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 Words From

• ven·ture cap·i·tal·ism noun
• ven·ture cap·i·tal·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of venture capital¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Bluesky started off with funding from investors and venture capital firms and has raised tens of millions of dollars through these means.

From BBC

Neuralink, which has raised more than $600 million in venture capital, has developed an implant the size of a coin with tiny wires that record brain activity.

From Los Angeles Times

The Bay Area has long held the title for attracting the most venture capital funding in the nation, and that naturally includes the hot market for artificial intelligence startups.

From Los Angeles Times

The Silicon Valley tech billionaire depicted in the film “The Social Network” is now a venture capital investor and has gotten more into traditional politics over the years.

From Los Angeles Times

As the co-founder of a small venture capital firm, Farrell has been particularly critical of Breed’s handling of San Francisco’s post-COVID economy and the hallowed-out downtown once teeming with tourists and workers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• working capital