

The biggest distinction is that venture capital comes from a firm or a business, while angel investments come from individuals. While both types of investors provide capital to startup companies, there are several key differences between venture capitalists and angel investors. Instead of working to pay back the loan immediately, the venture capitalists work with the company five to 10 years before any money is repaid.Īt the end of the investment, venture capitalists sell their shares in the company back to the owners, or through an initial public offering, with the hope that they will receive significantly more than their initial investment. This means the relationship between the two parties can be lengthy. In exchange for their funding, venture capitalists expect a high return on their investment as well as shares of the company. The general partners take a very active role in working with the company’s founders and executives to ensure the company is growing profitably. Those who invest money in venture capital funds are considered limited partners, while the venture capitalists are the general partners charged with managing the fund and working with the individual companies. The money that venture capital firms invest comes from a variety of sources, including private and public pension funds, endowment funds, foundations, corporations, and wealthy individuals, both domestic and foreign.
VENTURE CAPITALISTS PROFESSIONAL
Venture capital funds come from venture capital firms, which comprise professional investors who understand the intricacies of financing and building newly formed companies. Among the more famous companies to receive venture capital during their startup periods are Apple, Compaq, Microsoft, and Google.

Research from the National Venture Capital Association revealed that in 2010, venture capitalists invested approximately $22 billion into nearly 2,749 companies, including 1,000 of which received funding for the first time. Venture capitalists can provide funding throughout the various stages of a company’s progression. Not all venture capital investments take place when a company is first being founded. This is to ensure they have a say in the future direction of the company.
VENTURE CAPITALISTS PLUS
Unlike other forms of financing where entrepreneurs are only required to pay back the loan amount plus interest, venture capital investments commonly require a portion of ownership in exchange for funding. A new breed of venture capital firms has formed to focus on investing in socially responsible companies.Įntrepreneurs often turn to venture capitalists for money because their company is so new, unproven, and risky that more traditional forms of financing, such as through banks, aren’t readily available. Many venture capital firms invest in companies in the healthcare field or that have developed a new technology, such as software. Venture capital is money that is given to help build new startups that have a strong potential for growth. Business owners should make decisions carefully before taking up venture capital as it could result in a loss of business control.Īmong the various financing options, entrepreneurs can turn to when starting a new company is venture capital.Venture capital is offered by high net-worth individuals to small businesses that they believe have a strong potential for long-term growth.Lack of enough capital may result in failure. Access to capital is a critical factor for business startups to succeed.
