Three Roots Capital
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Three Roots Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Three Roots Capital
- Legal name
- Three Roots Capital
- Website
- https://3rootscapital.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Three Roots Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Lending
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)
Keywords
Where Three Roots Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Three Roots Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commercial Loans: Three Roots provides commercial loans focused on impacting communities by creating jobs, delivering commercial goods & services, affordable housing, and supporting community facilities. Revenue generated through interest on loans.
- Equity Investments: Direct equity investments to support growth and expansion, subordinated or mezzanine debt investments, and other creative equity-like structures. Revenue from equity returns and investment appreciation.
- New Markets Tax Credit Projects: Federal tax credit investments that close the gap on fiscally challenging projects. Three Roots serves as a CDE with NMTC allocations to facilitate these transactions.
- Business Coaching Services: One-on-one counseling, group financial workshops, online training resources, individual coaching on raising institutional equity, and mentor relationships provided as part of their value-add services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Three Roots Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Three Roots Capital is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) that provides impact capital products to job-creating small businesses, placemaking real estate developers, and community organizations in East Tennessee and Central Appalachia. Core offerings include commercial loans, equity investments (via the Three Roots Impact Fund), New Markets Tax Credit transactions, community development services, and one-on-one business coaching. The organization combines capital, coaching, and connections in a three-pillar service model.
Product overview
Three Roots Capital is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) offering a comprehensive suite of financial products and services designed to support job-creating small businesses, placemaking real estate projects, and community facilities in East Tennessee and the Appalachian region. The core offerings include Commercial Loans, Equity Investments (including the Three Roots Impact Fund), New Markets Tax Credit Projects, Community Development Services, and Business Coaching Services. The organization also manages specialized programs such as the TennesSeed Fund (a seed-stage venture fund) and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP). Applications are processed through the LenderFit online platform. The three-pillar approach of capital access, coaching, and connections differentiates their service model for entrepreneurs, real estate developers, community organizations, and bank partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Loans Job-creating small business loans focused on impacting communities through commercial goods and services, affordable housing, and community facilities. Covers placemaking commercial real estate, community facilities, rural microloans, and affordable housing for businesses in East Tennessee and Central Appalachia.
- Equity Investments (Three Roots Impact Fund) Direct equity investments, subordinated or mezzanine debt investments, and other creative equity-like structures for companies not ready for traditional loans. Provided through the Three Roots Impact Fund targeting earlier-stage, non-bank type financing.
- New Markets Tax Credit Projects Federal tax credit investments designed to increase access to capital for businesses and real estate projects in low-income communities. Closes financing gaps on challenging projects through equity-like tax credit investments targeting severely distressed communities.
- Community Development Services Hosting access to capital events, participating in entrepreneurship events, fundraising workshops, and business pitch competitions. Involves longer-term engagements with regional universities, incubators, and economic development groups.
- Business Coaching Services Client guidance including one-on-one counseling, group financial workshops, online training resources, individual coaching on raising institutional equity, and mentor relationships to help develop strategies and negotiate growth inflection points.
- TennesSeed Fund An evergreen, seed-stage capital fund created in partnership with Innova Memphis and Meritus Capital Management, dedicated to investing in companies throughout Tennessee.
- Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) USDA-funded microloan program providing loans up to $50,000 and technical assistance to rural entrepreneurs and small businesses in qualifying census tracts with 10 or fewer employees.
Quantifiable outcome
- $194.9M capital deployed
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Three Roots Capital
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Three Roots Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Three Roots Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TennesSeed Fund (Three Roots, Innova Memphis, Meritus Capital Management)corePartnership to create an evergreen, seed-stage capital fund for Tennessee companies. Three Roots co-founded this fund with Innova Memphis and Meritus Capital Management to provide proof of concept venture capital.
- BrightBridgecoreOrganization based in Chattanooga, Tennessee specializing in New Markets Tax Credit financing transactions. Introduced to developers like Summers-Taylor for Model Mill project.
- Summers-Taylor, Inc.coreReal estate developer undertaking Model Mill historic renovation project in Johnson City. Three Roots provided $10.6M of $19.5M total financing.
- University of Tennessee Research Park (UTRP)coreLong-term partnership with UTRP CEO Tom Rogers. Three Roots has financed multiple real estate development projects at the Research Park and collaborated on securing federal grants.
- Tech 2020 / Techstars Industries of the Future AcceleratorminorPartnership related to startup ecosystem development. Tech 2020's charter and CDFI certification evolved into Three Roots Capital.
- Innov865 AllianceminorThree Roots is a founding and active member. Alliance focuses on regional startup ecosystem development and improving access to capital.
- Knoxville Area Urban LeagueminorShared goal of encouraging creation and supporting success of small businesses through educational support around business operations.
