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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

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Etymology

Origin of venture

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

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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

The event was part of LA Tech Week, a citywide event organized by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

On the brighter side, economists point to the U.K.’s skilled talent base, top-tier universities and venture capital money flowing through London’s financial district as reasons to see the country as a fertile ground for AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

William H. Draper III gave up his career as a fast-rising executive at Inland Steel in Chicago in 1959, at age 31, to try venture capital, a little-known business at the time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

I think weighted blankets would be a great business venture still.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

In the morning we would rise shivering and rubbing arms, wordlessly repeat our small chores, fill and hoist our packs, and venture into the great entangling forest again.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

The push behind big AI ventures is "very much still in effect," said JPMorgan Chase's Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Barnum.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

If a planet ventures too close to its host star, the star's gravity can drag it inward and eventually engulf it.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

We did, however, register a website for our new school ventures, ProPublicaAcademy.com, and even designed some fun pencils to show our school spirit.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

Densmore’s a busy guy, with various charitable causes and artistic ventures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

“They say, of course, there must be discipline,” ventures Kropp meditatively.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

He moved out of a hotel into a new home earlier this week and has ventured into the city to sample a handful of restaurants - but only to celebrate wins.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

In this most recent chapter, Heyward has ventured into the front office, Freeman is adding to his Hall of Fame candidacy, and they’re once again on the same team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

They also ventured farther into space than any humans had ever traveled before, setting a new distance record for human spaceflight.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

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

None of the tourists had ventured down here.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Leo has taken no long voyages this summer, instead venturing to Pavia, Lampedusa and Assisi for short visits.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 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

A notable increase in Mexican Americans venturing south to reconnect with their roots, language and culture, according to longtime observers and travel figures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

Now that I’ve gotten a taste of the world beyond our little corner of the Puget Sound, I can safely say that venturing out on your own is overrated.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

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