Christian Venture Capitalists
How would you like: (1) Access to capital and entrepreneurship networks. (2) Theological foundations. (3) Professional consulting services. These are three of the components of Redeemer's Entrepreneur Incubator. Here is a church leading the way in thinking through how to connect 'capitalism' with 'Kingdom'. Keller connects how investment banking can be Kingdom minded in his seminar Cultural Renewal: The Role of the Intrapreneur and the Entrepreneur. He argues that God is keenly interested in this world and restoring it from the fall. We are called to bring about this change, but ultimately, it will be fulfilled when Jesus returns. He goes so far as to say, "the purpose of salvation is to make this world a great place. Salvation is only a temporary means to an end."
This thinking is most certainly novel. Are there Christian venture capitalist who desire to seek both earthly and spiritual returns? A search for "christian venture capitalist" brought only one 'venture capitalist' organization, Kingom Ventures, that "is a philanthropic venture capital firm focused on supporting emerging Christian ministries around the world." The search also brought an article (Venture Capital and God: Commentary on Kingdom-Based Investing ) by Ken Eldred, who has founded many successful companies including Ariba Technologies, Inc (NASDAQ: ARBA) the leader in the Internet Business-to-Business industry and which has reached a market valuation as high as $40 Billion. He was also Founder, Chairman and CEO of Inmac a company which he took Public in 1987 and grew to $400 million in yearly revenues as the first business to sell computer products, supplies, and accessories by direct mail and later merged with MicroWarehouse.
I searched for 'Ken Eldred ' and found his own venture capital company, Parakletos Ventures. Ken served as co-editor of the book, On Kingdom Business: Transforming Missions Through Entrepreneurial Strategies.
On Kingdom Business proposes a new model for using business in missions: kingdom entrepreneurship. Kingdom entrepreneurs are "job-makers," starting for-profit businesses of all sizes–real businesses that meet real needs. This book provides a conceptual foundation for kingdom entrepreneurship and explores its contemporary development using case studies of kingdom businesses and reflecting on the lessons kingdom entrepreneurs have already learned.
I don't know why there aren't more Christians rallying behind the physical expression of God's restorative plan. It is encouraging to see Al Weiss form Vision USA, with the aim to raise $300 million over the next 10 years for aggressive church planting in 50 of the country's most influential cities.
Weiss is reaching out to business leaders to invest in this necessary plan. But…
how great would it be to login to a site like Kiva to provide funding support to Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs, church planters, missionaries and the lot.
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- The Leader Zone - Gospel Centered Entrepreneurship... I just read an awesome post from Drew Goodmanson, Executive Pastor of Kaleo Community Church in San Diego ...
- Christian Venture Startup Group | ChurchCrunch - [...] and being a part of it. A dream for the future perhaps.Wait… I just found an article nearly 2 ...
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Dear Mr. Goodmanson:
I know there are a lot of worthy propositions out there for you to consider. However, what I’m sharing with you is, potentially, as Kingdom-minded-towards-winning-souls, as any project you have undertaken!
“ANIMAL VISIONS!” I have a 30 book series that are a new concept for children, as well as adults. I call them, Child-Adult books. A four year old child can understand the story, but the adult reading the story will have to deal with what I have written.
The stories are about what took place in the Bible, told through the eyes of the animals that were in the stories: what they saw, what they heard and what they sensed that God was wanting to do with the people. They are not a ‘see-spot-run’ type of book and when the child is older and rereads them, they, too, will have to deal with Kingdom-minded principles.
Can you imaging a family of field mice leaving in between the two camps in the book, “THE DEFIANT GIANT MEETS THE KING WITH A SLING”? They have been to both camps and they know about Goliath and his threats and about Israel’s God and their predictament. They go back and forth and run into David and, eventually, they follow him to the battle field and from their own hole-home…… watch the whole confrontation!
Here is my situation. I am wanting to put these books into e-book form….. to give a couple away and then sell the rest for $3 or $4. I have been to publishers about the books, but no one is interested. I only need a partner to help me promote because it doesn’t cost much after you get the books on line. I have a website and have actually had a couple of adult Christian books published, but I have to market them myself. The website is http://www.manna-festations.com
Anyway, I would like to send you a copy of one of the “ANIMAL VISIONS,” book so you can see the anointing for yourself. All I need is your e-mail address.
Thanks for your time! Be blessed! Bill Scott, Jr.
I hope someone from this site monitors the comments. I need a reply to my email. God gave me a multi BILLION dollar idea and I want to find someone I can trust to share the powerpoint presentation with.
We do read it. Suggest you and others follow the links because I’m not a venture capitalist. Pray all goes well with your ideas.
