Abstract
As mning companies navigate from exploration to production, securing capital for the development-stage project remains a challenge. Traditonal debt fiinancing often falls short due to the perceived risk profile of the assets and the inabiblity to access revenue streams, while equity markets remain cautious and interest rates are unpredictable at the start of pre-revenue development. Alternate structres and approach can bridge the gap from the highly speculative start up investor base to the larger deal value institutional base that looks for product flow and off-take agreements. Funding solutions are being designed to bridge this critical financing gap. These alternative structures are intended to reduce the dilution of the equity based early exploratory stage investor models prevalent while the project does not yet meet classic debt requirements. Finding an alternative source of finance can enhance funding flexiblity and better align with project development timeline at less ultimate cost to the project and its owners. Topics will discuss concepts for innovative approaches to finance.