Venture capital (VC) is a form of private equity investment that funds early-stage, high-growth startups in exchange for equity ownership. Unlike traditional bank loans, venture capital investments come from specialized firms or individual investors who take on significant risk in the hopes of achieving high returns. These investors, known as venture capitalists, play a crucial role in fueling innovation and supporting the growth of disruptive companies.

The venture capital industry is an essential component of the startup ecosystem, providing financial backing to companies that may not yet be profitable but have strong potential. Many of the world's most successful companies, including Amazon, Google, and Facebook, received early funding from venture capital firms. Without this type of investment, many groundbreaking ideas might never reach the market.

Venture capital differs from other forms of investment due to its high-risk, high-reward nature. Startups seeking VC funding often operate in unproven markets or develop innovative technologies, making them inherently risky. However, when a venture-backed company succeeds, the returns can be exponential. For this reason, venture capitalists carefully evaluate potential investments, looking for strong founding teams, scalable business models, and large market opportunities.