A greenfield project starts from nothing, with no existing asset. A brownfield project modifies or upgrades something already there. Starting from nothing usually means more risk and a longer wait for income.
What the film says
In infrastructure, some deals begin with an empty field. It's called greenfield. Say a fund backs a wind farm, before one turbine exists. Say it costs six hundred million, over three years. Nothing's built, so there's no income yet. Permits, steel and crews. The money goes out first, sometimes for years. The other kind is brownfield. Something already there, to modify or upgrade. Back in the field, the turbines start to spin. Then the cash starts. So why do investors care? Starting from nothing usually means more risk, and a longer wait for income. Empty field. Longer wait.
A simple example with round numbers, not advice. Terms vary by fund.
See an error?