By Tom Wheeler and Steve Ebsworth | Experiential Investing is an unheard of concept by many and a term that the team here at Rascal Republic in Singapore coined as the common thread to tie together our multiple investment projects. We have seen an increasing demand for unique and rewarding investment opportunities in Asia, ones that not only generate a financial return, but that bring exciting new concepts to market and offer the investor the opportunity to be part of an inspiring journey.
Thus, we founded Rascal Republic this year as a platform to encapsulate our existing projects and pioneer new opportunities. As a portfolio of development prospects that offer both financial and lifestyle returns, Rascal Republic presents dynamic investment opportunities in everything from luxury sea voyages to curated land ventures – from the world’s highest al fresco bar, Singapore’s iconic 1-Altitude, to Rascal, the luxury phinisi yacht in Indonesia – all of our projects share the key philosophy of promoting ‘Experiential Investing’.
With a collective and clear business strategy, we take a hands-on approach to each of our projects, often from the point of conceptualisation, self-funding and fund-raising, through to development and management.
Rascal Republic’s brand’s roots trace back to one of our earliest projects, 1-Altitude, in 2009. It wasn’t until being given a landlord’s tour of Singapore’s tallest skyscraper that we saw the potential for a game-changing, al-fresco bar on the roof, and we oversaw a lot of intensive manual work before our vision to introduce Singapore’s highest rooftop bar finally was realized.
Sipping on a Singapore Sling as the sun sets against the backdrop of panoramic cityscape views is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding achievements to date. From that point on, we sought to continuously to push boundaries with redefining concepts in consumer lifestyle industries, only embarking upon projects that excite us and our investors. Hospitality and travel are areas in which we see huge opportunity.
In 2017, we launched the meticulously handcrafted luxury charter yacht, Rascal, and are in the process of expanding the fleet, with new Rascal yachts set to sail the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand, with unique itineraries around The Maldives and Cambodia to come.
From the outset, Rascal has been committed to protecting the seas it cruises, and this is translated in Rascal Republic’s philosophy of conserving to preserve. A recent expedition to Raja Ampat in partnership with Conservation International saw significant scientific breakthroughs, unveiling crucial information of some of the planet’s most threatened species. With the Conservation International series set to continue, this rewarding journey is the first of many.
It is these kinds of curated initiatives that set Rascal Republic apart; by offering opportunities to acquire stakes in handpicked businesses that investors can connect with, we ensure that the yield is both financial and experiential. As with 1-Altitude, most of our projects are initiated organically, through a collective vision for a concept. By investing at the source, developing local teams on the ground, and implementing robust legal agreements, we successfully generate high yields and value from these grassroots companies to pass on to our investors.
As the biggest investors ourselves, our strategy is to be diligent throughout the experience and ensure all projects are fully researched. Dependent on the profile of our investment partners, our track record of investment returns on our projects has ranged from 10% to 250%.
Today, the Rascal Republic asset base stretches across Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom and Australia, operating across the four main divisions of Rascal Voyages, Rascal Ventures, Rascal Developments and Rascal Digital.
Based in Singapore, we are at the epicentre of the exponentially growing Asian market, a key demographic considering the emerging middle class, enabling us to be intimately involved with the sourcing and securing of opportunities, ensuring the expansion and prosperity of Rascal Republic’s portfolio of experiential investment projects.
About the Authors
Rascal Republic Co-founders Steve Ebsworth and Tom Wheeler are from the United Kingdom, boast extensive international experience, and have been based in Singapore for around 15 years. Prior to founding Rascal Republic this year, they made a series of property and lifestyle investments throughout Southeast Asia, which have culminated in the formation of an international portfolio of experiential investments.
