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

September 27, 2025 Fundraising is one of the hardest—and most misunderstood—parts of building a company. Founders often assume success...

Entrepreneurship often begins with a spark of inspiration. But the harder question isn’t “Do I have a good idea?”—it’s “How do I know...

September 20, 2025 Starting a company has long been romanticized—visionary founders, big funding rounds, hockey-stick growth. But as any...

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

After years of relative stability in global trade, early April brought a dramatic shift. The Trump administration rolled out the most...

As investors search for alternative assets with staying power, music royalties are quickly gaining traction—and for good reason. They offer a rare combination of recurring income, low correlation to traditional markets, and cultural relevance.  According to SongVest , music royalties are gaining popularity as an alternative investment—and for good reason. They offer a unique mix of steady income, diversification, and cultural value that few other assets can match. Here’s why

This week, we're looking at how the AI boom is reshaping startup valuations and exits.  Google’s $32 billion acquisition of Wiz  isn’t just its biggest deal ever—it’s a signal of the AI boom reshaping startup valuations. Wiz hit $100 million in ARR in just 18 months, only to be outdone by AI coding editor Cursor, which reached the same milestone in just 12 months. The speed at which AI startups are scaling is unprecedented, driving intense investor demand and soaring valuatio

Image by Unsplash At   Axis Group Ventures , we specialize in strategic debt placements across venture growth, the lower middle market,...

We previously shared this investor spotlight on our Linkedin Channel . Over the years, we have followed and admired this week’s investor...

We previously shared this investor spotlight on our Linkedin Channel. This week we are featuring Founders Circle Capital.  We have known...

Source: www.anduril.com From Silicon Valley to the Tactical Edge Anduril Industries is a U.S.-based defense technology company building AI-powered systems for national security. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey (Oculus VR), along with former Palantir and Founders Fund leadership, Anduril is redefining defense contracting by acting as a vertically integrated product company — building, funding, and fielding technology before  the government asks for it. Software-Defined Warfar

Image by Unsplash Enterprise-Grade AQ Is Here SandboxAQ represents a new strategic arc in deep tech: the convergence of AI and quantum technologies (AQ) to solve industrial-scale problems across cybersecurity, navigation, life sciences, and critical infrastructure. Spun out of Alphabet in 2022 and led by Jack Hidary (CEO) with Eric Schmidt as Chairman, the company applies quantum sensing and physics-based modeling to enterprise use cases, delivering commercial solutions rathe

Source: www.impulsespace.com In-Space Mobility as Infrastructure Impulse Space, founded in 2021 by Tom Mueller (founding SpaceX engineer behind the Merlin and Draco engines), is building the transportation layer for space — enabling precise, efficient payload movement across orbital environments. The company focuses on in-space logistics, addressing the critical gap between launch and final orbit. Impulse offers last-mile delivery for satellites, satellite hosting, and flexib