Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital

Share your thoughts with us! At Fin, going all-in on AI wasn't a moonshot — it was a calculated bet that doing nothing was the greater risk. And steering the financial strategy behind that decision was CFO Dan Griggs. On this episode of Ventured Growth, Catherine Jhung sits down with Dan to explore how Fin transformed from a traditional SaaS help desk into one of the most talked-about AI-nati...

Share your thoughts with us! At Akcea Therapeutics, biotech leadership meant more than drug development—it meant building with purpose, addressing long-overlooked areas of health, and paving the way for future leaders. And at the helm was founding CEO Paula Soteropoulos. On this episode of Ventured Growth , Katie Segien sits down with Paula to explore how she helped take Akcea public, launched the...

Share your thoughts with us! At Eight Sleep, product innovation isn’t just about comfort—it’s about performance, health, and personalization at scale. And behind the numbers powering that mission is CFO Nick Chammas. On this episode of Ventured Growth, Catherine Jhung sits down with Nick to discuss how Eight Sleep evolved from a niche product for athletes into a sleep fitness brand with global mom...

Share your thoughts with us! In the high-stakes world of startups, few roles have evolved more dramatically than that of the CFO. Today’s finance leader is expected to move beyond spreadsheets — shaping strategy, influencing product development, and building cross-functional trust. M.G. Thibaut has done all of that and more. In this episode, Eddie Lopez is joined by M.G. Thibaut — former CFO of St...

Share your thoughts with us! The food delivery landscape is changing. As consumer demands grow more sophisticated, companies must innovate—balancing speed, quality, and personalization to stand out in a saturated market. But can convenience and quality coexist in this fast-paced industry? Is there a way to truly personalize the dining experience while catering to the individual needs of each custo...

Share your thoughts with us! The financial services industry faces increasing pressure to combat financial crime and comply with evolving regulations. The old way of handling compliance—mostly through manual work—isn't cutting it anymore given how complex and fast-moving today's financial world is. This is where AI comes in, offering a powerful new way to strengthen compliance and protec...

Share your thoughts with us! The biotech and pharma industries are rapidly evolving, with mergers and acquisitions driving innovation and growth. As market demands shift, these deals reshape strategies, bolster R&D, and bring groundbreaking therapies to healthcare. With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sands has guided high-impact transactions that have shaped the biotech and pharma landsc...

Share your thoughts with us! Vijay Patel is an institutional investor turned corporate venture capitalist. He has spent the last decade at the intersection of finance and healthcare, changing the way CVS Health approaches innovation and strategic investments. His journey from traditional venture capital to leading CVS Health® Ventures has positioned him as a thought leader in corporate venture cap...

Share your thoughts with us! In an era where breakthrough innovations coexist with concerns over drug affordability, Peter Kolchinsky, founder and Managing Partner at healthcare and life sciences investment manager RA Capital, joins us to shed light on the factors and paths forward. Hercules Capital's Janice Bourque engages with Peter on his No Patient Left Behind initiative, a non-profit ded...

Share your thoughts with us! Navigating the intricate world of venture debt requires a deep understanding of both the legal landscape and financial imperatives. David Ephraim from Morrison & Foerster brings over two decades of experience to the table, making him a leading authority on structuring deals that align legal precision with business innovation. This episode, hosted by Janice Bourque...

Share your thoughts with us! Public market investor turned tech visionary, Casey Woo, has spent the last two decades at the forefront of technology and finance, revolutionizing the way high-growth startups approach operations and strategy. His journey from analyzing markets on Wall Street to leading Operators Guild and FOG Ventures has positioned him as a thought leader at the intersection of tech...

Share your thoughts with us! In the aftermath of the 2020 biotech surge and its subsequent contraction in 2022, the biotech industry has been characterized by significant volatility. There were 21 biotechnology IPOs in 2022, a notable decrease from the record-breaking 104 IPOs in 2021. To review the highs and lows of 2023 and explore what lies ahead in 2024, distinguished biotech analyst and co-fo...

