In 2026, founders are rethinking how they structure capital, blending equity, debt, and secondaries to maximize flexibility and control. Venture and growth investors deployed $425 billion into more than 24,000 private companies in 2025, up 30% year-over-year.¹ Yet capital is concentrating into fewer companies, with larger checks flowing primarily to later-stage and AI-driven startups.² For most founders, this shift is increasing the need for a more deliberate and diversified

In today’s market environment, access to capital is no longer the primary constraint. Alignment is. Growth-stage companies are finding that traditional options, whether bank debt or equity, often do not match the pace or structure required for expansion. Private credit has emerged as a strong alternative. Not only because it is faster or more flexible, but because it can be used as part of a broader capital strategy. This is often supported by experienced debt capital advisor

For many founders and CFOs evaluating financing options, one of the first questions is whether their company is better suited for cash flow lending or asset-based lending (ABL). Both structures can provide meaningful access to capital, but they operate very differently. Cash flow loans are typically sized based on earnings performance and credit metrics, while asset-based lending facilities are structured around specific collateral such as receivables, inventory, or equipment

Inventory financing plays an important role in sectors such as retail, direct-to-consumer (D2C), and manufacturing. This is evident in the growth of the global asset-based lending market, projected to reach $891.89 billion in 2025 and surpass $1 trillion by 2026 .¹ In higher-rate and more volatile environments, lenders have placed greater emphasis on downside protection within credit structures. While cash-flow underwriting remains central to most private credit transactions

Private equity is no longer just about owning companies. Increasingly, it is about owning the managers themselves. The rise in GP stake transactions signals more than investor appetite for alternatives. It reflects a structural shift in how private equity firms are valued and capitalized. What began as partnership-driven enterprises is evolving into scalable asset management platforms. GP stakes are not niche. They represent the next phase of private markets maturation. The G

In recent years, the Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model has gained traction as companies pursue automation without absorbing significant upfront capital expenditures. Rather than purchasing equipment outright, customers subscribe to robotic systems, shifting CapEx to OpEx. For providers, however, the capital burden does not disappear. It shifts to the balance sheet. Debt financing has increasingly become a strategic tool to bridge that gap. According to the International Fede

When managing investment portfolios for growth-stage companies and private equity-backed firms, understanding the nuances of secondary transactions has become increasingly important. For founders, executives, LPs, and GPs operating in private markets, longer holding periods, delayed exits, and shifting liquidity needs have moved secondaries from a reactive solution to a core component of portfolio and capital strategy. The Role of Secondaries in Investments Secondaries involv

Understanding the dynamics of interest rates is crucial for any growth-stage company aiming to optimize its capital structure and unlock liquidity. These rates influence borrowing costs, investment decisions, and overall financial strategy. In this post, we will walk you through the fundamentals of interest rates, their impact on businesses, and practical ways to navigate this complex financial landscape. The Impact of Interest Rates on Business Strategy Interest rates play a

Image sourced from Unsplash This article is Part 2 of last week’s post on how founder-led companies are reshaping their capital options. If you missed Part 1, it introduced the rise of non-sponsor private credit and why more founders are exploring alternatives to banks or equity sales. In this second installment, we turn to the practical side: how founder-led companies actually use private credit, and what the data really says about common misconceptions. This isn’t theoretic

Image source: Unsplash Founder-led businesses in the lower middle market often find themselves in a tight spot. They need capital to grow, support working capital, acquisitions, capital equipment, and even shareholder dynamics (buyouts and liquidity events). However, business owners are often hesitant to give up ownership, or control, and funding options can be limited. Survey data supports the strength of that ownership instinct . In a recent global study of family and foun

Image source: Unsplash As defense and space innovation accelerates across North America, corporate venture capital (CVC) has moved from the sidelines to the center of the investment landscape. What was once viewed as opportunistic balance-sheet investing has evolved into a deliberate strategy for technology access, ecosystem control, and long-term competitive advantage. 1 For aerospace and defense incumbents facing compressed R&D timelines, talent scarcity, and rapidly shifti

Image source: Unsplash As private markets mature, the lines between debt, liquidity, and secondary capital are becoming increasingly blurred. NAV financing sits at this intersection. It helps funds turn illiquid assets into usable cash without requiring immediate asset sales. In a tighter capital environment, fund liquidity is now a strategic concern. Slower distributions and tougher fundraising are forcing managers to use capital more efficiently. NAV financing has evolved i

Image by Unsplash North America has emerged as the epicenter of private capital flow into defense and space technology. What once was a slow trickle of early-stage interest has transformed into robust strategic investment from both traditional venture firms and corporate venture arms tied to major defense and aerospace players. VC Momentum in Defense Tech Venture investment in defense and aerospace startups has climbed from just over $10 billion in 2024 to more than $19 billi

Image by Unsplash Private credit, once a specialized channel, now anchors global corporate finance, with over US $3 trillion in AUM. As banks recalibrate under regulatory pressure, private lenders have stepped in to fill the void, redefining how debt capital is sourced and deployed. The shift is structural and increasingly systemic. Scaling to Norm U.S. private credit surpassed US $1.3 trillion by mid-2024; globally, the market now exceeds US $3 trillion. Banks’ retrenchment

Issue - October 2025 This piece was originally published in our Axis Capital Markets newsletter . To get future issues straight to your inbox, sign up here: axiscapitalmarkets.beehiiv.com 🔷Liquidity by Design: How Secondaries Are impacting Private Credit  Private credit secondaries have shifted from being a niche solution to a core component of the market’s architecture. What was once viewed as opportunistic has become integral to the way private credit capital is recycled,

Source: figure.ai A New Phase of AI Investment The evolution of Figure.ai  illustrates a notable shift in how capital is being deployed across artificial intelligence and automation. The company has raised over $1.8 billion at a $39 billion valuation, positioning itself as one of the early leaders in humanoid robotics. Founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, Figure.ai draws on engineering talent from Tesla, Boston Dynamics, DeepMind, and NASA—combining embodied AI with scalable man

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Why Debt Matters for VC-Backed Companies Equity has been the growth engine for startups, but debt is increasingly a strategic complement . Importantly, the value of debt depends on a company’s business model : SaaS  companies often use recurring revenue lines or venture debt tied to ARR. Consumer goods  companies benefit from AR/working capital lines. Fintechs  often rely on warehouse or forward-flow facilities. Life sciences and hardware  firms frequently need equipment fina