The 12 closest competitors and alternatives to Hercules Capital, Inc. among asset management companies — ranked by similarity to what Hercules Capital, Inc. actually does, not by market-cap band.
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Hercules Capital, Inc. is a business development company. The firm specializing in providing private equity, venture debt, and growth capital to privately held venture capital-backed companies at all stages of development from mid venture to expansion stage including select publicly listed companies and select special opportunity companies that require additional capital to fund acquisitions, recapitalizations and refinancing and established-stage companies. The firm provides growth capital financing solutions for capital extension; management buy-out and corporate spin-out financing solutions; company, asset specific, or intellectual property acquisition financing; convertible, subordinated and/or mezzanine loans; domestic and international corporate expansion; vendor financing; revenue acceleration by sales and marketing development, and manufacturing expansion. It provides asset-based financing with a focus on cash flow; accounts receivable facilities; equipment loans or leases; equipment acquisition; facilities build-out and/or expansion; working capital revolving lines of credit; inventory. The firm also provides bridge financing to IPO or mergers and acquisitions or technology acquisition; dividend recapitalizations and other sources of investor liquidity; cash flow financing to protect against share price volatility; competitor acquisition; pre-IPO financing for extra cash on the balance sheet; public company financing to continue asset growth and production capacity; short-term bridge financing; and strategic and intellectual property acquisition financings. It also focuses on customized financing solutions, emerging growth, mid venture, and late venture financing. The firm invests primarily in structured debt with warrants and, to a lesser extent, in senior debt and equity investments. The firm generally seeks to invest in companies that have been operating for at least six to 12 months prior to the date of their investment. It prefers to invest in technology, SaaS Finance, energy technology, sustainable and renewable technology, and life sciences. Within technology the firm focuses on advanced specialty materials and chemicals; communication and networking, consumer and business products; consumer products and services, digital media and consumer internet; electronics and computer hardware; enterprise software and services; gaming; healthcare services; information services; business services; media, content and information; mobile; resource management; security software; semiconductors; semiconductors and hardware; and software sector. Within energy technology, it invests in agriculture; clean technology; energy and renewable technology, fuels, and power technology; geothermal; smart grid and energy efficiency and monitoring technologies; solar; and wind. Within life sciences, the firm invests in biopharmaceuticals; biotechnology tools; diagnostics; drug discovery, drug platform, development, and delivery; medical devices and equipment; surgical devices; therapeutics; pharma services; and specialty pharmaceuticals. Within sustainable and renewables, it invests in Vehicle Technology, Energy Generation and Storage, Ag Technology, Advanced Materials, and Industry 4.0. It also invests in educational services. The firm invests primarily in United States based companies and considers investment in the West Coast, Mid-Atlantic regions, Southeast and Midwest, particularly in the areas of software, biotech, and information services. The firm prefers to invest between $5 million and $500 million in equity per transactions. It invests in debt between $1 million and $40 million in companies focused primarily on business services, communications, electronics, hardware, and healthcare services. The firm invests primarily in private companies but also have investments in public companies. For equity investments, the firm seeks to represent a controlling interest in its portfolio companies which may exceed 25% of the voting securities of such companies. The firm seeks to invest a limited portion of its assets in equipment-based loans to early-stage prospective portfolio companies. These loans are generally for amounts up to $3 million but may be up to $15 million for certain energy technology venture investments. The firm allows certain debt investments have the right to convert a portion of the debt investment into equity. It also co-invests with other private equity firms. The firm seeks to exit its investments through initial public offering, a private sale of equity interest to a third party, a merger or an acquisition of the company or a purchase of the equity position by the company or one of its stockholders. The firm has structured debt with warrants which typically have maturities of between two and seven years with an average of three years; senior debt with an investment horizon of less than three years; equipment loans with an investment horizon ranging from three to four years; and equity related securities with an investment horizon ranging from three to seven years. The firm prefers to invest through its balance sheet capital. The firm formerly known as Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. Hercules Capital, Inc. was founded in December 2003 and is based in San Mateo, California with additional offices in North America and Europe.