Hi,
I started http://www.christianfamilyclassifieds.com to offer a classifieds site for Christians as an alternative to other classifieds sites that were not offering Christian Values. Essentially I wanted to create a cultural shift back to Christ.
The site is operational but I am at the point where I need VC capital to take it to the next level.
Currently based off of the craigslist principal I believe the site could be very profitable as it has all the built in aspects of craigslist.com and more. With Christians backing the site – the churches, the youth groups, the schools, the YMCA etc…. a true cultural shift can happen.
However, I have not heard of any Christian VCs. If you can direct me to anyone that might be interested in helping that would be much appreciated.
Thanks and God Bless,
Dave Coe, Owner
http://www.christianfamilyclassifieds.com
christianfamilyclassifieds@hotmail.com
619-866-4147
Hello,
I found the article to be very interesting. I am a young Christian entrepreneur focused on giving back to other women within the community. I am in the startup phase of my business and am currently seeking funding. Outside of family and friends, I haven’t had much luck. The SBA does not offer grants currently for women and being Christian, I do not want to start a company with debt. So, other than believing for a miracle windfall of money, do you have any other Christian resources that may be available?
Thank you,
Carla
CEO and Founder of A.Muse
Nice Post! Bookmarking your blog :)
IN SHORT, I HAVE SEVERAL BRILLIANT IDEAS ABOUT PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS I.P.O.’S; HOWEVER, I COULD USE SOME DIRECTION FROM THOSE WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT EITHER OF THESE TO MARKET, NOT TO MENTION, I WILL NEED VENTURE CAPITAL. AM PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH IRON CLAD PROTECTION (WITHIN REASON OF COURSE), WITH RESPECT TO HOW ONE PROTECTS AN IDEA FOR A PRODUCT, OR I.P.O./BUSINESS CONCEPT EVEN IF IT’S ONLY IN THE DISCUSSION PHASE, I HAVE MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, DEALING WITH TRIAL PREP. DEFENSE WORK FOR MAJOR CORPORATIONS, SO AM PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH LEGALISTIC ISSUES ETC.. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN A VENTURE CAPITALIST,WHO IS KNOWLEDGABLE IN THESE AREAS, WHO PLACES KINGDOM PURPOSES FIRST, NOT PROCEEDS. PLEASE CONTACT ME A.S.A.P. IF YOU TRULY MEET THESE CRITERIA, SINCERELY; K.F.P.
Uganda is in an energy and environmental crisis. We have a rapidly growing population that is exerting increasing demand on the energy sector while rapidly deforestating the nation for cheap firewood. Energy and stable environments are critical for development hence the already poor rural communities are being left behind as priority in energy distribution is given to urban centers while it is being continuously robbed of trees for firewood and charcoal to offer cheaper source of energy to the already favored urban centers.
I have a strategy to utilise the subsistence rural farmer to raise a trees/cash crop critical to the creation of renewable energy for the production of electricity while recreating the re aforestation necessary for highly productive environments. The demand for the cash crop will create sustainable income for the rural community while enhancing the environment and producing the electricity that is critical to holistic community development. I have started by growing these trees on my farm. I plan to use this as a prototype for the recruitment and establishment of a large out growers scheme.
Each of the willing participants will be given all the seedlings and seeds needed for the growing of the trees and food crop along with the required logistical support to make the exercise successful.
We will also sign a contract with each farmer guaranteeing the purchase of all their vegetable oil seeds if they do not cut down their trees and keep on growing food crops. This will ensure that trees are grown but not at the expense of food security.
We will extract oil from the vegetable oil seeds for bio fuel and glycerin production; and use the waste for the production of coal briquettes.
The bio fuel will run the biodiesel generators while the coal briquettes will be used to fire the steam engines for electric generation.
The surplus will be sold at competitive prices to discourage the use of coal from cut down trees.
The electricity will be distributed in the local community to foster development, and to the central grid to complement urban electrical needs.
The time for this program is now.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I need a Christian Angel Investor for my home animation studio.
http://www.facebook.com/lightdbox
In Christ Jesus,
Jose
I am looking for investors for new start up. Our first product is a Music Marketing Software. This software is going to turn the “MUSIC BUSINESS ON IT’S HEAD”. For more info contact Marvellus Lucas at: 888-410-1410 or email admaster2011@live.com. My office is at 350 Townsend st Suite” 210 San Francisco CA 94107. We are looking to raise 100K. I will send Business Plan to serious investor’s only.
Hi Paula,I have 175 niche websites but I’m putting them on the backburner to follow your APP. But … everything I’m reading these days indicates Google is favoring large authority sites for product keywords, making it hard for the little guy to rank. Have you seen changes in your rankings since May Day? If not, what do you think differentiates APP pages from other product keyword pages that have fallen out of favor in the SERPS?