venture capital

[ven-cher kap-i-tl]

noun

1. funds invested or available for investment in a new or unproven business enterprise (often used attributively): a venture capital firm. VC

   Startups may seek private equity or venture capital as alternative funding sources;

   a venture capital firm.

venture capital

noun

1. capital that is provided for a new commercial enterprise by individuals or organizations other than those who own the new enterprise

2. another name for risk capital

Other Word Forms

• venture capitalism noun
• venture capitalist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture capital¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Recently a U.S. federal court of appeals upheld this lie by ruling against the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund, a venture capital firm’s grant program designed to benefit Black women businesses founded and run by Black women.

From Salon

Globally, venture capital investments in defense tech is on the rise.

From Los Angeles Times

Sacks is a co-founder and partner at Craft Ventures, a venture capital firm in San Francisco.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s not a large market share opportunity, so there’s not a lot of venture capital funding, but also it’s a really compelling need,” said Rogers.

From Los Angeles Times

Brookings examined venture capital funding, AI job postings, the number of computer science degree holders, patents and other data.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• working capital