It was a chilly Saturday morning in the fall of 2018 at an OPEN USA B4T Expo in the Midwest. About fifteen people gathered around some tables for a conversation about angel investing and helping companies operating in the frontier and emerging markets - primarily where the name of Jesus is rarely heard.
We formed to rally an ongoing community of like-minded professionals outside of the conference. We also came together with our skills, our time, our social capital, and some with financial capital. We all desired to help these companies operating in frontier markets. The conversation oscillated between starting an investment fund or just meeting to help companies virtually over Zoom calls.
Our Purpose became clear: We exist to mobilize advisors and investors to support entrepreneurs operating in frontier markets.
We firmly believe that our impact for God’s kingdom can be tangibly felt when our faith integrates with our work to bless our employees, customers, community, and investors - all stakeholders. Worthy operators, whether Expats or local leaders, who live in these under-resourced parts of the world need and deserve our attention. This is why we focus on entrepreneurs of small to midsize companies in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia who are getting started or trying to scale.
What does Pragma Mean?
In the Bible story of Luke 19:13, we hear Jesus sharing a parable saying, “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'”
That phrase, "put this money to work" is actually one Greek word, pragmateuomai (pronounced “Pragma tea-U-my”). Pragma is the root of that phrase. Our is derived from the concept of “Putting money to work, doing trade or investing money."
Serving as an “On-Ramp”
We want to be an on-ramp for North American business people who came to a conference or heard of kingdom investing in hard places but who have no easy way to engage in the conversation. All of us were tired of flying on planes and making large time investments for an exciting set of meetings that felt like a “flash-in-the-pan,” with little action and relationship to follow.
Almost 6 years later we’ve been meeting regularly (now monthly) to encourage each other to get involved in using our time, our talent, and our treasure to help these companies who are often overlooked, and dramatically under-resourced.
Outcomes
We’ve advised over 20 companies, made several investments as a syndicate of individuals, and have added hundreds of hours of valuable help and feedback.
Some entrepreneurs have said:
“Pragma Advisors helped me see the full picture of what we were doing, challenged me to begin asking the right questions, aided in production dilemmas and finding solutions as well as gave me insight to what investors would want to know from us as a company. I am grateful for the experience!”
“It has been a huge pleasure to work with Pragma Advisors to review our business model, strategy & governance, and consolidation & growth plans. Pragma Advisors provided the support/partnerships we needed to transition from a start-up into a thriving and viable business.”
Many advisors have also shared their enthusiasm not just for the introduction to these kinds of companies, but also for the relationships with each other that naturally form from our fellowship.
Perspective & Research
Over the last 5 years, we committed to producing our Investment Market Analysis to paint a picture of many available capital sources that align with the Christian perspective and intentionally seek multiple bottom lines. We began the research in 2020 with 17 funds, expanded to about 35 funds in 2021, and now are announcing the 2024 research with more than 45 funds and sources of capital. We highlight investment motivations, risk posture, and many other facets of investor preparedness. After analyzing the funds, we also share tables of helpful resources to mobilize more people into the ecosystem of outstanding organizations. Download that report here: 2024 Investment Market Study.
We’re glad you have taken the time to learn our origin story and the contribution we are making to the larger ecosystem of faith-driven entrepreneurs and investors. To learn more about us, make sure to check out the Pragma Meetings page and the “Five Commitments” Pragma Advisors make to each other and the companies we serve.
See you at a Pragma Meeting, at an industry event, or working with a company. We’d love to meet you.
Patrick
for the Pragma Advisors Team
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