Frequently Asked Questions

Netropolis builds backtested allocation models designed to help businesses put idle, surplus capital to work between contracts or operating cycles. Rather than letting cash sit static, our models apply a defined, rules-based process to evaluate allocation decisions against historical data before any strategy is presented to a client.

We work primarily with businesses that experience predictable gaps between revenue events — for example, project-based firms, contractors, or seasonal operators — and hold working capital reserves during those gaps. If your business has surplus capital sitting idle for weeks or months at a time, our approach is built with that situation in mind.

Backtesting means a model's logic is run against historical market data to see how it would have performed had it been applied in the past. This gives us a way to evaluate a model's behaviour under a range of past conditions before it is used. It is important to understand that backtested results are illustrative of historical performance only and are not a guarantee of how a model will perform going forward.

No. Any allocation of capital carries risk, and surplus capital managed through our models can decrease in value as well as increase. We do not offer guarantees of return or principal protection, and we encourage every client to review the risks involved before proceeding. Historical performance, including backtested results, does not guarantee future outcomes.

We start by understanding the shape of your surplus capital: how much is typically available, how long it tends to sit idle, and what level of risk your business is comfortable carrying. That information informs which model parameters are relevant to your situation. The process is described in more detail during an initial conversation rather than applied automatically.

We aim to be transparent about our methodology and the general basis for our backtesting approach. Specific proprietary model parameters are not published in full, but we are happy to walk through how a model was constructed, what data ranges were used, and how performance was evaluated, on request.

Timelines vary depending on the complexity of your business's capital cycle and the information you're able to share upfront. After an initial conversation, we outline next steps specific to your situation rather than quoting a fixed timeframe for every business.

We work with a range of businesses and surplus capital levels. Rather than publishing a fixed minimum, we discuss this directly based on your circumstances, since the right approach depends on more than the amount involved.

Flexibility around access to capital depends on the specific model and arrangement in place. We discuss expected access terms and any constraints clearly before you commit to an arrangement, so there are no surprises if your business's timeline shifts.

Clients receive regular updates on how an allocation is performing relative to the model's intended behaviour. We prefer straightforward reporting over promotional framing, and we're open to answering questions about any period of performance, positive or otherwise.

You're free to discuss winding down an arrangement at any time. The specific process depends on the model and terms in place for your account, and we talk through what that looks like practically as part of onboarding so expectations are clear from the start.

The best way to start is through our contact page, where you can describe your situation. From there, we can have a direct conversation about whether our approach is a reasonable fit for your business's surplus capital.