Countries the world over are seeking growth, leveraging a wide array of tools and incentives to entice business development. From tax incentives, to reducing regulatory hurdles, governments and investors alike are working to redefine the business landscape. However, a central constituency continually gets overlooked in this endeavor – the small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs).
SMEs are widely credited for job creation and spurring economic growth, yet are deemed too risky to support via direct investments. From 1993 to 2013, small firms accounted for 63% of the net new jobs created in the United States.[1] Supporting evidence aside, capital markets shy away from the SMEs. The few who do not, provide funds at unfavorable terms that are not aligned with, or patient enough, to support SME growth trajectories. Not until an SME crosses into ‘large’ firm terrain, do markets and investors become interested.
