Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. operates as a specialty finance company that provides debt and equity growth capital to technology-related and life-sciences companies at all stages of development. The company primarily invests in equity-related investments. The company operates as a non-diversified closed-end investment company. The company primarily finances privately-held companies backed by venture capital and private equity firms and also may finance certain select publicly-traded companies that lack access to public capital or are sensitive to equity ownership dilution. It invests primarily in structured mezzanine debt and, to a lesser extent, in senior debt and equity. The company focuses its investments in companies active in the technology industry sub-sectors characterized by products or services that require advanced technologies, including computer software and hardware, networking systems, semiconductors, semiconductor capital equipment, information technology infrastructure or services, Internet consumer and business services, telecommunications, telecommunications equipment, renewable or alternative energy, media and life sciences. Within the life sciences sub-sector, the company focuses on medical devices, bio-pharmaceutical, health care services and information systems companies. Significant Events In June 2007, the company announced an alliance with Market Bridges Ltd. to bring venture lending opportunities to Israeli and Israeli-related companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. Market Bridges is a financial services and business-development firm bridging between emerging Israeli growth companies and international capital and markets. Subsidiaries Hercules Technology II, L.P., the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, is licensed as a Small Business Investment Company. Hercules Technology SBIC Management, LLC, another wholly-owned subsidiary, functions as the general partner of the company's subsidiary HTII. Hercules Funding I LLC, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, and Hercules Funding Trust I function as vehicles to collateralize loans. In December 2006, the company formed Hydra Management LLC and Hydra Management Co., Inc. an investment manager and an investment management company. History Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. was founded in 2003.