Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a former private equity and venture capital firm, is no longer actively seeking new investments. Historically, the firm specialized in a broad range of financing activities, including providing capital for company expansion and growth, facilitating management buyouts, executing recapitalizations, driving industry consolidations, and supporting corporate spin-offs. Their investment scope covered both early and growth-stage companies. Typically, Safeguard Scientifics participated in Series A, B, or C funding rounds, with an opportunistic approach to seed-stage investments. Their primary sector focus spanned technology, financial services, and healthcare. Within the technology sphere, their interests were diverse, encompassing areas such as software-as-a-service (SaaS), adtech, digital media, the Internet of Everything (IoE), advanced security solutions, predictive analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, technology-enabled services, internet/new media, financial technology (FinTech), cloud computing, mobile, social platforms, big data, in-memory computing, and select business services. For these tech ventures, they considered companies requiring up to $25 million in capital. In the healthcare sector, the firm directed its investments towards molecular and point-of-care diagnostics, various medical devices, regenerative medicine, broader medical technology, digital health solutions, healthcare technology, specialized pharmaceuticals, and chosen healthcare services. Geographically, Safeguard Scientifics invested across the entire United States, with a particular emphasis on the Mid-Atlantic region, and also extended its reach into Southeastern Canada. Financial commitments for growth equity financing generally ranged from $5 million to $25 million, while early-stage financings typically saw investments between $5 million and $10 million. The firm's investment strategy often targeted a variety of capital structures, including self-funded (bootstrapped) companies, corporate divisions or business units, and venture capital-backed entities seeking a growth partner. Safeguard Scientifics aimed to be the largest stakeholder in its portfolio companies, typically acquiring an ownership stake between 20% and 50%, though they were flexible and might occasionally take either a majority or a smaller interest. A strong preference existed for companies possessing proprietary technology and intellectual property. Furthermore, the firm routinely sought a Board seat in its invested companies. Founded in 1953 as Lancaster Corporation, the company adopted the name Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. in 1981. Its main office is located in Radnor, Pennsylvania, with an additional presence in Weston, Massachusetts.
Subscribe to see SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC’s full profile → the full roster, investors in every round, weekly hiring history and every corporate event
SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC is an asset management company headquartered in Radnor, United States. It is publicly listed (SFES) with a market capitalisation of $7.9M. Xcout tracks 14 named people at SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC, including Mark R. Dow (Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary).
8 more named people on record for SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC, with roles, board committees and tenure — see the full roster →
A few of SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC's closest competitors — see the full list of competitors and alternatives →
Hamilton Lane Incorporated operates as an investment management firm, specializing in both direct investments and fund-of-funds strategies. The firm offers a comprehensive range of services, including: Tailored Separate Accounts: Structured as single-client vehicles, these are customized to meet specific client requirements. Specialized Investment Strategies: This category encompasses offerings such as fund-of-funds, secondary market transactions, co-investments, Taft-Hartley plans, and distribution management. Advisory Services: Hamilton Lane provides expert guidance, covering thorough due diligence, strategic portfolio planning, continuous monitoring, and performance reporting. Reporting and Analytics: The company also delivers advanced solutions for data reporting and analysis. For its direct investments, Hamilton Lane targets a diverse array of companies, participating across various stages of their lifecycle. This includes early, mid, and late-stage venture capital, mature businesses, and growth equity opportunities. The firm's interests also extend to emerging growth companies, distressed debt scenarios, later-stage financing, corporate turnarounds, bridge financing, mezzanine capital, and leveraged buyouts, primarily within the middle market segment. When pursuing a fund-of-funds approach, Hamilton Lane allocates capital to a variety of specialized funds. These include those focused on mezzanine, venture capital, private equity, turnaround, secondary investments, real estate, and special situations. Beyond specific asset classes, the firm's investment scope spans multiple sectors, including real estate, technology, healthcare, education, natural resources, energy, essential consumer goods, cleantech, environmental initiatives, community development, and financial empowerment projects. Geographically, Hamilton Lane's private equity investments demonstrate a wide global footprint, with its presence extending across North America (including the United States), Latin America, Western Europe (including the United Kingdom), the Middle East, Africa, Asia (including Japan), and Australia. The firm typically aims to commit between $1 million and $100 million per company, often prioritizing the acquisition of a majority ownership stake in its portfolio companies. Established in 1991, Hamilton Lane Incorporated maintains its headquarters in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, complemented by a network of additional offices across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Capital Southwest Corporation operates as a business development company (BDC), specializing in credit, private equity, and venture capital investments focused on middle market companies throughout the United States. The firm engages across various investment stages, including mezzanine financing, later-stage and mature businesses, late venture, emerging growth enterprises, buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth capital funding. The company explicitly refrains from investing in startups, publicly traded entities, real estate developments, project finance opportunities, oil and gas exploration ventures, troubled companies, turnaround situations, or businesses facing significant departures of senior management. Within the lower