2024 marked a record-breaking year for U.S. venture debt deals, which reached $53.3 billion in investments. According to PitchBook’s NVCA Venture Monitor, the dramatic increase in venture debt funding—up 94% from 2023—was driven by evolving venture capital (VC) dynamics.

Every entrepreneur needs one thing to build their startup from idea to successful exit: money. Without a growth capital roadmap, founders on the startup journey face twists, turns, detours, and even a potential dead-end. What many don’t anticipate is the toll that repeated fundraising rounds can take on them and the business. Don’t end up like so many founders who wish they had known.

Bootstrapping a startup and building a sustainable business not only requires disciplined cash flow management but also careful management of expenses—you have to be laser-focused on where every dollar goes. Financial flexibility is a luxury that bootstrappers often don’t have. A little extra cash can go a long way. Is debt right for you?

When you’re just beginning to build your startup, funding options are limited. Traditional banks won’t talk to you. VCs want to see traction; and angels want to see a great MVP. Debt financing isn't an option yet, because you don’t have revenue. And on the off chance that you can pique the interest of investors at this early stage, you’ll give up a large chunk of equity for their money. So what are your options?

Short-term financing—a loan that's paid back in 12 months or less—often attracts startup founders looking for lower capital costs and quick access to cash, but those benefits can fade quickly if the loan terms don’t line up with what the business needs. How do you know if short-term debt can help your SaaS business grow without adding unnecessary risk and costs? Start here.

As SaaS startups strive to win market share, debt can be a powerful asset for fueling growth. Though acquiring and managing debt can be a risky endeavor, structured planning and tracking goes a long way to help founders minimize those risks. Learn to manage startup debt wisely and maintain fiscal stability.

Don't let opportunities pass you by! Check out these SaaS-friendly funding solutions to extend your runway and help your startup grow.

Growing startups need capital to maintain growth and cash runway. Here are 3 reasons founders look to secure funding before the new year.

You’ll need to present your financials to prospective investors to get funding for your startup. Here's how to prepare.

Explore the latest SaaS benchmarking trends. We analyze private B2B SaaS startup revenue growth rates, salary costs, churn, and more.

Want make smarter decisions and secure your financial future? Master cash flow forecasting for your SaaS startup.

Learn how to manage cash flow for your SaaS startup with our comprehensive guide that covers all the cash flow fundamentals.

Learn strategies for improving cash flow in your growing SaaS business and circumnavigate the challenges of startup funding.

Don't risk your life's savings for a startup business loan! Learn about personal guarantees, and whether or not you have to agree to them.

Launching a business is hard, but fundraising may be the most brutal part of the process. Here are 5 strategies to help you endure.

Follow these principles for building aggressive, yet realistic financial projections for your startup when raising capital from investors.

Combining revenue-based financing and VC funding in a hybrid funding strategy has benefits for founders and investors.

Explore non-dilutive funding for your SaaS startup, find out how to get it, and learn to evaluate its cost and value.

Explore the latest AI startup funding and investment trends, and learn alternative capital raising strategies for early-stage startups.

Equity dilution is part of growing a successful startup. The name of the game is striking a balance between funding growth and preserving your ownership stake as a founder. Preventing dilution entirely isn’t realistic or even ideal, but it does pay to minimize it. Learn 10 strategies, from organic growth to negotiation, for minimizing excessive ownership dilution.