"Lunch & Learn" on Venture Debt

In one of our recent Lunch & Learn sessions, we dived deep into the world of venture debt - a financing tool increasingly used by startups to support growth while minimizing equity dilution. With the global venture debt market projected to reach nearly $49B by 2025, this conversation couldn’t be more timely.

Expert insights came from our fantastic speakers:
🔹 Fatou Diagne, Bootstrap Europe
🔹 Iwona Biernat, European Investment Bank
🔹 Luis Eduardo Pazmino, Capchase
Moderated by Iwona Cymerman, FundingBox Deep Tech Fund

The discussion highlighted:

• How venture debt, revenue-based financing, and traditional loans suit different business models and sectors.
• Why debt should be used strategically - not as a competitor to equity but as a complementary tool.
• The importance of timing, cash flow forecasting, and transaction speed when choosing the right debt provider.

A standout metaphor from Fatou Diagne: venture debt is like fertilizer-used wisely, it accelerates growth, but overused, it can do more harm than good. As Europe’s growth-stage startups face a $375B funding gap, alternative financing will only grow in importance.

Big thanks to everyone who joined us, and to our inspiring speakers for making it such a thought-provoking session!

Learn more on Venture Debt in the European Women in VC newsletter here.