venture capital – n : often referred to by its acronym, VC; a general term for money that is invested in equity securities (stock) of early-stage, high-growth and/or high-potential companies that are privatelyheld (i.e., their stock is not publicly traded on an exchange). Venture capital is a high-risk asset class, and consequently venture capital investors seek high rates of return on investment. Sources of venture capital include friends and family, angel investors, venture capital firms, corporate venture capital groups, as well as corporate strategic investors.

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Adapted from "The CompanyCrafters Entrepreneur's Dictionary"
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