venture capital

American  

[ven-cher kap-i-tl] / ˈvɛn tʃər ˌkæp ɪ 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.

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venture capital British  

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

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Other Word Forms

• venture capitalism
  noun
• venture capitalist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of venture capital

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

venture capital

Kushner had decided he wanted to build a different kind of venture capital firm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

Neither spent much time practicing law; Mr. Obama soon moved on to academia, Mr. Vance to venture capital.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

It was financed by venture capital firms and hedge funds, and aimed to increase profits from overseas clients.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

An earlier version of this article incorrectly said the round of investment was led by venture capital firms Lightspeed and Index Ventures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Even then, not many Goan businessmen I was in touch with were willing to risk any substantial venture capital.

From Behind the News: Voices from Goa's Press by Various

Related Words

• working capital