Village Capital uses the power of peer support to build enterprises that change the world. Inspired by the concept of the “village bank” in microfinance and peer support groups such as YPO and EO, Village Capital puts the hard tasks of building companies–criticism, strategy, feedback, and legwork–in the hands of entrepreneurs themselves. Village Capital organizes cohorts worldwide and runs education programs focused on intensive peer review. At the end, entrepreneurs assess one another, and do so in an astoundingly collegial way. Entrepreneurs even sit in the investor’s seat: the top ranked can receive pre-committed capital from partner investors. In Village Capital programs, entrepreneurs leverage help from their peers: individuals rooted in practical experience and gain a network of like-minded leaders to reach scale.
In the past two years, Village Capital launched ten programs worldwide, supporting over 150 entrepreneurs. Participants have raised $10 million, created over 500 jobs, and served 5,000 customers. We’re actively expanding worldwide, looking at new cities (both in developed and emerging markets), as well as sector-focused programs (e.g. energy, mobile/ICT, and a program for women-focused entrepreneurs).
