09
Jun
Tue
in-person
Venture Debt 101: How Debt Can Fund Your Business and Preserve Your Ownership, Minh Le, Stifel Bank
Equity is expensive. Every dollar raised dilutes the founders, employees, and existing investors who built the company. Used thoughtfully, debt can extend runway, fund working capital, finance equipment or acquisitions, and bridge between equity rounds, all while preserving ownership and increasing equity value at exit.
This session unpacks when debt makes sense, what products are available at each stage, what it takes to qualify, and how the process actually works from first conversation to funded.
We will cover:
- Why debt belongs in the cap structure
- The venture debt product landscape
- Do you qualify? What lenders are actually underwriting
- What the debt process actually looks like
- Stage-by-stage: what's available and what's appropriate
- Reading the term sheet
- Choosing the right lender
- When debt is the wrong answer
Speaker
“
Minh Le
Managing Director. Stifel Bank.
Minh is a Managing Director at Stifel Bank and launched the firm's Venture Banking practice for the Pacific Northwest in March 2023, based in Seattle. He serves as a banking partner to technology, life science, and climate tech companies across all stages, from seed to pre-IPO.
With more than 20 years of experience lending to innovation companies, Minh has advised countless founders on capital strategy, debt financing, and growth capital. Prior to Stifel, he spent nearly 15 years at Silicon Valley Bank as Market Manager running the Tech Banking practice across Washington and Western Canada. Before SVB, he helped launch Square 1 Bank's Venture Banking practice in the Pacific Northwest. His commercial banking career began in 2000.
Minh is a Pacific Northwest native and is deeply embedded in the Washington entrepreneurial and venture capital communities. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from the University of Washington.
01
all founders,
not just ceo
People inclined to be Founders are a rare breed, and are hard to spot in society. We welcome ALL Founders, regardless of role, and generate proprietary profiles for every member so you can easily find your next team member or co-Founder.
02
current founders
Regardless of where you are on your journey, Founders share a unique set of challenges. Hiring, leadership, managing investors, developing products, handling customer issues, external communications, etc. This community exists to amplify your success.
03
TRANSITIONING FOUNDERS
So you’ve founded at least one company, and now you’re looking to refine your next great idea or find the perfect co-founder. Share and learn from a wide array of talented Founders in your area.
04
CURIOUS FOUNDERS
Congratulations! You’ve found success as a Founder and are now getting curious about doing it again. Now you need to find the right idea and co-founder to excite you. Share your wisdom and passion while forming new bonds within the startup ecosystem in your area.
To Pre-Qualify for participation, please fill out an application
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