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Which well-known company began as a venture-backed startup?

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venture

American  

[ven-cher] / ˈvɛn tʃər /

noun

• ventures
  plural

1. an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, especially a risky or dangerous one.

   a mountain-climbing venture.

2. a business enterprise or speculation in which something is risked in the hope of profit; a commercial or other speculation.

   Their newest venture allows you to order their products online.

3. the money, ship, cargo, merchandise, or the like, on which risk is taken in a business enterprise or speculation.

4. Obsolete. hazard or risk.

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verb (used with object)

• ventures,
  present (3rd person singular)
• ventured,
  past participle,  past
• venturing
  present participle

1. to expose to hazard; risk.

   to venture one's fortune;

   to venture one's life.

   Synonyms:

   jeopardize, imperil, endanger

2. to take the risk of; brave the dangers of.

   to venture a voyage into space.

3. to undertake to express, as when opposition or resistance appears likely to follow; be bold enough; dare.

   I venture to say that you are behaving foolishly.

4. to take the risk of sending.

verb (used without object)

• ventures,
  present (3rd person singular)
• ventured,
  past participle,  past
• venturing
  present participle

1. to make or embark upon a venture; dare to enter or go.

   He ventured deep into the jungle.

2. to take a risk; dare; presume.

   to venture on an ambitious program of reform.

3. to invest venture capital.

adjective

1. of or relating to an investment or investments in new businesses.

   a venture fund.

idioms

1. at a venture, according to chance; at random.

   A successor was chosen at a venture.

venture British  

/ ˈvɛntʃə /

verb

1. (tr) to expose to danger; hazard

   he ventured his life

2. (tr) to brave the dangers of (something)

   I'll venture the seas

3. (tr) to dare (to do something)

   does he venture to object?

4. (tr; may take a clause as object) to express in spite of possible refutation or criticism

   I venture that he is not that honest

5. (intr; often foll by out, forth, etc) to embark on a possibly hazardous journey, undertaking, etc

   to venture forth upon the high seas

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noun

1. an undertaking that is risky or of uncertain outcome

2. 1. a commercial undertaking characterized by risk of loss as well as opportunity for profit

   2. the merchandise, money, or other property placed at risk in such an undertaking

3. something hazarded or risked in an adventure; stake

4. archaic chance or fortune

5. at random; by chance

venture More Idioms  

1. see nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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Synonym Usage

See dare.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preventure
  noun
• venturer
  noun
• unventured
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ventures
  plural

Participles

• venturing
  present
• ventured
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• venture
  simple
• ventures
  simple
• have ventured
  perfect
• has ventured
  perfect
• am venturing
  progressive
• are venturing
  progressive
• is venturing
  progressive
• have been venturing
  perfect progressive
• has been venturing
  perfect progressive

Past

• ventured
  simple
• had ventured
  perfect
• was venturing
  progressive
• were venturing
  progressive
• had been venturing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will venture
  simple
• will have ventured
  perfect
• will be venturing
  progressive
• will have been venturing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of venture

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, shortened from aventure adventure

Explanation

A venture is a risky undertaking. If your latest venture is a dog food store, you hope there are some hungry dogs around. Also, to venture is to go somewhere possibly dangerous, like if you venture out into a snowstorm. Venture is a shortened form of adventure. This happened sometime between 1100 CE and 1400 CE during the time that Middle English was spoken. While the two words are similar in meaning, when you subtract the ad, you lose a teaspoon or two of fun, and add a heaping tablespoon of risk.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

venture ventures ventured venturing

It’s back because the portfolio finally caught up to where the value is: across public markets, private equity, venture capital and real assets, anchored by a fixed-income allocation that pays you to wait.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

In February 2021, Clark pitched Schmidt on creating a new venture fund called the Mother of AGI Fund.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

However, Bryan Baum, founder of venture capital firm K5 Sports - through which Bezos is investing - will join the Anfield board, alongside Saverin's wife Elaine.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

In 2009, he followed in Dr. Phil’s footsteps and launched his own talk show, with Winfrey’s production company backing the venture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

She was supposed to sit and read until he came to fetch her, but she was beginning to think perhaps she had waited too long and she should venture out on her own.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Bill has been involved in multiple business ventures; he reluctantly told me that these include at least one other Trump store, in Gatlinburg—another former Cupid’s Outlet—as well as condos in Florida.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

At the start of the campaign, Farage told us he had put Clacton on the map —promoting its tourism and supporting local business ventures.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Boeing announced an agreement Monday to divest its air taxi and two other technology ventures to Archer Aviation for a stake in the startup.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

Not yet 30, Emanuel had worked for years with his father and was already responsible for the financial oversight of the family’s oil and manufacturing ventures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

As far back as 1885, Duke had discussed less ambitious joint ventures with some of the individuals in the room, but what he now suggested was on a different scale altogether.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Some analysts have ventured to say that diminished demand could keep a lid on oil prices through the rest of the year, even if traffic through the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t fully recover.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026

Ms. Stevens, who spent the campaign avoiding the subject of Mr. El-Sayed’s not-quite-spoken animus, last week ventured a diagonal allusion to it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Arnold ventured into owner Jacqueline Sear's garden waste bag before she was unknowingly taken to St Erth Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Cornwall on Tuesday.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

Only one panel I encountered, featuring action star Alan Ritchson of “Reacher,” ventured directly into politics.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

“You three ladies ventured into the heart of Annuvin and carried the thing out? How did you ever manage?”

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander

Founded in 1862 by Adam Opel, the company produced sewing machines and later bicycles, before venturing into car manufacturing in 1899 at its Ruesselsheim site.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

Footwear brand Cole Haan is venturing further into travel and lifestyle with its first collection of luggage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

"We aren't sure yet when the cubs will be able to be seen as it is still early days and they will need to have their inoculations before venturing outside," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Park-goers and local business owners say it’s crucial for those venturing into Yosemite this summer to plan their excursions outside peak times to avoid the worst of the crowds, and even then, pack their patience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

He remembered thinking he should probably not go onto the human road, because nothing good came of venturing out there.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• deal
• endeavor
• enterprise
• experiment
• investment
• project
• undertaking