middle market, Capital Southwest provides capital for growth initiatives, bolt-on and new platform acquisitions, refinancing, dividend recapitalizations, and both sponsor-led and management buyouts. Its investment structures are diverse, encompassing Unitranche debt, subordinated debt, senior debt, first and second lien debt, alongside preferred and common equity. The firm also participates in equity co-investments alongside its debt financing, taking non-controlling stakes up to 20% of the total transaction value. Investment criteria for target companies include revenues exceeding $10 million, consistent profitability, and a historical annual growth rate of at least 15%. For lower middle market opportunities, the firm typically seeks businesses with less than $15 million in EBITDA, while also opportunistically considering upper middle market ventures, generally defined as companies with EBITDA greater than $50 million. Capital Southwest strategically focuses its investments within several key industry sectors: Industrial manufacturing and services Value-added distribution Healthcare products and services Business services Specialty chemicals Food and beverage Tech-enabled services and SaaS models More specifically, the firm seeks opportunities in: Energy services and products: This segment includes all industry facets (upstream, midstream, downstream) with the exclusion of direct exploration and production. Focus areas encompass differentiated products and services, equipment and tool rentals, consumable products, and drilling and completion chemicals. Industrial technologies: Covering automation and process controls, handling and packaging equipment, industrial filtration and fluid handling, measurement, monitoring, and testing solutions, professional tools, and sensors and instrumentation. Specialty chemicals and products: This segment targets businesses involved in the development and manufacture of highly differentiated products such as adhesives, coatings, sealants, catalysts, absorbents, cosmeceuticals, fine chemicals, flavors, fragrances, performance lubricants, polymers, plastics, composites, chemical dispensing and filtration equipment, professional and industrial trade consumables and tools, engineered solutions for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical installations, and specified high-performance materials for fire protection and oilfield applications. Additionally, the firm considers exceptional opportunities within building products. Beyond direct investments, Capital Southwest allocates capital to syndicated first and second lien term loans in the upper middle market. The criteria for these syndicated loans include: First Lien: Companies with EBITDA over $30 million, closing leverage exceeding 4x, an investment hold size between $5 million and $7 million, and an investment yield greater than 6.5%. Second Lien: Companies with EBITDA surpassing $50 million, closing leverage above 6x, an investment hold size between $5 million and $7 million, and an investment yield exceeding 9%. The firm's investment sizes typically range from $5 million to $25 million for securities generally. Specifically, equity investments can range from $5 million to $50 million, while debt investments typically fall between $5 million and $20 million. Co-investment transaction sizes can extend up to $40 million. While its equity co-investments are exclusively non-controlling, the firm generally maintains flexibility in taking both majority and minority positions across its investment portfolio. Capital Southwest has the capacity to hold investments for extended periods and may also utilize warrants as an investment mechanism. The firm prioritizes obtaining Board representation in its portfolio companies. Capital Southwest Corporation was established on April 19, 1961, and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
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.
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.
Rand Capital Corporation is a business development company specializing in subordinated debt with warrants or preferred equity and venture capital investments. Within private equity, the firm specializing in capital growth and lower middle market investments. Within venture capital, it specializing in early to late-stage private businesses. It does not prefer to invest in real estate sector. It prefers to invest in software, professional services, manufacturing, consumer, healthcare, automotive and public d stocks. It prefers to invest in East or Midwest U.S. operations sectors. It typically invests between $0.75 million and $5 million with initial target size of $1.5 million. It seeks to invest in companies having more than $10 million in revenue or having excess of $1.5 million and up to $5 million in EBITDA. It prefers to be a minority stake and seeks to take a Board seat in its portfolio companies. It typically holds its investments for a period up to five years.
Saratoga Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in leveraged and management buyouts, acquisition financings, growth financings, recapitalization, debt refinancing, and transitional financing transactions at the lower end of middle market companies. The fund structures its investments as debt and equity by investing through first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, co-investments, select high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and preferred and common equity. The fund prefers to invest in aerospace, automotive aftermarket and services, business products and services, consumer products and services, education, environmental services, industrial services, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare products and services, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, restaurants services, food services, software services, technology services, specialty chemical, media and telecommunications. The fund seeks to invest in the United States. The fund primarily invests between $60 million and $75 million in companies having EBITDA of $2 million or greater and revenues between $10 million and $150 million. It targets annual revenues between $8 and $250 million. The fund prefers to take a majority stake. The fund invests through direct lending as well as participation in loan syndicates.
Funding rounds, acquisitions, new executives, launches and expansions, each with a two-line summary and a link to the source. One short email a day, only when there is news.
Free: up to 5 companies, daily. Subscribers also follow whole sectors and saved filters (M&A in Israel, AI funding…), get instant alerts, in-app notifications and signed webhooks, and open the full profile behind every name. Subscribe →
Something wrong or missing about SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC? Suggest a correction
Post the link and the card appears automatically — each network fetches the image itself.