ABOUT US

OUR INSPIRATION

Hastings died in 1828 from wounds he suffered in the battle to liberate the Greek city of Missolinghi. His body is buried on the campus of a school for naval officers on the Greek island of Poros. His heart is buried in St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Athens, Greece. Appropriately, the church is located on a street named Philellinon, which means Philhellene.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

An old adage which is attributed to John D. Rockefeller goes “ use other people’s money to make money”. There is another old adage which is attributed to Charles Ponzi which goes “it is better to be lucky than to be smart”. The Rockefeller adage implies that raising investment capital is a scheme and that the investor is somehow docile and naive. The Ponzi adage implies that success in business depends on a roll of the dice rather than competence and ability. We reject the sentiment in each of these adages.

The fundamental organizing principle of private investing is that good ideas are merely an introduction to the people who have the ability and competence to implement the business concept. Investors invest in people not in a scheme and not in the stars. This means that the people in the company must establish credibility with the investors. The people in the company establish credibility by demonstrating that they are knowledgeable, understand the dynamics of investing, competent and able to effectively communicate. We resolve to assist the company in establishing credibility.

UNIQUE ERA IN HISTORY

Throughout history, advances in technology and forms of social organization have spawned commercial innovations. The stirrup, the rudder, the Guttenberg press, the steam engine and electricity have enabled business persons to create products and services. These products and services can generate social and commercial value and utility only if they can be translated into a business operation. To function, the business operation must be supported by financial resources which appropriate investment provides.

The Internet is one of the historical advances. It has enabled business persons to conceive and create innovative products and services. Occurring at about the same time, the following three events have combined to create a period of commercial and social innovation which is unique in history.

1. Business Plans

Business persons are able to produce business plans. These business plans present their business concept in a way that explains the technical aspects of the business concept and demonstrates the commercial and social value of the business concept.

2. Professionals

An industry of highly competent professionals has arisen. These professionals assist business persons in expressing the technical aspects of the business plans to investors.

3. Laws

The securities laws and regulations which govern the methods and means of making private offerings to raise investment capital have become more rational and less restrictive.

As significant as are these developments, we perceive a missing link. On one side, the potential investors can understand the business concept as presented in the business plan. On the other side, the courts and the securities laws protect the investors from fraud and deceit. The missing link is the difference between the financial/control elements which the business person will accord to the investor in exchange for the investment and the financial/control elements which the investor desires in exchange for the investment.

These financial/control elements include items such as the financial return on the investment, participation, if any, in the managing and governing the business, the terms of exiting the investment, how the investment is protected the investment and receiving benefits from the appreciation in value of the business. We serve to connect the link.

OUR COMMITMENT

We are not broker-dealers. We do not “sell” securities or take equity positions in the companies which we serve. We render our services only to the companies which engage us. We do not take any compensation or reimbursement from any person or entity, including potential investors,  other than companies under our engagement.

Whenever we consider it to be necessary, we will hire or retain experts who have  specialized knowledge and experience to assist us to perform our services.  If we do so, we will identity such persons to our companies.

OUR FORM OF BUSINESS ENTITY

Hastings Analysis is organized and validly exists under the District of Columbia Unincorporated Non Profit Association Act of 2010, (DC Code § 29-1101 et seq.). Hastings Analysis has not applied for and shall not apply for a tax exemption under Section 501( c) of the Internal Revenue Code. No payment made to Hastings Analysis is tax deductible to the payor. We are located in Washington DC

THE DIRECTORS

Nicholas G. Karambelas

Mr. Karambelas practiced law from 1980 through 2020. in the State of New York, Washington DC and the State of Maryland. He practiced in the areas of business entity organization, international law and business transactions, e-commerce, securities, and franchising. In 2021, he founded Hastings Analysis which advises US and non-US business persons on translating a business concept into an investment concept, advocates for international trade and investment and publishes books and articles on international business topics and international politics.

Mr. Karambelas participated in the drafting of the revised business organization laws of the District of Columbia. He was elected as Secretary of the D.C. Bar and served for 2004-2005. He served on the Publications Committee and was Co-Chair of the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee of the District of Columbia Bar. He was a CLE lecturer and taught in numerous areas of law including company law, international business transactions and commercial law to other attorneys.

Nikos Mouses

Mr. Mouses has over 25 years of experience in the food and beverage supply industry, brokerage services for the cruise and ferry industries and the travel industry. He is the member and manager of Terraco LLC, which is a qualified Sysco Vendor, and distributes food, beverages and travel services to the cruise industry and other buyers throughout North America.

Mr. Mouses is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Olympus Plaza Group of Companies which manages highway travel stops in Greece and the Balkans. He is also the Managing Director of Five Continent Cruises. He serves as a director and principal of several companies which offer the same products and services as does Terraco LLC in the European markets.