought out companies ready for growth, in cities and small towns across America – all in places where access to capital is hard to find but good ideas and talent are not. We saw dozens of portfolio companies surpass growth expectations, innovate and change how business is done, and give back to their communities. In all, 2019 was another extraordinary year, with our investments helping to shape the lives of thousands of hard-working people who are impacted directly through the businesses we support.
In 2019, we invested more than $215 million in 108 investments, across 25+ states.
2019: Our Impact, Sandra M. Moore, Chief Impact Officer
This past year, we have continued to solidify our standing as a leading impact investor. We intensified our focus to bring investment capital to places it hasn’t historically gone to, in order to grow businesses, support jobs and drive inclusive economic development. We tracked and documented financial, economic and social data and met with portfolio companies across the country–uncovering the transformative effects of business investment on companies, communities and households. We heard firsthand what a job with good wages and growth prospects means for employees at portfolio companies like Commercial Specialty Truck Holdings in Kentucky, North End Teleservices in Nebraska or Tortillas in Nevada, among many others. We watched as new employees at our portfolio companies moved their families into their first home, or transitioned from state program recipients to wage earners. With laser-like investment focus on these real-life and community-changing outcomes, the impact has been enormous. This year’s investments have helped grow our cumulative impacts to:
Communities Impacted:
325+ Cities and Counties
$800 Million Invested in Underserved Rural Areas
Jobs Supported:
50,000+ High Quality Jobs
Additional Impact:
$55,000+ Average Annual Wages
92% of Portfolio Companies Offer Accessible Jobs
2020: Looking Forward, Steven Stull, President
Moving into not only a new year but a new decade, we are excited and optimistic. Though much has changed since 2010 when the economic recovery was still in its beginning stage, many things remain. Businesses across America still need investment capital to grow, even as venture capital investment continues its glacial pace from big coastal centers of influence inward, and traditional bank financing remains hard to find. We see plenty of opportunity even amid challenging situations and environments—including a tight labor market and trade tensions putting pressure on U.S. companies. Low interest rates continue to help cushion businesses’ growth trajectories and new industries, innovation and ideas will further flourish in the new decade.
Our 2020 Vision
We will continue to look across the country for impactful businesses and passionate entrepreneurs. Our focus will be on six key states: Illinois, Nevada, Georgia, Ohio, Mississippi and Utah. At the same time, we will continue—as we have for nearly three decades—to drive investment dollars into underserved areas and deliver lasting impact for our small businesses, investors and communities.
The investments, portfolio companies and recommendations listed on this website represent only a sample of companies that have received investment capital from Advantage Capital-related entities. It should not be assumed that recommendations made in the future will be profitable or will equal the performance of the securities highlighted herein or contained in any other information provided by Advantage Capital. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. For a full list of companies, please click here.
