Getting Started

Getting Started with CAP Project Funding

We provide capital for mid-market projects (new construction or retrofits, refurbishments or renovations) that fit our sweet spot.  With an “impact” investing strategy focused on ESG and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, we strive to keep an open mind when strong projects and experienced developers are well prepared to secure funding, so long as there is no social or environmental harm.

For a synopsis of our flagship program, what it is, and how it works, please read this introductory letter or download the 1-page CAP funding tear sheet (PDF).

To find out if you qualify for this flagship funding, first review these 4 cornerstones of Completion Assurance Program™ (CAP) — size, space (or sector), stage and security.  For the “security” cornerstone, #3 of our Six Essentials, there is an innovative structure that helps developers secure advantageous terms without up-front costs, which relies on the developer’s ability to facilitate a Completion Assurance guarantee (CAG).

This guarantee is a financial instrument (not insurance or bonding) that either comes from the developer, a sponsoring vendor (such as the hired EPC firm, General Contractor, or major supplier) or third-party asset owners that gain confidence that you will complete and deliver your project.  It starts with an introduction to the banker that will first provide a “specimen” (sample) of what they would authorize.

You may also want to consider involving a sponsor (sponsor’s landing page).

Note the following conditions when CAP funding is the best or only option.

Developers can either facilitate their own guarantee or hire In3 to arrange one on a split fee basis.

See the complete steps for funding from “inception to completion” via CAP funding.  Eventually the complete package will be needed, but to streamline as much as possible, the Six Essentials boil down to just these 3 as the “onramp” to the road ahead:

1) Project name, total budget and funding request in $ or €

2) Uses of funds – categories and amounts / % (sample format), and

3) Proposed completion assurance “demand” guarantee type and wording. 

That’s it!  Do you have access, or could you gain such access, to a qualifying guarantee?   

  • If yes or maybe a guarantee could be facilitated, please continue, using these detailed INSTRUCTIONS. (For further background on such guarantees, see Comprehensive Guide to Standby Letters of Credit).  
  • If not, and you can qualify for any of our alternative programs, they do not use financial instruments, but all of these loan programs, up to 100% loan-to-cost, require some cash for either interest reserve, a security deposit or due diligence costs.  Program 2 is the least cost and is largely intolerant of perceived risk exposures, unlike CAP funding.  Only CAP funding is free to apply and get under contract. For the other programs, our Affiliates or In3’s team can provide initial vetting to help sell your funding proposal to the selected lender.

The rest of this article is about how to arrange a Completion Assurance guarantee.  In brief, either …
a) via your own holdings (company balance sheet or other assets)
b) via a “sponsor” (such as an EPC contractor, construction firm or major equipment supplier to the project), or
c) by hiring an advisor to help you obtain it. 

In3’s CAP Profile Builder is where you will find all templates and tools to obtain a usable, bank-involved financial guarantee as well as to summarize project finance request to pre-qualify

Per the first 3 “essential” items above, we look forward to receiving your project name/type, total budget, uses of funds, and bank’s proposed guarantee (SbLC, usually) wording for our review.  All templates available here.

Once prepared, use our “Onboarding” System to register your project(s)

If you have questions, want help with preparation, or wish to benchmark your project against our standards, we probably have additional tools available at no charge.  Just ask us!

We will keep all information entirely confidential.  Our review for CAP funding is free.  We usually respond within 48 hours.  Thanks in advance for your patience.

In the interim, if you have questions, please review our background materials, including