The Venture Debt Conference Announces Speakers for April 16 Event in New York

• Fourth Annual Conference to Address Venture Debt, Growth Debt, and Private Credit Trends

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 / DealFlow Events today announced the speakers for the 4th annual Venture Debt Conference, scheduled for April 16, 2026, in New York City.

Venture debt and growth debt have become established components of private credit and venture-backed company capital structures. Even as venture equity markets remain selective, demand for non-dilutive financing solutions continues, with companies and investors emphasizing capital efficiency, runway extension, structured downside protection, and disciplined underwriting.

The Venture Debt Conference convenes lenders, direct lending platforms, institutional investors, venture capital firms, venture-backed companies, legal advisors, and structured finance professionals active in venture and growth debt markets.

The 2026 program will address:

• The 2026 venture debt market outlook, including issuance trends, pricing dynamics, and capital availability

• Founder and VC perspectives on venture debt, examining how borrowers and equity sponsors evaluate non-dilutive financing

• Lessons from venture-backed companies that faced structural or liquidity challenges

• Offensive and defensive venture debt strategies in volatile markets

• Raising growth capital in Israel and cross-border markets

• Aligning venture debt timing with equity raises and M&A strategy

• Adjacent and specialty credit strategies within the broader private credit ecosystem

• Distressed borrower engagement and restructuring outcomes

• Risk management, workouts, covenant enforcement, and recovery processes

• The role of artificial intelligence in credit underwriting and risk assessment

The 2026 Venture Debt Conference is presented with the support of lead sponsor Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

• Nick Acimovic, Managing Partner, Jovian Capital Management

• Ella Adhannah, Managing Director, Hercules Capital

• Michael Balkin, CEO, Horizon Technology Finance

• Charles Charpentier, Partner, Troutman Pepper Locke

• Prasant Chunduru, Managing Director, Head of Tech Credit Solutions, HSBC US

• Arthur Daemmrich, Professor, Arizona State U.

• Bob Eisenbach, Of Counsel, Cooley