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

Derived Forms

• venture capitalism
  noun
• venture capitalist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of venture capital

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

OpenAI and Anthropic have each raised more than $100 billion in venture capital financing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

General Catalyst and HarbourVest led the Series C round, reflecting increasing venture capital interest in AI-enabled roll-up strategies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

It’s raised $183 million from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the venture capital arm of Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Ruth Foxe-Blader at US venture capital firm Citrine Venture Partners thinks the number and range of SpaceX's projects mean it has many selling points.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Parallel to the most advanced and promising scientific endeavors, venture capital underwrites the industries of the near future.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Nadin, Mihai

Related Words

• working capital