- Partners DevelopmentcoreMulti-generational real estate development company. Multiple financing collaborations including Elo Touch Solutions facility ($7.75M) and Innovation North project.
- RealtyLinkminorReal estate developer for ExtraSpace Storage facility in Oak Ridge.
- Cappiello Real Estate & Development CompanyminorDeveloper of two retail establishments in Oak Ridge.
- Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC)minorConnected Three Roots with The Complete K9 through Walt Bowman, small business specialist at the Cleveland, Tennessee office.
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)minorThree Roots invested in NellOne Therapeutics which partnered with ORNL on COVID-19 drug delivery system. NellOne was co-founded by ORNL researcher Dr. Cymbeline Culiat.
- Eurotranciatura USAcoreRural manufacturer in Paris, Tennessee receiving $25M NMTC investment. Creates 177 jobs with plans to hire 25 more.
- Tate Access Floors Inc.coreData center infrastructure manufacturer receiving $25M NMTC investment for St. Paul, Virginia facility. Creates 170 permanent jobs.
- Russell County IDAminorEconomic development entity for Russell County, Virginia collaborating on Tate Access Floors project.
Scale indicators29 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Three Roots Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI): A Maine-based CDFI that, like Three Roots, deploys loans, equity, and NMTC allocations into underserved communities and small businesses. Both organizations function as regional impact-investing platforms that combine capital with technical assistance.
- Hope Enterprise Corporation / Hope Credit Union: A Deep South CDFI and credit union providing loans, equity, and financial services to low-wealth communities in the Mississippi Delta and Alabama Black Belt. Comparable mission, products, and use of federal program eligibility.
- Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation: One of the oldest CDFIs in the country, operating across Appalachian Kentucky with loan, equity, and small-business development programs. Geographic and product overlap with Three Roots' Central/Southern Appalachia footprint is near-total.
- TruFund Financial Services: A CDFI operating in the Southeast and Texas providing loans, equity, and advisory to underserved small businesses and communities. Mission, structure (CDFI + CDE), and product offering closely mirror Three Roots'.
- Appalachian Community Capital: A CDFI consortium specifically focused on Appalachian-region small business lending. Even though it is a fund-of-funds/intermediary rather than a direct lender, its regional scope and use of CDFI/NMTC programs make it a close strategic peer.
- Virginia Community Capital: A Virginia-based CDFI bank and CDE serving low-income and rural communities across the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachia with commercial loans, NMTC transactions, and advisory services — a closely overlapping regional mandate and product set with Three Roots.
- Meritus Capital Management: Tennessee-based impact investment fund manager already partnered with Three Roots on the TennesSeed Fund. Comparable regional focus, rural/small-business mandate, and use of federal-tax-incentive programs.
Broad incumbents
- Self-Help Credit Union / Center for Community Self-Help: A larger, established CDFI holding company serving underserved communities in the Southeast U.S., combining a credit union, loan fund, and venture arm. Operates a broadly similar impact-lending model across an overlapping geography.
- Capital Impact Partners: A national CDFI providing loans, equity, and capacity-building to community organizations addressing health, housing, and economic opportunity. Operates a wider geographic footprint and product menu but shares the federal-certification-driven model.
Emerging players
- BrightBridge (NMTC partner): A Chattanooga-based CDE specializing in NMTC financings — listed as a Three Roots collaborator on deals such as Model Mill. A direct services and partnership peer in the same regional NMTC ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Three Roots Capital social profiles
Digital presenceThree Roots Capital compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Three Roots Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Three Roots Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Three Roots Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Three Roots Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Three Roots Capital
What does Three Roots Capital do?
Three Roots Capital is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) that provides impact capital products to job-creating small businesses, placemaking real estate developers, and community organizations in East Tennessee and Central Appalachia. Core offerings include commercial loans, equity investments (via the Three Roots Impact Fund), New Markets Tax Credit transactions, community development services, and one-on-one business coaching. The organization combines capital, coaching, and connections in a three-pillar service model.
Is Three Roots Capital a public or private company?
Three Roots Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Three Roots Capital founded?
Three Roots Capital was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Three Roots Capital based?
Three Roots Capital is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Three Roots Capital make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commercial Loans are the primary driver. The others are equity Investments, new Markets Tax Credit Projects and business Coaching Services.
Who are Three Roots Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI), Hope Enterprise Corporation / Hope Credit Union, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, TruFund Financial Services, Appalachian Community Capital, Virginia Community Capital and Meritus Capital Management. Broad incumbents are Self-Help Credit Union / Center for Community Self-Help and Capital Impact Partners. BrightBridge (NMTC partner) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Three Roots Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Three Roots Capital.
What industry is Three Roots Capital in?
Three Roots Capital's product category is Community Development Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAA, Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance), with a secondary code of BPAIANAE, Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives). Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 6159.