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This article was originally written by our KorePartners at Raise Green. View the original article here.

A Cornerstone of Regulation Crowdfunding

Convertible notes are a form of debt that converts to equity over time; said simply, convertible notes allow investors to loan money to a startup or early stage venture and receive equity in return, instead of their principal loan plus interest.

The greatest advantage of convertible notes is that investors and the note issuer do not have to finalize a valuation of the company at an early stage, which is especially important for companies that don’t have comprehensive data or time that allows an accurate valuation. Instead, investors “loan” their money to the business and in return will receive equity when an event, such as a future financing round, where the company’s valuation becomes more concrete. This type of security is very popular with Silicon Valley technology companies that have great interest from angel investors at an early stage, but lack the ability to make a proper valuation of the company’s worth.

Investing In A Convertible Note

So you’ve identified a compelling company that’s offering the sale of convertible notes for early stage fundraising. You’re interested in purchasing one or some of these convertible notes, but where do you start? It’s important to understand the terms of a convertible note before you invest.

Here’s the main aspects of a convertible note to know before you make any investment decisions.

Discount Rate

The discount rate represents the discount that you receive when purchasing a note relative to investors in a later round of funding, compensating investors for their additional risk taken by investing at an earlier point.

Valuation Cap

The valuation cap is an extra bonus for taking on risk by investing early. This tool limits the price at which your debt notes convert to equity, allowing investors to receive a greater return on their investment if the issuing company grows quickly.

Interest rate

As a convertible note acts as a loan from you (the investor) to the company issuing the note, there will be interest that accrues on the principal amount you invest. Instead of being paid out to investors in cash, this accrued interest converts to equity, increasing the total number of shares the investor receives upon the note’s conversion to equity.

Maturity date

This is the “due date” for the convertible note, signifying the date on which the issuing company must repay their investors.

Why Purchase a Convertible Note?

Convertible notes allow you to invest in early stage companies and projects that you believe have the opportunity to grow exponentially. By getting in at the ground floor and purchasing a convertible note, individual investors stand to earn a higher return on their investment. Whereas investing in early stage startups and projects has historically been off limits to the wider public, Regulation Crowdfunding now allows almost everyone to invest in companies that have the possibility to grow exponentially. Convertible notes carry risk like all forms of investing, but offer early investors bonuses for their willingness to accept this risk. As many companies and projects in the climate space are young and need funding, convertible notes provide a simple way for these businesses to raise capital that they desperately need, while offering their early believers a way to get them off the ground.

OK, How Does Sustainable Investing Work?

Some investors seek to make a positive social and environmental impact with their investments and thus, they don’t simply look at the companies who will make them the most money from the get-go. Rather, they seek those companies who are working tirelessly to address a vast array of societal problems. As a result, sustainable investing is also referred to as socially responsible investing (SRI) or ESG investing, as it encompasses the idea that the investor is strongly influenced by environmental, societal, or governmental factors, before contributing money to a particular company. With this type of investment, people are seeking not a short-term financial return, but a longer-term financial return in which their money is being used as a medium for societal progress, environmental impact, and corporate responsibility. In fact, financial return goes hand in hand with ESG progress, as companies with stronger ESG profiles may generate more sustainable profit and cash flow because they tend to be more competitive than their peers (“ESG factors and equity returns – a review of recent industry research,” 2021). Sustainable investing places increasing emphasis on how investments contribute to the good of society, irrespective of how much money was made in the short run.

Sustainable Investing Objectives

Sustainable investing, as a catalyst for societal change, has seen it’s popularity rise in recent years in the face of the climate crisis and compounding social issues. Impact investing serves as one of the catalysts, alongside millennial investors driven by principles, that is lighting a fire under investors to invest their money in companies whose “intrinsic values” drive positive change (“What is Sustainable Investing?,” HBS). Sustainable investing pushes companies to embrace sustainable principles, which can lead to more impactful social and financial returns later on. With respect to Raise Green, sustainable investing is particularly crucial, especially within the context of environmental factors that investors look for in companies to contribute to money. The realm of environmental factors focuses on the impact that a company will have on the environment, such as its carbon footprint, waste, water use and conservation, and clean technology.

Growing Investment Opportunities

Furthermore, this marketplace for sustainable investing is only growing. The United States’ Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment identified $17.1 trillion in total assets under management at the end of 2019 using one or more sustainable investing strategies, a 42 percent increase from the $12.0 trillion identified two years prior (“Sustainable Investing Basics,” USSIF). This type of investing has become more desirable because “investors do not have to pay more to align their investments with their values, or to avoid companies with poor environmental, social or governance practices” (“Sustainable Investing Basics,” USSIF). Therefore, with sustainable investing, investors can propagate social impact without losing money. As a whole, sustainable investing is important because it can help contribute to vast infrastructure changes needed in our society to tackle the challenges we face. It allows us to move towards a better and more sustainable future.

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How Does A Convertible Note Work?