Hercules Capital (formerly Hercules Technology Growth Capital) performs its feats of strength with money. The closed-end investment firm offers financing vehicles to companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. A business development company (BDC), Hercules provides primarily US-based private firms with services such as growth capital financing, asset-based financing, IPO and public company financing as well as other types of customized financing. Hercules' portfolio includes more than 350 companies; about half of its portfolio comprises drug discovery and development, Internet consumer and business services, and clean tech firms. Holdings include stakes in cloud storage company Box and online real estate firm Trulia.