Share your thoughts with us! The gaming and platform industries are dynamic sectors at the intersection of technology and entertainment, constantly evolving to meet the demands of a global audience. In 2022, the revenue from the worldwide gaming market was approximately $347 billion. Ed Lu, a seasoned executive with 23 years of financial and operational experience, has played a pivotal role in thi...

Share your thoughts with us! Healthcare and biotech venture capital plays a critical role in funding innovative medical technologies, drug development, and life-saving therapies. These investments drive advancements in healthcare, transforming science into products that improve global patient outcomes. Terry McGuire is a founding partner of Polaris Partners, with over 35 years of early-stage inves...

Share your thoughts with us! In the dynamic field of life sciences, skillful operators ensure the efficient development of medical innovations, while insightful investors provide crucial capital and strategic guidance. Rich Aldrich's 30+ year career uniquely bridges both sides, having played key roles in founding and managing successful ventures in the industry. Rich Aldrich is a co-founder a...

Share your thoughts with us! The healthcare space has long been a transactional one, seeing patients as numbers instead of human relationships. In 2004, Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle began to challenge the status quo and create an entirely new model of care delivery that finally put patients at the center of healthcare. Rushika Fernandopulle is the co-founder and former CEO of Iora Health, a value-bas...

Share your thoughts with us! Successful biotech companies require a capable CFO to guide the company through conducting clinical trials, securing regulatory approvals, establishing scalable production, and adeptly conveying value to healthcare stakeholders. Mark Hahn is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of CFO experience. He is currently the CFO of Verona Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmace...

Share your thoughts with us! The healthcare technology sector has witnessed astonishing growth in investments, skyrocketing from $3 billion pre-pandemic to $29 billion in 2021. Michael Greeley brings invaluable insights to the show as the co-founder and general partner of Flare Capital Partners, a pioneering venture capital firm dedicated to healthcare technology. Before Flare, Greeley was the fou...

Share your thoughts with us! Elizabeth Bailey has more than 20 years of experience supporting early-stage startups as a venture capitalist. Today, she is a founding member at RH Capital where she serves as the fund's Managing Director. RH Capital is a women-led, impact venture capital fund that strategically invests in early-stage startups dedicated to revolutionizing women's health. In...

Share your thoughts with us! The subscription e-commerce market is expected to grow by $784 billion by 2026. Locus Robotics, a subscription-based mobile robotics and software provider, is a pioneer leading the way in warehouse automation. Dustin Pederson is the Chief Financial Officer of Locus Robotics, a company that supplies over 230 warehouse sites with up to 500 bots per site. With 15 years of...

Share your thoughts with us! Laureen DeBuono is a highly seasoned CEO, COO, CFO, and Board Member currently serving as Managing Partner at FLG Partners. During her career, she has raised over $2B in financings, led 2 IPOs, and completed over $12B in M&A transactions. In this episode, Hercules Capital's Eddie Lopez and Laureen discuss company restructuring, five qualities CFOs need to be s...

Share your thoughts with us! In 2006, venture capitalists poured billions into clean energy technologies during Cleantech 1.0, only to lose half of the investments over the next five years.  The climate tech investing space has since rebounded and become one of the most popular investment sectors, and new incentives show an exciting opportunity for extended growth over the next few years. Meera Cl...

Share your thoughts with us! Scaling a company requires planning, funding, systems, and plenty of grit. Ajay Vashee gained the latter when he became one of the youngest CFOs of a publicly listed company at Dropbox. With the help of his team, Ajay helped scale Dropbox from $45M to nearly $2B in revenue and grow the employee base 30-fold.   Ajay later leveraged his experience as an operator to becom...

Share your thoughts with us! The challenges of launching a startup can seem endless when you are just starting out. Truth be told, the magnitude of these challenges will only grow as your business grows. But don’t let this deter you. Derek Andersen understood that the obstacles he was facing in entrepreneurship were not unique to him. This notion led him on his quest to create a community for entr...

Share your thoughts with us! Today we are featuring Marco Zappacosta, co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack. Thumbtack is a modern home management platform that helps homeowners stay up to date on routine maintenance while also connecting them with local service providers who can support with home care. The company was recently acknowledged as one of Fortune's Best Places to Work in Tech and overal...