The tech stack
starts in
the ground
SFM is building an operator-led platform to originate, acquire and support producing critical-mineral assets in frontier markets.
Our model brings relationship-led access, risk intelligence and operating-environment expertise together around an ownership position.
Focus on producing assets where access, transaction complexity and practical execution matter.
Entry structured around asset ownership and participation, with the position assessed for each opportunity.
Relationships with government and communities shape operating continuity beyond the mine boundary.
Political, security and operational understanding, with monitoring of the asset’s wider environment.
Route to market and supply-chain arrangements affect whether an opportunity can be realised.
Access requires more than capital
Advanced technology depends on physical supply. The minerals behind energy systems, computing and defence must be sourced from assets operating in the real world.
In frontier markets, assessing and acquiring those assets requires an understanding of the conditions around them. Ownership structures, government and community relationships, security and routes to market all affect whether an opportunity can be realised.
SFM's model connects investment with that operating context, focusing on producing assets and the practical requirements for entry and continuity.
From origination to operating continuity
We are building the platform around a clear sequence: originate the opportunity, structure the acquisition and support the conditions around production.
- 01
Originate
Source and assess opportunities through relationships and knowledge of the local operating context. Focus on producing assets where access, transaction complexity and practical execution matter.
- 02
Acquire
Structure entry around asset ownership and participation alongside capital partners. The acquisition approach targets controlling positions, with the structure assessed for each opportunity.
- 03
Support production
Bring intelligence, stakeholder relationships and operating oversight to the conditions surrounding the asset. Specialist mine operators or the existing operating structure remain responsible for production.
Africa is the starting focus. The model also allows for relevant opportunities in other frontier markets.
Four capabilities behind the model
Each capability supports a different part of the investment and operating approach. Together, they connect opportunity assessment with the conditions required to support a producing asset.
People
Relationships and operating experience shape access to opportunities and understanding of the local context. The model starts with people who can assess counterparties, navigate complex environments and recognise the practical requirements of a transaction.
Access
Origination connects the platform to producing assets and the counterparties involved in them. Assessment considers the asset, ownership position, proposed entry structure and route to market, with a focus on opportunities requiring practical transaction execution.
Risk
Intelligence informs how an opportunity is assessed and supported. The model combines political, security and operational understanding with monitoring of the asset's wider environment, helping partners make decisions with a clearer view of the conditions on the ground.
Management
Conditions beyond the mine boundary influence operating continuity. The model addresses relationships with government and communities, regulatory requirements and supply-chain arrangements, alongside oversight of the operating partner.
Experience informs the approach
Our approach draws on experience in frontier resource transactions across Africa, military operations and advisory work with governments, extractive companies and humanitarian organisations in complex environments.
That experience informs how we assess access, counterparties and the conditions around an asset. We share further detail on the people and relationships behind the platform in a direct conversation.
Start a conversation
We welcome conversations with capital partners, asset owners and operating partners interested in producing critical-mineral opportunities in frontier markets.
For an initial discussion, contact Jack Mann.
See ways to engage →