The real skill is not having capital. It’s assembling capital.
The world’s best entrepreneurs, investors and dealmakers don’t fund opportunities from one source. They bring together multiple sources of capital, each with a different purpose, cost and level of risk.
They stack the funding.
Think Beyond Your Own Bank Account
When evaluating an acquisition or investment, ask:
“Where can each piece of the capital come from?”
Potential sources include:
- Seller finance
- Bank lending
- Family offices
- Venture capital or private equity
- ESIC investors and tax incentives
- Government grants
- Strategic investors
- Angel investors
- Family and friends
- Customer prepayments
- Vendor finance
- Asset-backed lending
Each source may only provide part of the solution.
Together, they can fund the entire opportunity.
A Real Example
We needed $1 million to acquire a financial services firm back in 2008.
Did we write a $1 million cheque?
No.
We assembled the capital.
- $500,000 from the bank.
- $400,000 in seller finance, repaid over three years.
- $100,000 from family and friends.
The deal happened because we structured the funding—not because we already had $1 million sitting in the bank.
The Power of Leverage
Leverage is more than borrowing money.
It’s using relationships, credibility, cash flow, assets and creativity to structure transactions that benefit everyone involved.
Every funding source has different strengths.
The art is knowing how to combine them.
The Mindset Shift
Stop asking:
“Do I have enough money?”
Start asking:
“Who could fund part of this, and how do I structure a deal that works for everyone?”
That’s how entrepreneurs think.
That’s how businesses are bought.
That’s how wealth is built.
You don’t fund a deal one way. You stack the capital.
If you are looking for money - give us a ring :)
