When should a growth company use venture debt?
Growth debt can be valuable when it funds a defined plan and remains repayable if growth or equity fundraising is delayed. Here is how founders and CFOs should decide.
7 min read26 Aug 2026Alex Price
Founder & Editor
Alex Price is the founder & editor of Undiluted. Having previously built and sold an agency and media business to a debt financed roll up, he launched Undiluted in 2026. Alex talks with funds, banks, advisors and others across the growth lending ecosystem daily.
LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)Raising Growth Debt Understanding Growth Lending What can growth or venture debt be used for?
A growth credit or venture debt loan can extend runway, fund a milestone, support working capital, finance equipment or enable an acquisition. The right use must also create a credible repayment route.
7 min read26 Aug 2026Understanding Growth Lending Who provides venture debt?
Banks, specialist funds, institutional managers and public bodies all provide growth debt. Their capital and mandate shape which companies they finance—and how they behave.
7 min read26 Aug 2026Understanding Growth Lending Growth credit vs direct lending
Growth credit and direct lending overlap, but they describe different aspects of a loan. Here is how borrower profile, ownership, underwriting and structure usually differ.
7 min read26 Aug 2026Understanding Growth Lending Venture debt vs traditional bank lending
Traditional bank loans and venture debt use different evidence to assess repayment. Here is what each lender looks for—and why a bank can itself be a venture debt provider.
7 min read26 Aug 2026Understanding Growth Lending Growth debt vs equity
Growth debt preserves more ownership but adds repayment risk; equity provides permanent capital but permanently dilutes existing shareholders. Here is how founders and CFOs can compare the real trade-offs.
7 min read26 Aug 2026Understanding Growth Lending Venture debt vs growth credit
Venture debt usually relies more on equity backing and future fundraising; growth credit (often referred to as growth debt) usually places more weight on revenue quality and repayment from the business. The boundary, however, is not fixed.
6 min read26 Aug 2026Understanding Growth Lending What is growth credit?
Growth credit (often also referred to as growth debt) is debt for fast-growing private companies with more scale and repayment evidence than many early-stage borrowers. Here is how it works, who uses it and where it fits alongside venture debt in the broader private credit landscape.
6 min read26 Aug 2026Managing Growth Debt Managing growth debt after closing
How to manage a growth debt or venture debt facility after closing: payments, reporting, financial tests, lender consent and refinancing, explained in plain English.
7 min read26 Aug 2026Understanding Growth Lending What is venture debt?
Venture debt is a loan for venture backed growth companies. This guide explains who uses it, how it works, what it costs and when the risks may outweigh the benefits.
9 min read26 Aug 2026