Investors

To invest in an asset, in the traditional sense, is to provide capital in exchange for future financial profit. In the context of this cultural asset ecosystem project, investors provide capital upfront in order for the asset — in contrast to a buyer that purchases a cultural asset in order to make a profit off of its sale. while they're both technically investors, we're differentiating the two here because they play different roles in the story of an object as it changes hands overtime.

Investors provide loans, take a share of equity, or otherwise provide capital with the expectation that they receive some type of financial benefit in the future when the asset or some portion of the asset is sellable or money (value) has been generated as a result of its creation.

• Lender

  Provides debt with the expectation of return of capital with some interest.

• Shareholder

  Provide capital in exchange for a portion of an asset, with the expectation that the value of the asset will grow and they can eventually sell it if they so choose.

• Guarantor

  Helping a third party in the asset ecosystem, like an artist, get a loan or mortgage, by “guaranteeing” or promising to repay the debt if the third party can't afford to.