The Wall Street Journal

Venture Debt Firms Tilt Toward Mature Companies

The asset class has shifted to late-stage lending as companies remain private for longer

Venture debt hit a record $53 billion in 2024 as lenders emphasize larger, more mature companies.
Venture debt hit a record $53 billion in 2024 as lenders emphasize larger, more mature companies. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Venture-debt firms are shifting their focus to larger deals with mature private companies as more startups stay private for longer. 

Venture debt value hit a record $53 billion in 2024, up from $27 billion the prior year and more than a previous high of $42 billion in 2021, according to a report that venture debt firm Runway Growth Capital issued in partnership with PitchBook Data.

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