‘Capital Growth’ Has Many Meanings. So does ‘Performance’!

Why do we invest?

Why do we invest? The glib answer is ‘to make money’. For most investors however, I suspect the reasons are much more nuanced.

When I first committed funds to a Haatch portfolio company, the reasons for doing so were multiple. Of course, I was looking forward to value amplification and the tax basis was also highly attractive. However, I also had a strong sense of wanting to ‘plug in’ to a modern, cutting-edge area of technology.

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An ‘Invested Investor’

My twenties, thirties and even forties are in the rear-view mirror. I wanted to stay relevant; to have a feeling of involvement in the wealth creation base that forms the future of our country and our young people. I wanted to support young entrepreneurs and their phenomenal courage and work ethic. And I wanted to feel that the energy it had taken me to generate money was somehow being ‘passed on’, not lying dormant in a bank vault. I suppose I could call myself ‘an invested investor’. So, when Jonathan Keeling at Haatch posted on LinkedIn that a friend of his was having challenges funding a rather different venture, something caught my attention.

Curtain Call

Jonathan’s friend is Rosie, the operational director of a company called ‘Make/Sense’, based in Reading. I am a Reading boy myself, so my interest was piqued. Make/Sense describes itself as ‘an inclusive theatre community in Reading for neurodivergent, disabled and sensory-attuned people’. Behind that humble statement, as I discovered, is a truly brilliant team. Specialist theatre and sensory practitioners are dedicated to enabling children and young people to experience self-expression and performance that would not otherwise be possible. It’s that simple and that profound.

The Investment Thesis

Rosie’s investment thesis was refreshingly simple too. Make/Sense had a Big Show coming up. The heatwave was upon them. Health and Safety advised that the theatre’s air-cooling facilities were not adequate for the size of the space, the numbers of people and the requirement to maintain a safe ambient temperature. A sum of money was needed to hire unbudgeted cooling fans and provide bottled water. Otherwise, there would be no show. With just a couple of days to curtain up, Rosie had reached out to see if anyone could donate equipment or sponsor its hire.

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The Show MUST Go On

Via LinkedIn, I said I would help. Initially, I contacted friends in theatre and events production. They were sympathetic but, understandably given the time of year, the people that other people needed to talk to were away on holiday. It would take weeks to organise something. Meanwhile, the young stars of the show were increasingly distressed at the thought that all their hard work might come to nothing. So, I made an investment decision. Over a weekend, the money Make Sense needed was transferred, the giant fans and the water bottles were despatched and the show did go on.

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What’s the Return?

There’s an emotional dimension here, I freely admit. I felt I hadn’t done anything as worthwhile in some time. It’s tough enough for anyone to get a break in theatre. For those who don’t even think of the possibility of being in the spotlight, it’s pretty much impossible. Unless they have a Make/Sense in their lives. For me, the return is incalculable. This theatre amplifies value magnificently, creating huge social capital by bringing inclusion to vibrant life for youngsters who hugely deserve it. For the Make Sense team, knowing they have people on their side, people who are prepared to help, is, I hope, a real boost. Nobody can work alone all the time, no matter how committed.

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We Can Learn from One Another

Make/Sense have a lot of attributes that entrepreneurs can learn from. And they have a lot of attributes that will resonate with investors. This applies across countless committed groups in so many areas of our society. There are many motivated people doing what they believe in and making the very most of every penny of their often-limited resources. They work tirelessly to achieve the returns that fulfil their dream while delivering real benefits. Soundslike a blueprint for a great investment!

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Roger Linley, Haatch Investor

Learn more about Make Sense at: https://makesensetheatre.com