Jeff Bede Quoted in Pitchbook: Venture Debt Hits All-Time High as Startups Diverge from VC Expectations

Jeff Bede, ORIX USA’s Head of Growth Capital, recently spoke with Pitchbook to discuss why later-stage startups are increasingly turning to the venture debt market.

Highlights from Jeff:

  • “There’s a whole host of companies where equity [financing] is just less of a fit today than it was previously,” says Jeff Bede. “Really, that’s driven by slower top-line growth.”
  • “If you’re unable to meet the growth demands of venture equity, I think you’re more likely to meet the growth demands of venture debt,” he said. “We have a lower bar in that respect. Because of that, debt has really hit primetime.”