The Village Cobbler with Esther Park

What is integrated capital? Esther Park has our favorite way to explain it: the story of the Village Cobbler.

The way we see it, integrated capital is the ability to use the entire tool belt: loans, grants, equity–different kinds of solutions for different kinds of businesses.

Most investors reply on one tool. Take a venture capital fund. Equity is their glass slipper, and they’re out looking for their few select businesses that fit their model: their Cinderella. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs are contorting themselves to fit into the glass slipper investors have handed them.

We’d rather be the village cobbler. We’re trying to match the capital to the needs of more people than just one Cinderella. If you need a shoe, come on in. We’ll talk about why you need it, what you’ll use it for and how long it needs to last. Then we’ll build it for you.