Who Gets to Own What Comes Next? Capital Infrastructure for a Just Ownership Transition

The “Great Ownership Transfer” is underway, with millions of small and mid-sized businesses changing hands over the next decade.

Without intervention, much of this transition will result in consolidation or closure, often at the expense of workers and local communities.

Ownership transition is often framed as a seller buyer matching problem. In practice, it is a capital systems problem. Aligned buyers, workers, tribal communities, and place-based stewards are frequently locked out because financing, advisory, and trust infrastructure are optimized for speed and price rather than long-term outcomes.

This session explores how better capital infrastructure can unlock more inclusive, values aligned ownership outcomes.