Accelerating investment in the next generation of city builders
Overview
The Cities Investment Forum (CIF) is a curated, deal-oriented convening designed to accelerate investment into promising new city projects.
Hosted by the Charter Cities Institute in partnership with Mineral Springs, CIF brings together credible developers, aligned investors, and a small group of senior expert advisors to move high-potential projects toward financing and execution.
Across emerging markets, demand for serviced land, reliable infrastructure, and well-governed urban expansion is growing rapidly, yet many projects struggle to attract investment.
Developers often face difficulties in packaging projects, structuring risk, and aligning with investor expectations. Investors, in turn, encounter high diligence costs and a lack of capital-ready dealflow.
CIF is designed to solve this. By curating and screening both projects and participants, the Forum creates an environment where serious developers and investors can engage directly, accelerating learning and amplifying visibility.
The Partner
Mineral Springs is an advisory firm with a two-decade track record in municipal, infrastructure, and climate finance, working directly with the development finance institutions, commercial lenders, and blended-finance vehicles.
The firm has helped structure groundbreaking transactions, including Senegal's first municipal bond and pioneering green bonds in Ghana and Uganda.
Mineral Springs has advised and structured funds for many of the top development institutions, including the World Bank, US Development Finance Corporation, Proparco, the US Millennium Challenge Corporation, the UK's Climate Finance Accelerator, and the EU.
The engagement is led by Jeremy Gorelick, who has mobilized more than US$10 billion for infrastructure projects.
Differentiators
Curated Deal Flow
Only high-potential, screened projects
Aligned Capital
Investors selected based on mandate fit
Expert Feedback
Direct input from experienced investors
Action-Oriented Format
Designed to move projects forward
Process
Projects are sourced and screened for traction and market potential and socialized with aligned investors in the run-up to the Summit to gauge interest and build credibility.
By the time participants arrive, conversations are focused, informed, and oriented towards closing on a term sheet.
Project Pitches
20-minute pitches focused on bankability and a clear ask
Investor Q&A
Immediate, practical feedback from investors and operators
Deal-Focused Networking
Invite-only sessions and cocktail events
Curated Attendance
Developers, investors, operators, and select advisors only
Track Record
Previously run as the Cities Catapult, this initiative has already supported a pipeline of new city projects across emerging markets, now evolving into a more focused, deal-oriented forum.
2023
2025These are the types of projects CIF is designed to support: credible developments moving toward investability and execution.
Audience
Building investable new city and urban expansion projects
Looking for vetted, investment-ready opportunities
Infrastructure providers, tenants, and delivery partners
Practitioners who can help structure and unlock deals
If you're building, investing, or enabling the next generation of cities, CIF is where the most important conversations happen.