Investment Criteria


Are You Ready to Grow?

RuralWorks’ investments are generally focused on the agribusiness and food industry, including the following:

  • Sustainable and regenerative agriculture
  • Local and regional food systems
  • Waste upcycling / circular economy
  • Forest and fisheries
  • Other industries including rural power, electric distribution, water and waste disposal, communications

As an RBIC, RuralWorks invests generally in:

  • Businesses that operate primarily in rural areas (areas having a population of 50,000 or less), or
  • Businesses that are located in areas that are “rural in character” based on population, demographics and ties to a rural economic base, or
  • Businesses whose products or services directly benefit rural residents, communities or businesses

RuralWorks has considerable flexibility in its investments and can play multiple roles in the capital structure, utilizing, among other instruments:

  • Common and/or preferred equity (minority shareholder)
  • Royalty- or revenue-based financings (RBFs)
  • Junior, mezzanine or subordinated debt

Other business parameters include:

  • Business Status: Growth-stage and transitioning businesses (including businesses contemplating or executing a company sale to management teams or employees (e.g., ESOPs)
  • Revenue Range: $2,000,000 to $10,000,000+
  • Profitability: Cash flow positive (or highly visible)
  • Investment Size: $2,000,000 to $5,000,000
  • Round Size: $5,000,000 to $25,000,000+
  • Geography: National in scope with regional focus of the Upper Midwest, Great Lake States, and Northeast
  • Impact: Commitment to employees, local community, and environmental sustainability
As an impact investor, we believe businesses should benefit the communities in which they operate, both locally and globally. Our strategy builds rural community wealth and economic resilience by supporting the creation of quality jobs and broad employee ownership, while our investments in climate-smart food and agriculture and the circular economy help the planet and our global community.