Our Story
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary in 2019-2020, we’re reflecting on the growth of that movement, what we stand for, and where we're headed in the next ten years.
Village Capital’s origin story
Village Capital started with a revolutionary mission: to challenge the conventions of the traditional investment landscape. Read more in Ross Baird’s book, The Innovation Blind Spot.
Originally a pilot initiative of First Light Ventures, an impact investing pioneer Gray Matters Capital affiliate, Village Capital launched its first accelerator in New Orleans in collaboration with the IDEA Village. This inaugural program introduced a groundbreaking model where a cohort of entrepreneurs collectively selected a peer to receive investment, setting a precedent for future programs.
Village Capital was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and its peer-selected methodology expanded internationally
Under the Mango Tree became the first peer-selected company outside the US, helping revive India’s declining honeybee population by selling fair trade honey.
Village Capital launched its first fund
2012 marked the launch of the first affiliated fund, VilCap Investments, with Victoria Fram as co-founder.
Village Capital also began to pilot its methodology and resources worldwide, with programs in Brazil, China, and East Africa.
Village Capital’s peer-selected methodology won the McKinsey-Harvard prize for innovation
Our peer-selected method gained rapid recognition among the entrepreneurship community due to its innovative approach to participatory decision-making.
We ran 8 accelerator programs in Africa, India, and the US
The programs focused on healthtech, fintech, agriculture and energy, and education. These programs resulted in peer-selected investments into Rimidi (US), Ubongo (Tanzania), and Bohdi Health Innovation (India).
VilCap Investments closed a USD 17.7M fund
After supporting over 500 entrepreneurs in 40 countries, VilCap Investments fund closed USD 17.7M in commitments. Twenty-nine investors, from Internet pioneers and philanthropists Jean and Steve Case, backed the fund.
We committed to reinventing how we support entrepreneurs solving some of the biggest social, economic, and environmental challenges.
Village Capital grants 18 early-stage startups through peer-selection
We expanded our activities beyond Mexico, granting impact-creating startups such as Huli, in Costa Rica; Fintual, in Chile; and Siembro in Argentina.
As of 2023, we have supported more than 200 Latin American startups in sectors including financial services, healthcare, and sustainable water and housing.
VilCap Investments celebrated its 100th investment
The fund marked its 100th peer-selected investment in Wexus Technologies, a company focused on empowering farmers with energy and water intelligence for greater efficiency in agriculture.
