1. The voyages were seen as too risky. The Americas were largely unknown at the time, and the voyages to them were fraught with danger. Ships were often lost at sea, and those that did make it often faced attacks from pirates, hostile natives, and disease.
2. The potential profits were seen as too uncertain. Even if a voyage to the Americas was successful, there was no guarantee that the investors would make a profit. The trade goods that the explorers were looking for, such as gold, silver, and spices, were often difficult to find and could be expensive to transport.