본문으로 이동
Business TermVC

ベンチャーキャピタル(VC)

Venture Capital (VC) / ベンチャー・キャピタル

Venture capital is equity financing from professional funds that back high-growth startups in exchange for ownership and governance rights.

Use when
Determines if the business model can support the growth and exit timelines expected by VC.
Watch out
VC is not the best option for every company; many models work better with profit-led growth.
Updated: 2026. 05. 14.Quality: ReviewedSources: 3
What it means

VC firms invest pooled capital into early or growth-stage companies that can scale quickly and produce large exits. In return, founders accept dilution, board oversight, and milestone-driven expectations. The concept frames whether external equity is appropriate, how much to raise, and what governance changes follow.

When it helps

Determines if the business model can support the growth and exit timelines expected by VC. Shapes capital planning, dilution trade-offs, and term sheet negotiation priorities. Defines governance structure and reporting cadence after the investment.

  • Determines if the business model can support the growth and exit timelines expected by VC.
  • Shapes capital planning, dilution trade-offs, and term sheet negotiation priorities.
  • Defines governance structure and reporting cadence after the investment.
How to use it
  • VC fits scalable opportunities where speed and market share are decisive.
  • Raising VC capital increases accountability and the need for predictable metrics.
  • Align funding rounds with milestones to avoid excess dilution or cash burn.
  • Use investor networks for hiring, partnerships, and strategic guidance.
  • Plan exit scenarios early because they influence valuation and strategy.
Example

A cloud security startup targets enterprise customers and needs rapid sales hiring to win market share. The founders compare a $10M VC round with slower bootstrapping and choose VC to accelerate growth. They negotiate board seats and performance milestones, then build quarterly reporting dashboards to keep investors aligned with progress.

Compare with

Compare Venture Capital (VC) with adjacent concepts before deciding. Venture Capital (VC) | Current concept | Use when the team needs the primary decision lens Adjacent metric or framework | Supporting lens | Use when the team needs evidence or process detail General vocabulary | Broad explanation | Use only for orientation, not final decision-making

MetricDifferenceWhy read together
Venture Capital (VC)Current conceptUse when the team needs the primary decision lens
Adjacent metric or frameworkSupporting lensUse when the team needs evidence or process detail
General vocabularyBroad explanationUse only for orientation, not final decision-making
Common mistakes
  • VC is not the best option for every company; many models work better with profit-led growth.
  • A VC round does not guarantee success; execution risk remains high.
  • VC investors are not passive and often require governance rights and control.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Venture Capital (VC)?

Use it when the team needs to decide scope, priority, owner, or trade-off, not when it only needs a short definition.

What makes Venture Capital (VC) useful in practice?

It becomes useful when it is tied to evidence, a decision owner, and a concrete next operating choice.

What should I avoid?

Avoid using the term as a label without clarifying assumptions, boundaries, and how success will be judged.

Sources
SourcesKindLink
Entrepreneurship (OpenStax)Open
Principles of Marketing (Open Textbook Library)tier_sOpen
Principles of Management (OpenStax)tier_sOpen