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Private credit glossary · Live data July 2026

What is venture debt?

Venture debt is term debt for venture-capital-backed companies that extends runway between equity rounds without additional dilution, underwritten against the investor syndicate and growth trajectory rather than current cash flow.

88

active Venture Debt funds in the Agentas database

$5M$50M

median stated check-size band

How it works

  • Sized as a fraction of the last equity round or forward revenue, not EBITDA.
  • Usually includes warrants (small equity coverage) on top of interest.
  • Covenants are light; the lender's real collateral is the next round.

When borrowers use it

  • Extending runway 6–12 months to hit a better valuation at the next round.
  • Funding a specific milestone (launch, regulatory step, expansion) between rounds.

Related terms

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What is venture debt? (Definition + 88 Lenders)