About Hercules Capital
Hercules Capital, established in 2003, is a private debt fund primarily based in Palo Alto, United States. It specializes in financing Venture Debt round of companies based in United States. Its portfolio includes 421 firms, spanning the Enterprise Applications, Life Sciences sectors.
As of Jul 2026, Hercules Capital has 22 unicorns under its belt and has witnessed 259 portfolio exits so far. Its most notable investments include companies like Facebook, DocuSign and Palantir.
Its latest investment was a Undisclosed Conventional Debt round in Beren Therapeutics on Jun 10, 2026.
Key Metrics
Founded Year
2003
Location
Palo Alto, United States
Sectors of Investment
Stages of Investment
Venture Debt, Conventional Debt & 9 more
Locations of Investment
Hercules Capital's List of Top Investments
Hercules Capital has a portfolio of 421 companies, including 22 unicorns. Their most notable investments are in Strive Health and Reveleer.Their portfolio spans across United States, United Kingdom, Canada and 18 more locations. They have invested in Enterprise Applications, Life Sciences, High Tech and 35 other sectors, across stages such as Venture Debt, Conventional Debt and 9 more. Here is the list of top investments by Hercules Capital:
1. Facebook
Operator of a social networking service facilitating connection and communication. Its services allows users to connect with friends, family, and other individuals. It provides tools for sharing updates, photos, and videos. The platform also offers features for creating and joining groups, following interests, and discovering content.
Key facts about Facebook
- Founded Year: 2004
- Location: Menlo Park (United States)
- Annual Revenue: $1B+ as on Dec 31, 2025
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $2.27B
- Employee Count: 26,594 as on May 31, 2026
- Investors: Meritech, Sprout Capital Partners and 119 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), Jan 15, 2017, $*****
- Highlight: Public

2. DocuSign
Provider of electronic signature and intelligent agreement management platform solutions. The platform offers tools for contract lifecycle management, agreement preparation, and agreement workflow automation. It provides features such as electronic notarization, web forms, and multi-channel delivery options. The platform extends its capabilities through integrations, APIs, and a mobile application.
Key facts about DocuSign
- Founded Year: 2003
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Annual Revenue: $1B+ as on Jan 31, 2026
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $520M
- Employee Count: 8,503 as on Jun 30, 2026
- Investors: HTIF, Glynn Capital and 90 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Jul 20, 2020, $*****
- Highlight: Public
3. Palantir
Platform that provides data analysis and management solutions. It is a software company that specializes in big data analytics and provides software platforms for analyzing and integrating large amounts of data. Its software powers real-time, AI-driven decisions in critical government and commercial enterprise, from the factory floors to the front lines.
Key facts about Palantir
- Founded Year: 2003
- Location: Denver (United States)
- Annual Revenue: $1B+ as on Dec 31, 2025
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $2.46B
- Employee Count: 5,858 as on May 31, 2026
- Investors: Glynn Capital, TrueBridge and 166 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Aug 31, 2023, $*****
- Highlight: Public

4. Pinterest
Visual discovery and planning website. It provides a platform for users to discover and save ideas, products, and services across various categories, including fashion, home decor, and lifestyle. The company offers a range of features and tools for both individual and business users, including advertising solutions, analytics, and content sharing capabilities.
Key facts about Pinterest
- Founded Year: 2010
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Annual Revenue: $1B+ as on Dec 31, 2025
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $1.47B
- Employee Count: 13,821 as on Jun 30, 2026
- Investors: TrueBridge, Fidelity Investments and 88 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Mar 03, 2026, $*****
- Highlight: Public
5. Trulia
Provider of real estate listings, homes for sale, and housing data. It offers tools for buying, renting, and selling properties. The platform provides access to various property types, including houses, apartments, and land. It also offers resources for mortgages, refinancing, and calculating affordability.
Key facts about Trulia
- Founded Year: 2005
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Annual Revenue: $100M - $500M as on Dec 31, 2014
- Last Known Valuation: $*****
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $32.8M
- Employee Count: 214 as on Jun 30, 2026
- Investors: Harvest Growth Capital, RAA Capital and 16 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Dec 12, 2013, $*****
- Highlight: Acquired
Hercules Capital's Year-on-Year Investment Trends
Hercules Capital has invested in 423 companies over the last 21 years, with an average of 7 new investments annually in the last 10 years. In 2025, it made 6 investments, while as of Jun 2026, it has made 6 investments in this year. Its most recent first time investment was in Beren Therapeutics and most recent follow-on round was in Tipalti.Year | No. of Investments | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1st Round | Follow-on | Total | |
2026 (YTD) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
2025 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
2024 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
2023 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
2022 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
2021 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
2020 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
2019 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
2018 | 10 | 2 | 12 |
2017 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
Hercules Capital's Investments by Stage
Hercules Capital has made 56 investments in Venture Debt stage with an average round size of $33.2M, 52 investments in Conventional Debt stage with an average round size of $59.6M and 14 investments in Series D stage with an average round size of $62.1M.Stage of entry | No. of Investments |
|---|---|
