Rooted in principle. Built for performance.
At Eleven Social Capital, we believe that capital and community are not at odds - they are two parts of the same engine. When structured well, investment doesn't just enable social good; it helps it scale, sustain, and succeed.
We're not here to reinvent capitalism. We're here to work with it - thoughtfully, responsibly, and effectively. Our goal is to unlock capital for projects that deliver measurable social value and strong, risk-adjusted returns. No compromise. No shortcuts. Just better alignment between resources and outcomes.
Too often, social delivery is limited by structures that can't support it. We believe a smarter approach can change that. One where investors are not asked to sacrifice performance for purpose. And one where social partners aren't left to chase piecemeal funding.
Our model is grounded in clear principles:
- Impact must be measurable - not abstract.
- Capital must be compensated - not apologised to.
- Partnership must be long-term - not transactional.
- Systems must work for all participants - not just one side of the table.
This is grown-up social capitalism: efficient, collaborative, and grounded in outcomes. It's how we deliver value that endures.
Philosophical Foundations
We're not the first to see this. The thinkers who shaped economics, ethics, and civic life understood that private interest and public good can - and should - be aligned.
- Adam Smith - The Wealth of Nations: "By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it." → Well-designed systems align ambition with benefit
- Montesquieu - The Spirit of the Laws: "Commerce is a cure for the most destructive prejudices... where the ways of life are gentle, the manners are gentle." → Commerce, done right, builds peace and connection.
- Cicero - On Duties: "We should do for others what we would wish others to do for us." → Mutual obligation is a foundation of stability.
- Tocqueville - Democracy in America: "Self-interest rightly understood teaches each citizen that to pursue the good of others is to pursue his own." → Enlightened self-interest is the heart of community.
- Thomas Aquinas - Summa Theologiae: "Law should aim at the common good and at individual benefit simultaneously." → The best systems serve the many and the one.
Want to understand how we apply these ideas?