Employing a unique approach to creating value through Knowledge + Capital, NMCC provides early and expansion-stage equity capital and capacity-building development services to support business growth in New Mexico’s Native communities through our Tribal Business Initiative.

Our organizational evolution is rooted in the basic principles of our mission:

“…As a respected investor, advisor and facilitator, our goal is to help advance the next generation of great New Mexico companies and entrepreneurs.”

To remain true to this mission, innovation in developing more effective approaches to serve our stakeholders is paramount.  In talking with tribal government and business leaders, the need for capacity-building services focused on tribal business development and expansion became apparent.  We see tremendous unrealized value and potential in our Native communities. To the extent we can enhance and support tribal business development, we are focused on developing and implementing relevant value-added services and capital delivery mechanisms.

Uniquely Positioned

NMCC is uniquely positioned to play a supporting role in tribal business advancement for three primary reasons: 1. Experience. We have over 70 years combined experience in venture capital, management of high-growth businesses, and strategic business consulting.  2. Familiarity.  We are familiar with the challenges and opportunities that face Indian Country. 3. Long-term perspective.  We recognize the singular application of Capital or Knowledge alone can generate sustainable value in emerging markets. We take a complementary Knowledge + Capital approach to both the investments we make and the clients we serve to ensure the groundwork for long-term success and value-creation is in place.

As a result, we launched the Tribal Business Initiative under the NMCC umbrella to develop both an investment model and a more focused effort to serve the pueblos and tribes in New Mexico.

Through our experience, familiarity, and long-term perspective we have tailored our successful strategic business services to provide the maximum value to our tribal enterprise partners and clients.

Tribal Business Development – We have created and are employing a mechanism for experienced tribes to partner with us and to identify and ultimately acquire or create quality, sustainable businesses that meet their strategic needs and then manage the businesses effectively for economic growth.

Business Analysis and Evaluation – We assist tribes with the due diligence process on the many potential business development opportunities they encounter.  Assistance varies from establishment of evaluation processes to build capacity to evaluate potential business opportunities as they arise in the future, to evaluation of specific opportunities, to playing a supporting role to augment existing resources.

Tribal Enterprise Summits – We recognize there is a healthy balance between Tribally-driven and individual entrepreneur-driven enterprises within thriving Native communities.  We believe NMCC is well-positioned to focus our efforts on the Tribally-driven enterprises, where the potential for scale and economic impact across the community is tremendous.  As a result, we look for opportunities to convene educational summits focused on Tribally-owned enterprise development and growth for leadership in Tribal government and Tribally-owned enterprises.

For more information on the Summits or to find out about the next convening, please contact either Shyla Sheppard (shyla@nmccap.com) or Mike Emerson (memerson@nmccap.org).

Tribal Business Investment Pilot

As an organization focused on relentless innovation, we have created and are employing a mechanism for experienced tribes to partner with us on pursuing high-growth business opportunities both on and off Tribal lands.  Through our Knowledge + Capital approach, we bring both business and investment expertise, as well as investment capital.  We have a vested interest, both philosophically and financially, for the business to succeed and thrive for the benefit of all stakeholders.

• NMCC is uniquely positioned to bridge venture capital with Indian Country to support the creation/expansion of high-growth, sustainable, tribally-owned business enterprises.

• Complementary with NMCC’s focus on identifying and investing in high-growth businesses, we will identify opportunities that possess competitive advantages that may be augmented through this unique structure, and also fit with the long-term priorities of our partner tribes.

• NMCC has attracted financial support from both the U.S. Community Development Financial Institution Fund as well as the U.S. Economic Development Administration to develop models and best practices to extend beyond our work in New Mexico.