Thursday, March 8, 2018

Roman Military Campaigns - Second Punic War


Bryan Jadot, a former nuclear operations specialist and current senior managing director with Hercules Capital, loves to study military history. One of Bryan Jadot's favorite civilizations to study is ancient Rome, which conducted many successful military campaigns.

One of the best-known Roman military initiatives is the Second Punic War, which saw the rise of mighty generals Scipio Africanus and Hannibal Barca. Hannibal marched troops from Spain to Italy, racking up victories against Roman forces, including many against larger units than his own; the war began with Hannibal's army entering a city under Roman protection, provoking a military response from Rome. 

Publius Cornelius Scipio, later renamed Scipio Africanus for his military success against Carthaginian holdings in North Africa, responded to Hannibal's forces with several victories of his own. He eventually pushed the Carthaginian forces back into North Africa, ending the rule of Carthage in the western Mediterranean and reasserting Roman control over much of the European continent. Rome also extracted payment for significant financial damages from Carthage at the end of the war, leaving Carthage weakened.

Friday, January 26, 2018

David Gilmour Releases Concert Film Live at Pompeii


More than a decade ago, Bryan Jadot co-founded and has worked as senior managing director of life sciences for Hercules Capital, Inc., in Boston. In his spare time, Bryan Jadot enjoys listening to a variety of music, including David Gilmour, one of his favorite artists.

The lead guitarist for the band Pink Floyd, singer David Gilmour is oftentimes considered one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th century. In addition to his work with the band, he has a solo career featuring several albums. He was also inducted into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame.

In 2017, David Gilmour hosted a one-night special screening of his concert film, Live at Pompeii, at more than 2,000 cinemas worldwide. The 4K film chronicled his two-night performance in 2016 at the ancient Italian city’s amphitheater. Only a couple thousand fans were in attendance for each show to listen to Gilmour play selections from his recent solo album titled Rattle That Lock, as well as Pink Floyd classics such as “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb.”

Friday, January 5, 2018

Top Ski Spots near Boston


The senior managing director of life sciences at Hercules Capital, Inc., in Boston, Massachusetts, Bryan Jadot manages a dynamic team of professionals and oversees a portfolio of debt investments in life sciences companies. Outside of work, Bryan Jadot enjoys skiing.

The following are several ski spots located near Boston:

- Blue Hills Ski Area: Covering 60 acres of skiable terrain in Canton, Blue Hills Ski Area is about a 30- to 40-minute drive from Boston. Thanks to its mellow terrain and ski lessons, it is a great spot for beginners.

- Ski Bradford: This Haverhill ski spot is primarily made up of advanced and intermediate trails. It is located about 50 minutes from Boston and gives guests the option of skiing or snowboarding along its 48 acres.

- Nashoba Valley: Perfect for skiing, snow tubing, and snowboarding, Nashoba Valley has 17 trails and 11 lifts dotted around its 53 acres. Consisting of novice, advanced, and intermediate trails, this ski spot is about 45 minutes from Boston and is great for lessons.

- Wachusett Mountain: Featuring 19 trails and 103 acres of mellow terrain, Wachusett Mountain is just an hour’s drive from Boston. The ski area is surrounded by forests and overlooks Wachusett Lake, making it a picturesque place to enjoy the slopes.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Partnering with Insmed to Develop Treatments for Rare Diseases


A veteran and recipient of the U.S. Army Achievement Medal, Bryan Jadot has served in various capacities in financial institutions such as Wells Fargo Bank and Silicon Valley Bank. Bryan Jadot is now the senior managing director of life sciences at Hercules Capital, Inc. 

Hercules is a business development firm focused on venture lending. One of the firms that Hercules has worked with is Insmed

Insmed is a venture dedicated to improving the lives of patients battling rare diseases by developing innovative therapies. Hercules began working with Insmed in 2012. Attracted by the company’s experienced management team, sound balance sheet, and solid product, Hercules provided flexible financing to steer Insmed’s progress through the initial stages of the FDA approval process. Afterward, the two companies’ relationship deepened as Hercules gained first-hand experience with the difficulties involved in bringing a new drug to the market. 

Hercules continues to be a strong partner of Insmed, providing debt financing to foster its growth and ensure minimal equity dilution for the company's owners. Just last year (2016) Hercules signed a $55 million debt agreement with the company to allow it to refinance its existing debt obligations and enter into a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Three Tips for Making Perfect Crepes


As the senior managing director of life sciences at Hercules Capital, Inc., Bryan Jadot manages a team of dynamic professionals. Outside of the office, Bryan Jadot enjoys making breakfast for his family, and one of his go-to dishes is crepes. 

The perfect crepe is a thin, airy, yet lightly crisp, pancake. Here are three tips for making perfect crepes every time:

1. Refrigerate the batter for an hour or more. Refrigeration helps relax the gluten and makes crepes light and airy. 

2. Ensure even heating. Turn on the heat five or six minutes before pouring batter into the pan. Preheating the pan will help make the crepes perfectly uniform and evenly cooked. 

3. Experiment with fillings. While a sweet filling like fruit is ideal for breakfast, a savory filling like sausage or seafood can turn the breakfast item into an easy and delicious lunch or dinner.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Three Life Science Companies Backed by Hercules Capital


A former nuclear operations specialist for the U.S. Army in Europe, Bryan Jadot earned a bachelor's in economics from California State University, Sacramento, before embarking on career in the financial sector. Since 2005, Bryan Jadot has managed debt investments for leading health, wellness, and pharmaceutical companies as the senior managing director for the life sciences division of Hercules Capital Inc. 

Hercules Capital's life science portfolio consists of over 100 established and startup companies in sub-sectors such as drug delivery, medical devices, and diagnostics. Below are three businesses which highlight Hercules' diverse portfolio.

1. Aspire Bariatrics is the creator of AspireAssist, a minimally-invasive, FDA-approved weight loss solution. A 15-minute procedure involves placing a thin tube inside the patients' stomach, which connects to a discreetly-placed device outside the abdomen, enabling the stomach to be partially emptied at the user's discretion.

2. Dynavax is a California-based biopharmaceutical company working to develop products to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

3. Neosil has an expanding catalog of dermatology products, including topical solutions for hair growth and acne.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Golden Rice Addresses Vitamin A Deficiencies



Investment professional Bryan Jadot serves as the senior managing director of the life sciences practice at Hercules Capital. With over 20 years of experience, Bryan Jadot manages investment and lending programs for companies specializing in life sciences. He has a particular interest in the field of biotechnology.

In its most basic form, “biotechnology” refers to technology that is based on biology. Biotechnology has influenced agriculture in numerous ways, as plants are bioengineered to produce greater yields, resist diseases and pests, and reduce negative environmental impact. 

In 2004, the first trials of a bioengineered rice called Golden Rice were conducted. Developed by a nonprofit called the International Rice Research Institute, Golden Rice has been engineered to include increased amounts of vitamin A. Experts hope that Golden Rice can be cultivated in areas where high numbers of people suffer from critical vitamin A deficiencies, which can lead to blindness, a weakened immune system, and death. 

One bowl of Golden Rice contains 60 percent of a child's daily requirement of vitamin A. Since rice currently serves as a staple food for over half of the world’s population, introducing vitamin A in the form of beta carotene into the genes of rice can make a significant impact on the health of numerous groups.