Value creation: What if the most valuable thing an investor brings isn’t capital at all? 

For many growing businesses, the instinct is to focus on funding — how much, how fast, and what for.

But behind every capital injection lies a deeper question: who’s helping guide the business as it scales? The right capital partner doesn’t just fuel growth — they help shape it. 

 

When supported by strong governance, aligned strategy, and a disciplined value-creation framework, investment becomes a catalyst not only for growth, but for maturing leadership, enhancing board effectiveness, and refining execution. 
Yet not all capital is created equal. 

 

For boards advising founders or management teams, the conversation must extend beyond valuation and deal terms — it must also consider the strategic value investors bring and how they will support the growth of the business through their approach and capabilities. The right partner brings clarity, structure, and operational depth — enabling businesses to scale confidently while retaining control. 

That’s the model the Australian Business Growth Fund (ABGF) was purpose-built to deliver. ABGF’s minority investment approach is designed to preserve founder control while unlocking the capabilities that drive sustainable growth. 

Want to know what partnering with a growth investor really looks like?
Keep reading and register to attend the webinar to learn more about how ABGF supports businesses post-investment to drive growth, build capability, and create long-term value.

Lifting governance to support strategic growth

As founder-led ventures evolve into professionally scaled organisations, governance becomes a strategic and future-focused lever of performance and sustainable growth. Institutional investors bring the discipline and insight required to elevate board oversight and decision-making. 

ABGF works closely with boards and management teams to formalise governance structures and improve board performance. This includes supporting the appointment of independent Chairs and non-executive directors, improving reporting frameworks, and aligning the board on long-term strategy. 

 We also help management establish and maintain a structured governance cadence.  This typically involves quarterly board meetings, strategy offsites, and budgeting processes which institutionalise governance without adding unnecessary process burden. Between meetings, we act as a sounding board to founders and executives — offering insight and experience while respecting management autonomy. 

 Stronger governance and operational maturity don’t just drive growth, they help de-risk key decisions and build resilience through inflection points. 

 

Flexible expertise, when and where it matters most

ABGF’s involvement is shaped by the needs of each company. We participate at the discretion of management and scale our engagement based on where we can offer the most value — acting as strategic partner, not day-to-day operator.

As businesses grow, they often need to reshape their teams, introduce new roles, or evolve their culture. Through our in-house team and external Talent Network, we provide targeted support across finance, operations, people, marketing, and technology. Whether evaluating acquisitions, refining reporting, or shaping incentive models, this expertise-on-demand approach enables agility while embedding institutional depth.

For example, logistics technology business HUBBED received tailored support during its strategic acquisition of Parcelpoint, enabling it to expand its national network to over 3,000 Pick-Up-Drop-Off locations. The engagement was shaped around HUBBED’s goals, with ABGF contributing strategic guidance, insight, and connections.

Similarly, ABGF supported Solbari’s expansion into the US, which now makes up a significant proportion of its revenue. The founder retained ownership and control, while gaining access to targeted expertise at a critical growth inflection point, including guidance on navigating recent US tariffs.

 

Long-term value creation starts with a strategic partnership 

Creating value goes beyond financial uplift. It’s about strengthening the underlying capacity of a business — across leadership, systems, governance and strategy. For most small and medium enterprises (SMEs), revenue growth is the key lever to improving profitability. But scaling successfully demands the right foundations. 

That’s why ABGF focuses on building internal capability. From the development of high-performing CEOs and executive teams to capital structure and risk frameworks, we help businesses grow strategically and operationally — ensuring alignment between vision and execution. 

With profitability typically measured by EBITDA, we work to improve investor-grade reporting, sharpen team alignment, and support growth narratives that position companies for future growth, investment or exit. 

ABGF was developed with Australian SMEs in mind. For businesses looking to raise capital, we offer a unique alternative to bank lending and private equity funding. Backed by the Australian Government and major banks, we provide flexible and patient capital, as well as the capabilities and connections businesses need to realise their growth plans, without relinquishing control of what they’ve built. 

Can ABGF assist your business?

At the Australian Business Growth Fund™, we provide long-term growth capital to enable SMEs to scale without giving up control of their business. Start the conversation with us today.

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