Firsthand Capital Management (SVVC) Fraudulent Valuation and Mismanagement Case

D. Maryland

Court

1:25-cv-00677

Case number

01/01/2021

Class period Start

11/14/2023

Class period End

05/20/2025

Lead Plaintiff motion deadline

$SVVC investors filed a lawsuit against Firsthand Capital Management, alleging the company and its leadership misled shareholders by inflating asset values, extracting excessive fees, and concealing the fund’s deteriorating financial condition.
On November 14, 2023, Firsthand disclosed that two of its largest investments were worthless, forcing the fund into liquidation. Following this, $SVVC dropped by 99.2%.
$SVVC investors can join this case to be notified about potential recovery.
Case Details:

Between January 2021 and November 2023, Firsthand Capital Management and its Board artificially inflated asset values to hide mounting losses while continuing to charge millions in management fees. The company falsely claimed that its portfolio remained strong and that shareholders would benefit from long-term investment gains.

However, internal records showed that Firsthand’s largest investments, including Wrightspeed and IntraOp Medical, were essentially worthless for years. Rather than disclose the truth, Firsthand used manipulated valuation methods to justify inflated portfolio values, which in turn boosted its management fees.

Stockholders repeatedly called for management to be replaced, but Firsthand and its Board blocked these efforts using illegal bylaws that protected leadership while ignoring shareholder demands.

On November 14, 2023, Firsthand finally admitted that two of its largest investments were worthless, triggering a collapse in share value. By early 2025, $SVVC dropped by 99.2%.

Based on these events, $SVVC investors filed a lawsuit against Firsthand Capital Management, claiming the company:
It misled investors by inflating asset values and hiding financial losses.
It extracted excessive management fees while ignoring shareholder concerns.
Investors believe Firsthand manipulated asset valuations and mismanaged the fund.

Case Status

Lead Plaintiff Submission

Alleged Offence

Misleading Statements,

Financial Misrepresentation,

Fraud,

Failure to Disclose,

Omissions

Suspected Party

Directors,

Management

Security Type

Stocks

Trade Direction

Long

Shock Event Date

11/13/2023

Filing date

02/28/2025

Lead Plaintiff Deadline

05/20/2025

Collecting participants…

Firsthand Capital Management Inc.

Firsthand Capital Management, Inc. is a boutique investment management firm specializing in technology sector investments. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company ope...

Ticker

N/A.PRVT

Sector

Financial Services

Industry

Investment Banking & Investment Services

Country

United States