Six Investors Chasing Debt Deals During the Downturn

With equity investors dialing back and public markets frozen over, startups that need to raise money are short of options. A range of lenders is lined up to pounce, offering pricey loans. For startups, the question is whether the money is worth the cost.

Coatue Management, Viking Global Investors and Owl Rock have already done a string of smaller deals with startups that had to abort initial public offering plans this year. And looming large is Sixth Street Partners, which has a track record of lending money to high-profile companies including Airbnb and Spotify in past downturns.

The Information talked to investors, advisers and startup executives to map out this murky and fast-evolving corner of startup financing. We highlighted six firms and the executives driving the charge—and the types of deal structures that are their calling cards.