What is the purpose of an intermediary? To channel capital from investors to enterprises, pool capital to increase efficiency and reduce risk, provide knowledge and access to opportunity, or facilitate exchange across scope and scale.
ALTERNATIVE LENDING PLATFORMS
ALTERNATIVE LENDING PLATFORMS
A broad term used to describe financial channels that provide loan options to consumers and business owners outside of a traditional financial systems of regulated banks and capital markets
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
ASSET MANAGEMENT FIRMS
ASSET MANAGEMENT FIRMS
Firms that invest clients’ capital for them and provide investors more diversification and investing options than they would have on their own
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Pool capital to increase efficiency and reduce risk
BROKER DEALERS
BROKER DEALERS
Firms that buy and sell securities on their own account as a principal before selling those same securities to customers
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Facilitate exchange across scope and scale
BUSINESS INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS
BUSINESS INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS
Organizations that are setup to nurture small startup enterprises by providing services that they may not have access to on their own
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Provide knowledge and access to opportunity
COMMERCIAL BANKS
COMMERCIAL BANKS
An institution that provides services such as accepting deposits, making loans, and offering basic investment products to businesses
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
Referred to as CDFIs, these private sector financial institutions focus on personal lending and business development efforts in local communities. Internationally referred to as Non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs).
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
CREDIT UNIONS
CREDIT UNIONS
An institution that operates similarly to a bank but is owned by members in the form of a cooperative and gives members governance rights
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
CROWDFUNDING PLATFORMS
CROWDFUNDING PLATFORMS
Internet platform that provides a way for a large number of people to provide money in small increments in support of a person, project, or entity
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
EXCHANGES
EXCHANGES
A marketplace in which securities, commodities, derivatives, and other financial instruments are traded
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Facilitate exchange across scope and scale
FAMILY OFFICES
FAMILY OFFICES
Financial institutions that manage the family wealth of high net worth individuals
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Provide knowledge and access to opportunity
FOUNDATIONS
FOUNDATIONS
These are usually created by a single primary donation from an individual or a business. They generate income by investing an initial donation and disbursing 5% or more of total assets to charitable activities and organizations.
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
MERCHANT BANKS AND INVESTMENT BANKS
MERCHANT BANKS AND INVESTMENT BANKS
These institutions facilitate large, complex investments by providing a range of services including raising capital, negotiating mergers and acquisitions, underwriting risks or acting as agent in issuing securities to the public
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Facilitate exchange across scope and scale
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MFI’s provide financial services targeted for poor and low-income clients including savings, credit, insurance, remittances, and payments in amounts considered too small for traditional finance institutions
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
MUTUALS/MUTUAL AID SOCIETIES
MUTUALS/MUTUAL AID SOCIETIES
This member-owned organization provides insurance or financial services to the group of members; any profits made are used to improve the products and services it provides
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Pool capital to increase efficiency and reduce risk
NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Commonly referred to as NBFI’s, they provide bank-related services but do not have a full banking license and are not supervised by a national or international banking regulatory agency
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
PENSION FUNDS
PENSION FUNDS
These types of funds are the accumulated contributions from employers, employees, or both from which payments are drawn through periodic payments after employee’s retirement
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Pool capital to increase efficiency and reduce risk
WEALTH ADVISORS
WEALTH ADVISORS
An investment-advisory entity that includes financial planning, investment portfolio management and a variety of financial services to high net worth individuals and families
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Provide knowledge and access to opportunity
PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS
PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS
These organizations make direct investment into companies through investment strategies such as leveraged buyouts, venture capital, and growth capital
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Pool capital to increase efficiency and reduce risk
SYNDICATES
SYNDICATES
A temporary group of professional financial services formed to handle large transactions that would be difficult for an individual company to manage and to allow members to pool resources and share risks
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Facilitate exchange across scope and scale
NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
A non-profit, citizen-based group that functions independently of national governments. They are largely funded by donations or volunteer-driven
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Provide knowledge and access to opportunity
DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTION
DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTION
DFI’s provide finance to the private sector for investments that promote development and to help companies to invest in countries with limited markets
Primary purpose of intermediary:
Channel capital from Investors to enterprises
OTHER SECTION CATEGORIES





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