At Cutting Edge Capital we are working to build an economy that works for everyone and provides opportunities for everyone to participate, thrive, and build wealth. To do this, we:

• Design and implement community capital offerings, and
• Help our clients raise capital from their own communities in alignment with their values and goals.

The Challenge

The mainstream models for raising capital leave out vast, untapped numbers of people who want to invest in the businesses and organizations that provide real value in the real world. We are leading a movement that is bringing new capital — by directly engaging more people as investors — to the new economy — an economy that is resilient, just, and sustainable. This movement of “new capitalists” is questioning the old paradigms and bringing new models to the table that expand the capital raising options for social enterprises that are more democratic and values-driven. These models allow all stakeholders to benefit as ventures thrive.

Our Approach

We don’t believe in a “one size fits all” capital raising solution — instead we bring our experience, legal knowledge, and passion to help our clients determine the best way to achieve their goals.

In addition to helping social ventures raise capital, we also work to create and develop the capital markets tools, such as secondary markets, markets for the regulation of resource use, financial markets for investment in local food systems, and tools for aggregating community capital, needed to shape a truly resilient economic ecosystem.

Our Values

CEC’s reputation is built on our uncompromising commitment to a more equitable and healthy world. We strive to apply those values not only in our own work, but also in our selection of clients and vendors. Therefore we seek to work with clients and to use vendors who meet all — or the majority — of the criteria listed below:

Local and/or Community Ownership — the client or vendor is privately or worker-owned with a majority of the owners actively participating in the company, or is wholly or partly community owned or funded.

Authenticity — the vendor’s or client’s values and mission are aligned with CEC’s mission and focus, including a commitment to inclusiveness and diversity.

Social Responsibility — the vendor or client’s social and financial practices and policies are designed to ensure optimal benefit to their employees, to the local community and the local economy.

Environmental Stewardship — the vendor or client’s environmental practices, policies, services and products are designed to minimize environmental impact and resource use, and thereby minimize the extractive nature of their operations.