Investment Criteria
Our views on investing
“We want companies to have shown proof of concept before we invest, and we want to see that they can sustain themselves in the future when we might no longer be a part of their journey.”
Are we the right fit?
We are quite specific on what kind of companies we want to support and be engaged in.
First and foremost, Guldhjulet will only partner with companies driving positive social change. This change needs to be measurable and possible to prove. Secondly the company and business model must be sustainable in itself, meaning that there is longevity in the idea and the business. We invest to scale a business to help more people, not in a venture phase to see if the idea is viable. Longevity is also why we look for team-driven endeavours, we will not invest in a venture that is dependent on one single founder.
Our job is to support our partners’ growth trajectory through capital injections (and knowledge sharing where we can add value). We are, however, not the right partner if you are in need of financial relief or at a very early stage of your business exploration.
We are looking for investment opportunities that meet the following criteria:
Create positive social change, as mentioned, this could mean something as obvious as creating jobs that otherwise would not have existed. We like to see hard numbers when possible.
Have a proven business model.
Are driven by a dedicated and well-functioning team with a track record and a team that’s in it for the long run. We are always looking for potential.
Businesses do not operate in isolation; they are woven into the fabric of society. Companies that create jobs, invest in local communities, and develop innovative solutions to pressing social challenges can have a profound impact. A thriving business generates more than just financial returns — it provides stability for families, drives local economies, and fosters long-term prosperity.
We know from experience that jobs, no matter how “basic” they may seem from the outside, bring a wealth of good side-effects: from making employees self-sufficient and giving them financial confidence; to creating a better pathway into the local community.
Though we are looking for investments that make returns, we also have the expectation on them to drive positive social change.
We are looking for a balance between investments that are long-term sustainable for us, giving us the capital to re-invest in new endeavours, and have a positive social effect on the communities where our partners are active.
Companies need to add value to employees, customers, owners and other investors in order to prosper. Our role is to provide the capital, and sometimes the knowledge, needed to fast track our partners’ growth, giving them the possibility to scale the number of people positively affected.
Investments and aid are both important to change the outlook for people across the world. But there is a simple difference that shouldn’t be overlooked. Investments should, after some time, be profitable. This is important, since an investment in a company that can deliver a profit and return, indicates that the business succeeds and will be able to move forward, sustaining itself and live for a long time without being dependent on outside additional support.
Our goal in engaging with successful companies should also mean that our investments pay off, making it possible for us to continue to support new opportunities affecting the lives of more people along the way.
How we support partner companies:
Capital – either through equity or debt financing.
Knowledge – we are happy to share our own experience when it’s a value add.
Our philosophy for investments