Hercules Capital, Inc. is an asset management company headquartered in San Mateo, United States. It is publicly listed (HTGC) with a market capitalisation of $3.1B. Xcout tracks 49 named people at Hercules Capital, Inc., including Scott Bluestein (CEO, Chief Investment Officer & Director).
43 more named people on record for Hercules Capital, Inc., with roles, board committees and tenure — see the full roster →
Ranked by semantic similarity — how close each company is to Hercules Capital, Inc. by what it does, using Xcout's live company graph. Click any company for its full profile, or its competitor set.
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New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC), a Nasdaq-listed business development company (BDC), operates as both a private equity and lending vehicle. It specializes in providing capital through direct investments and loans to middle-market companies, with a particular emphasis on those operating in stable, "defensive growth" sectors. The firm actively seeks out opportunities in buyouts and established middle-market businesses. NMFC deploys capital across various levels of a company's capital structure. This includes investing in debt instruments such as first and second lien debt, unsecured notes, and mezzanine securities. Occasionally, the firm's investments may also involve acquiring equity interests. Its investment strategy is focused exclusively on the United States. The fund targets a diverse array of industries, including but not limited to: energy, specialty chemicals and materials, trading companies and distributors, commercial printing, various support and professional services (diversified, education, environmental, facilities, office, business, federal), media, distribution and logistics, interactive home entertainment, telecommunication services, and several aspects of healthcare (services, facilities, technology). It also invests in different forms of power generation (hydroelectric, fossil fuels, nuclear) and security and alarm services. New Mountain Finance Corporation typically commits between $10 million and $50 million per transaction. Its investment sourcing involves both directly originating new deals and purchasing existing assets through open-market secondary transactions. The firm looks for companies with EBITDA ranging from $10 million to $200 million and aims for an investment hold size of up to $125 million. A key objective for the fund is to secure a majority ownership stake in its portfolio companies.
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Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (TSLX) functions as a specialized Business Development Company. It provides a wide array of financing solutions, including various forms of debt such as senior secured loans (encompassing first-lien, second-lien, and unitranche facilities), unsecured loans, and mezzanine debt. The firm also strategically allocates capital to corporate bonds, equity securities, structured products, non-control structured equity, and common equity, frequently engaging in co-investments. These financial commitments primarily aim to facilitate corporate endeavors like organic expansion, strategic acquisitions, market or product diversification, restructuring initiatives, recapitalizations, and refinancing. Its investment focus covers a broad range of sectors, including business services, software and technology, healthcare, energy, consumer and retail, manufacturing, industrials, royalty-generating enterprises, education, and specialty finance. The company primarily targets middle-market companies, with a strong emphasis on those situated within the United States. Prospective portfolio companies typically exhibit an enterprise value between $50 million and more than $1 billion, alongside EBITDA figures ranging from $10 million to $250 million. Individual transaction sizes generally range from $15 million to $350 million. Sixth Street Specialty Lending is adept at investing across the entire capital structure, possesses the capacity to arrange syndicated transactions totaling up to $500 million, and can maintain significant ownership stakes within its credit exposures.
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Trinity Capital Inc. is a business development company specializing in term loans, equipment financing, and private equity-related investments. The firm provides tech lending, equipment financing, life sciences, warehouse lending, and sponsor finance sources. The firm is industry agnostic and invests in growth-stage companies across industries, including aerospace, software, Agricultural Equipment, Alternative Protein, Clean Technology, Energy, Food and Beverage / CPG, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Oil and Gas, Robotics, Semiconductors, Transportation, and consumer and retail. They provide investors with stable and consistent returns through access to the private credit market. Trinity Capital Inc. was founded in 2008 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona, with additional offices in Solana Beach, California and San Diego, California.
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Runway Growth Finance Corp. (RWAY) operates as a business development company (BDC), concentrating its efforts on providing senior-secured loan financing to late-stage and expanding enterprises. The firm primarily targets investments in companies within key sectors such as technology, life sciences, healthcare and information services, business services, and specific consumer goods and services. More precisely, its portfolio frequently encompasses businesses involved with electronic hardware and instruments, various software solutions (e.g., systems, application, internet), storage, peripherals, specialized consumer offerings, healthcare technology, data processing and outsourcing, internet retail, human resources, biotechnology, medical equipment, and educational services. These senior secured loans typically range from $10 million to $75 million.
