Hercules Capital

Overview

Hercules Capital is a specialty finance company and BDC that lends to venture-backed technology and life-sciences companies from late-Series A through pre-IPO. For a GP, it is the default first call when a portfolio company wants 6-12 months of extra runway without pricing a new round — term loans paired with warrants rather than a board seat.

Key facts

• Publicly traded BDC (NYSE: HTGC) and the largest dedicated venture lender
• Focused on technology and life sciences
• Pairs term loans with warrant coverage, not board control
• Lends across the company lifecycle, from venture growth to pre-IPO