Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company generated net investment income of $42.3 million, or $1.05 per share, on total investment and other income of $90.9 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase in net assets resulting from operations of $49.2 million or $1.22 per share compared to $32 million or $0.82 per share in the prior year [26][28] - The total investment portfolio at fair value increased to approximately $784 million, a 16% increase from $676 million at the end of 2024 [27] - Net asset value (NAV) increased year-over-year to $8.73 per share at December 31, 2025, compared to $8.61 per share at December 31, 2024 [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The investment portfolio grew year-over-year, with $508 million of new debt commitments to venture growth stage companies, a significant increase from $175 million in 2024 [5][16] - The company funded $287 million in debt investments to 31 companies in 2025, more than double the $135 million funded in 2024 [16][27] - The weighted average annualized portfolio yield on debt investments was 13.7% for the year, down from 15.7% in the prior year due to a shift towards lower yielding, higher quality borrowers [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The demand for venture debt remained active, with a pipeline exceeding $2 billion at year-end [6] - Venture capital deal value increased to $339 billion across more than 16,000 deals in 2025, marking the second highest in a decade, with deal value in the core venture growth market segment rising 131% year-over-year [6][9] - AI represented 65% of the total U.S. venture deal value last year, indicating a significant capital flow into the sector [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to increase scale, durability, income-generating assets, and NAV to create enduring shareholder value [4] - There is a focus on portfolio diversification, geographic and investment sector rotation, particularly in high-potential sectors leveraging AI [7][12] - The company is positioning itself to benefit from secular trends in aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, aligning with national priorities [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the venture market conditions and the potential for M&A and IPO activity, although recent market volatility may delay IPO expectations [12][58] - The company is actively managing credit situations and believes it is making progress in stabilizing credit quality [47] - The management team emphasized a multifaceted strategy to enhance shareholder value, focusing on strengthening the balance sheet and increasing the earnings power of the business [42][43] Other Important Information - The advisor's income incentive fee waiver has been extended through 2026, which is expected to enhance net investment income [14][32] - The company ended the year with total liquidity of $252.4 million, consisting of cash equivalents and available capacity under the revolving credit facility [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is the number of companies raising money this quarter low in historical context? - Management indicated that the low number reflects the freshness of the portfolio vintages and expects fundraising activity to increase in 2026 and 2027 [40] Question: Any changes in long-term goals or strategy? - Management clarified that the strategy is refined annually based on market conditions and focuses on building a strong foundation for long-term growth [42][43] Question: Have most negative marks been worked through? - Management stated that while credit has stabilized, they are still proactive in resolving known situations and are cautious about macroeconomic impacts [47] Question: Visibility on repayments and stock buybacks? - Management noted elevated prepayments in Q4 but lacks visibility for the remainder of the quarter; they are considering stock buybacks as part of their strategy to enhance shareholder value [48][50] Question: Insights on software portfolio exposure and AI disruption? - Management explained that the majority of their software investments are AI-enabled, and they are cautious about traditional software companies but confident in their AI-related investments [54][63]