Venture Debt | 56 |
Conventional Debt | 52 |
Series D | 14 |
Series B | 11 |
Series E | 11 |
Others | 32 |
Note: We have considered here, only first round of investments
Hercules Capital's Investments by Sector
Hercules Capital has a diverse portfolio, with companies operating in the Life Sciences, Enterprise Applications, High Tech, Enterprise Infrastructure and Consumer. Notably, it has invested in 332 Tech companies, 318 Enterprise (B2B) companies, 172 Software companies and at least 81 companies focusing on Saas.Sector | No. of Investments |
|---|---|
Life Sciences | 68 |
Enterprise Applications | 55 |
High Tech | 28 |
Enterprise Infrastructure | 19 |
Consumer | 18 |
Others | 130 |
Note: We have considered here, only first round of investments
Hercules Capital's Investments by Geography
Hercules Capital has made most investments in United States (147), followed by United Kingdom where it has made 6 investments.Country | No. of Investments |
|---|---|
United States | 147 |
United Kingdom | 6 |
Canada | 4 |
Germany | 4 |
Australia | 2 |
Others | 13 |
Note: We have considered here, only first round of investments
Hercules Capital's recent investments
Hercules Capital has made 6 investments in 2026 so far. Beren Therapeutics and Perk are the latest among them.Here are the most recent investments by Hercules Capital:
Date | Company | Location | Round Details | Round Amount | Co-Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jun 10, 2026 | Germany | Conventional Debt | 9134 | - | |
Jun 03, 2026 | United States | Conventional Debt | 5686 | [+2] | |
Apr 07, 2026 | United States | Conventional Debt | 6312 | [+2] | |
Mar 09, 2026 | United States | Conventional Debt | 3431 | - | |
Jan 29, 2026 | United States | Conventional Debt | 7179 | - |
Unicorns in Hercules Capital's Portfolio
Hercules Capital has 22 unicorns in its portfolio - Hermeus, Semperis, Electric Hydrogen and others. The most recent unicorn in their portfolio is Hermeus. It became a unicorn in 2026.Here is a list of unicorns in Hercules Capital's portfolio:
Tracxn Score | Company | Short Description | Founded year | Sector | Location | Company Stage | First Investment/ Acquisition Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 | Manufacturer of supersonic aircraft | 2018 | Atlanta | Series C | dwjovpx | ||
66 | Provider of Active Directory and Entra ID security and recovery solutions | 2013 | Hoboken | Series C | zqp{yys | ||
64 | Manufacturer of advanced electrolyzer systems for clean hydrogen production solutions | 2020 | San Carlos | Series C | oewqudi | ||
78 | Provider of AI powered platform for managing business travel, expenses, and invoices | 2012 | Austin | Series E | nfcltjt | ||
79 | Provider of an AI-powered platform connecting companies with frontline workers | 2008 | Madrid | Series F | jqokrgk |
IPOs and Publicly Listed companies in Hercules Capital's Portfolio
75 of Hercules Capital's portfolio companies have become public. HawkEye 360 got listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), in May 2026 at marketcap of $2.42B and enGene got listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ).Here are Hercules Capital's portfolio companies that went public:
Company | IPO Date | First Invested on | First Round of Investment | Round Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
May 07, 2026 | Dec 18, 2025 | Series E | 2281 | |
Nov 01, 2023 | Dec 26, 2023 | Convertible Debt | 9700 | |
Jun 23, 2021 | - | - | 8651 | |
Dec 18, 2020 | - | - | 4179 | |
Nov 27, 2020 | Jun 30, 2015 | Conventional Debt | 3631 |
Acquired companies in Hercules Capital's Portfolio
184 companies from Hercules Capital's portfolio have been acquired. The most recent acquisition was XOMA Corporation in Jul 2026 by Ligand Pharmaceuticals for $*****.Here are Hercules Capital's portfolio companies that got acquired most recently:
Company | Acquisition Date | First Invested on | First Round of Investment | Round Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jul 14, 2026 | - | - | 8530 | |
Jul 03, 2026 | - | - | 5654 | |
Jun 01, 2026 | Dec 05, 2018 | Series D | 3241 | |
Jan 09, 2026 | - | - | 1924 | |
Dec 24, 2025 | - | - | 3785 |
Team profile of Hercules Capital
Hercules Capital has a team of 9 members including 2 Partners located in United States.Co-investors of Hercules Capital
Over the past 21 years, 1151 investors have co-invested in Hercules Capital's portfolio companies. This includes funds and angels.
- Invested before Hercules Capital: SVB, Venrock and 722 others have invested in rounds before Hercules Capital. There are 8 companies where SVB has invested before Hercules Capital and 8 companies where Venrock has invested before Hercules Capital.
- Top Co-investors of Hercules Capital: 148 investors entered a company along with Hercules Capital. These include investors like SVB (7 companies).
- Invested after Hercules Capital: A total of 279 investors have invested in Hercules Capital's portfolio after their investments. Top Investors include Goldman Sachs (4 companies) and Orbimed (4 companies).
Recent News related to Hercules Capital
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Perk upgrades credit facility to $300M to fund product investmentBusiness Travel News Europe•Jun 04, 2026•Perk, Neuberger Berman Specialty Finance, Liquidity Group, Hercules Capital and 4 others
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Hercules Capital, Inc. Sued for Securities Law ViolationsPR Newswire•May 04, 2026•Hercules Capital, Bragar Eagel & Squire, Schall Law Firm, Rosenlegal
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HTGC Shareholder Alert: Hercules Capital, Inc. Securities Class Action LawsuitGlobeNewswire•Apr 10, 2026•Securitiesclasslaw, Hercules Capital, Schall Law Firm, Portnoy Law Firm and 3 others
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Hermeus raises $350M at $1B valuationSiliconAngle•Apr 08, 2026•Hermeus, Khosla Ventures, RTX, Bling Capital and 14 others
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Portnoy Law Announces Class Action for Hercules Capital, Inc. InvestorsGlobeNewswire•Mar 23, 2026•Portnoy Law Firm, Hercules Capital, Marriott International, Securitiesclasslaw and 2 others
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Intercom secures $250M debt financing, plans 650 global hiresSilicon Republic•Mar 10, 2026•Hercules Capital, Intercom
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