Insights

I have worked in the credit markets since 2006, first as a bank and non-bank credit investor and, more recently, advising borrowers through Axis Group Ventures. Across venture debt, asset-based lending, recurring-revenue facilities, cash-flow loans, structured credit, and other private-credit transactions, I have seen lending relationships evolve through many stages of a company’s life. Sometimes a refinancing is driven by financial pressure. Sometimes a company has simply ou

Private credit has no shortage of capital. The more important question is whether that capital is supported by the expertise required to understand a borrower, assess its risks, and structure a financing around its actual cash-flow profile. That distinction is becoming increasingly important. Two companies can report similar revenue, growth, and EBITDA yet present very different credit risks because of differences in customer behavior, regulation, revenue composition, working

For years, annual recurring revenue was the shorthand for software quality. ARR suggested predictability, retention, visibility, and scalability. In a low-rate market, that was often enough to support aggressive valuations and a wide range of financing options. Recurring revenue still matters. For SaaS and enterprise software companies, it remains one of the strongest foundations a borrower can bring to a lender. But ARR is no longer the whole story. In today’s private credit

Growth-stage companies across North America are becoming increasingly selective about equity dilution as venture fundraising timelines lengthen, valuation discipline tightens, and liquidity events remain constrained across private markets. In a market defined by longer fundraising cycles, valuation pressure, and higher capital costs, founders are reassessing how growth capital is structured. Non-dilutive funding, once viewed as supplemental financing, has become a core part o

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

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