Leading Mission-Driven Organizations Launch Momentus Capital to Transform How the Financial Sector Helps Entrepreneurs & Communities Thrive

July 21, 2022 (Arlington, VA/San Diego, CA) – The financial sector can play a greater role in helping build strong communities—by providing people with access to the capital and opportunities they deserve. Opening up these doors is fundamental for local leaders and entrepreneurs to contribute not only to their communities, but to our shared economy.

In a first-of-its-kind announcement, Capital Impact Partners, CDC Small Business Finance, and Ventures Lending Technologies are coming together as Momentus Capital to create the transformational change needed in the financial sector to achieve this vision.

Residents from all walks of life deserve to have equitable access to the things that contribute to their health and wealth: a vibrant local economy with good jobs; high-quality social services; and a voice in what happens in their community.

“Small business owners, developers, and other local leaders are the engines of job creation and economic activity in communities across the country. When these leaders have the opportunity to succeed, their communities, their residents—and our country—thrive,” said Ellis Carr of Momentus Capital. “We need bold thinking and a holistic approach to unleash solutions for underestimated communities. Momentus Capital was created to meet that challenge.”

Each organization under the Momentus Capital brand will continue operating as a separate entity committed to serving its key market and clients, albeit with additional resources and product offerings.

By unifying as Momentus Capital with one shared vision and mission, these leading, mission-driven financial organizations can achieve even more than they could working as separate entities.

To achieve that shared vision and mission, Momentus Capital is uniquely positioned to provide entrepreneurs and local leaders at every stage of their growth with a continuum of capital and opportunities under one roof.  These key resources include:

• Financial capital: a range of flexible debt and equity products to meet Momentus Capital’s partners’ needs, as well as access to new markets and potential investors
• Knowledge capital: business advising, assistance, and training to develop the skills and insights that can help partners advance their enterprises
• Social capital: connections to networks and people that can help Momentus Capital’s partners succeed

Momentus Capital further amplifies this approach through technology solutions — including the industry-leading Ventures+ loan software —  that assist its partners in making a greater impact in their communities.

Investments & Innovations

Momentus Capital is the culmination of a vision that Mr. Carr and Kurt Chilcott, the longtime leader of CDC Small Business Finance, began to develop in 2019. These leaders sought a way that both organizations, impactful in their own right, could accelerate their work. Mr. Carr, the president and CEO of Capital Impact since 2016, was named the CEO of CDC Small Business Finance in 2021, while Mr. Chilcott transitioned to a role as chair of both organizations’ boards. Under their leadership, Momentus Capital will continue to innovate how capital and investments flow into communities.

Momentus Capital combines its national presence with a local, place-based approach. It works with local leaders—including small business owners, social entrepreneurs, community-minded developers, policy-makers, and builders of community facilities—to identify issues and drive solutions.

This approach is supported by the organization’s lending and investment activities: over $700 million annually deployed to support small business owners, developers, and other community leaders. That, in turn, builds on more than $23 billion of investments that the Momentus Capital family of companies already made to support community solutions throughout their histories.

To support these community solutions, Momentus Capital is:

• Developing new lending and investing products to create access to capital for borrowers and projects who have traditionally been denied.
• Enhancing its lending with programs that include training, mentorship, and network building.
• Deploying technology solutions for community-focused partners and lenders to amplify their work.
• Working alongside partners in shaping national, regional, and local policy to  expand funding opportunities.
• Combining robust financial experience with community trust to attract mainstream dollars and deliver them to locally-led projects.

“We are constantly working to rethink outdated approaches that limit who has access to capital,” said Mr. Carr. “Where others see risk, we see the opportunity to demonstrate that communities deserve investment. As more capital flows into these communities, the residents benefit — as do we all.”

“Momentus Capital is dedicated to the idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the dreams they have for themselves, their communities, and for generations to come,” said Mr. Carr. “I’m encouraged about what we’ve been able to achieve leading up to this key milestone. But I’m even more excited about the opportunities that stand before us to make real change.”