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Crescent Capital BDC, Inc. functions as a Business Development Company (BDC), managing a fund dedicated to private equity, leveraged buyouts, and providing loan capital. The firm's strategy centers on making direct investments, with a specific focus on the middle market segment. Its investment mandate is exclusively for opportunities within the United States.
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Monroe Capital LLC is an asset management firm that specializes in private credit markets, providing capital solutions such as direct lending, venture debt, and structured credit to businesses in the U.S. and Canada. The firm serves business owners, management teams, private equity sponsors, and independent sponsors, while also offering a variety of investment products tailored for institutional and high-net-worth investors.
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Ares Management Corporation functions as an investment firm specializing in alternative assets, with operations spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia. Its Tradable Credit division oversees diverse investment vehicles, including pooled funds and separately managed accounts for institutional investors, alongside publicly traded products and sub-advised funds aimed at retail investors, all within the tradable and non-investment grade corporate credit markets. The Direct Lending segment delivers financial solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. Through its Private Equity arm, the company primarily targets investments where it holds a majority or shared controlling interest, focusing on companies that are currently under-capitalized. The Real Estate group is involved in financing new property developments and the strategic repositioning of existing assets, often taking control or majority-control stakes. This group also creates and invests in specialized financing opportunities for middle-market commercial real estate owners and operators. Established in 1997, the company, formerly known as Ares Management, L.P., is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and maintains a global footprint with additional offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Ares Management GP LLC serves as its general partner.
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Horizon Technology Finance Corporation operates as a business development company (BDC) with a core focus on providing financing and making equity investments in businesses in their early growth phases. The firm primarily offers secured debt and venture loans to companies that have already secured funding from venture capital firms. Its investment interests span various industries, including technology, life sciences, healthcare information and services, and clean technology. Geographically, Horizon Technology Finance Corporation directs its investments towards companies situated within the United States.
Specialty Finance
Ares Capital Corporation is a business development company specializing in growth capital, acquisition, recapitalization, mezzanine debt, restructurings, rescue financing, and leveraged buyout transactions of middle market companies. It also makes growth capital and general refinancing. It prefers to make investments in companies engaged in the basic and growth manufacturing, business services, consumer products, health care products and services, and information technology service sectors. The fund will also consider investments in industries such as restaurants, retail, oil and gas, and technology sectors. It invest in the United States based companies. It focuses on investments in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Southwest regions from its New York office, the Midwest region, from the Chicago office, and the Western region from the Los Angeles office. The fund typically invests between $30 million and $500 million, in companies with an EBITDA between $10 million and $250 million. It makes debt investments between $10 million and $100 million The fund invests through revolvers, first lien loans, warrants, unitranche structures, second lien loans, mezzanine debt, private high yield, junior capital, subordinated debt, and non-control preferred and common equity. The fund also selectively considers third-party-led senior and subordinated debt financings and opportunistically considers the purchase of stressed and discounted debt positions. The fund prefers to be an agent and/or lead the transactions in which it invests. The fund also seeks board representation in its portfolio companies.
Financial Services
Structural Capital provides tailored credit solutions and venture debt to growth-focused technology and technology-enabled companies. The firm offers non-dilutive financing to help management teams navigate scale, profitability, runway, working capital, and acquisitions.
Financial Services
Gibraltar Business Capital is a U.S. specialty finance company that provides asset-based lending and working-capital solutions, including receivables-based financing, to small and midsize businesses. It serves companies that need growth or operating capital and may not qualify for traditional bank financing.
Financial Services
WhiteHorse Capital provides debt financing to performing middle market companies located in the U.S. and Canada. The firm offers senior, subordinated, and unitranche debt to support growth capital, acquisitions, buyouts, refinancings, and balance sheet recapitalizations as the direct lending arm of H.I.G. Capital.
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