Venture capital Vs. Private Equity

Venture capital (VC) is money invested into start-ups or similarly young businesses with potential for long-term growth.

Private equity (PE) investment is any capital directed toward a private company or entity. In other words, one that is not publicly listed or tradeable.

Scenario	Venture Capital (VC)	Private Equity (PE)
Investment Stage	VC typically invests in early-stage startups and high-growth companies that are in the seed, Series A, or growth stages of development.	PE primarily invests in mature and established companies, often involved in buyouts or acquisitions.
Investment Focus	VC focuses on investing in innovative, technology-driven, and high-potential startups, often in sectors like tech, biotech, and consumer products.	PE invests in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and more, with a focus on established businesses.
Ownership Stake	VCs usually acquire minority equity stakes in startups, aiming for capital appreciation upon successful growth or exit.	PEs often acquire majority ownership stakes in companies, exerting significant control over their operations and strategies.
Risk and Return	VC investments carry higher risks due to their early-stage nature but offer the potential for substantial returns if the startup succeeds.	PE investments involve lower risk compared to VC but typically offer more moderate returns, often generated through operational improvements.
Exit Strategy	VCs typically exit their investments through IPOs (Initial Public Offerings), acquisitions, or secondary sales once the startup reaches a certain growth stage.	PE firms exit their investments through various means, including IPOs, selling to other companies, or recapitalization, often after several years.
Investment Horizon	VC investments often have shorter timeframes, with an expectation of exit within 3 to 7 years, although this can vary widely.	PE investments have longer timeframes, often ranging from 5 to 10 years or more, allowing for extensive value creation.
Due Diligence	VCs perform due diligence to assess the startup’s technology, market potential, team, and scalability.	PE firms conduct in-depth due diligence, including financial, operational, and legal assessments of mature companies.
Management Involvement	VCs typically have limited involvement in the day-to-day operations of startups, focusing on strategic guidance and connections.	PEs are actively involved in the management of portfolio companies, implementing operational improvements and strategic changes.
Financing Amount	VC investments are often smaller in scale, with a typical range of a few hundred thousand to several million dollars in early stages.	PE investments involve larger amounts of capital, ranging from several million to billions of dollars, depending on the deal.
Investor Network	VC firms often have extensive networks of connections within the startup ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry experts.	PE firms have networks that span various industries and may collaborate with management teams and industry experts.
Exit Timeline Flexibility	VCs typically seek exits based on market conditions and startup growth, allowing for some flexibility in exit timing.	PE firms often have more control over exit timing, aiming for strategic moments to maximize returns.
Typical Use Cases	VC is commonly associated with financing tech startups, disruptive innovations, and high-growth potential ventures.	PE is frequently used for buyouts, turnarounds, and restructuring efforts in established companies.
Ownership Duration	VC firms may hold their investments for a relatively short duration, typically between 3 to 7 years, or until a liquidity event occurs.	PE firms often have longer ownership horizons, aiming for value creation over an extended period before exiting.
Capital Structure	VC investments are usually structured as equity or convertible debt, providing startups with funding for growth and development.	PE investments involve various financial instruments, including equity, debt, and mezzanine financing, tailored to the specific deal.
Risk Tolerance	VC investors have a high tolerance for risk, accepting that a significant portion of their investments may not yield returns.	PE investors generally have a lower risk tolerance, seeking more stable and predictable returns.
Strategic Alignment	VC investments often align with disruptive technologies and market innovation, aiming for rapid market growth.	PE investments often align with established companies and industries, focusing on improving operational efficiency and profitability.

Table of Contents

Understanding venture capital

Venture capital is invested into promising businesses by investors or funds in exchange for a minority stake. It’s important to note that venture capitalists inject cash to jump-start the business and take a non-controlling interest in return for their investment.

One of the most prolific venture capitalists is Google. Under a division known simply as GV, the search giant invests in emerging companies with great ideas to help it expand.

According to its website, GV has now funded more than 500 portfolio companies with a core focus on life sciences, frontier technology, enterprise, and consumers.

Since venture capital is invested in early-stage companies or start-ups with the potential for future growth, the investment itself tends to be riskier.

In some cases, venture capitalists may also lend their skills, contacts, experience, or knowledge in exchange for an equity stake.

The three types of venture capital

Understanding private equity

Private equity investors make a direct investment in a company that is typically at a more mature stage than those targeted by venture capitalists.

Private equity may be directed toward a company in financial stress, but it is also used to purchase a company, streamline operations, and then sell it for a profit.

Unlike venture capitalists, private equity tends to be invested in exchange for majority control over the business’s operations.

This means private equity investors have more say in how the business is run and have the power to remove executives or make other significant changes.

Key Similarities between Venture Capital (VC) and Private Equity (PE):

Investment in Businesses: Both VC and PE involve investments in businesses or companies with the aim of generating returns on the investment.
Source of Funding: Both VC and PE funds are typically raised from institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, and other sources to provide capital for investments.
Potential for Growth: Both VC and PE investments are made with the expectation of achieving growth and generating profits over time.
Long-Term Investments: Both forms of investment are typically considered long-term investments, and investors expect returns over a period of several years.

Differences between private equity and venture capital

In addition to the level of control and maturity stage of the company, there are a few more differences between private equity and venture capital:

Private equity firms tend to invest in multiple industries and prefer established markets and businesses. Many venture capitalists, on the other hand, are only interested in tech companies that have the potential to be market disruptors.
Private equity investors tend to ignore emerging markets and instead want more control over saturated markets. Venture capitalists are always looking for the next emerging market as part of their high-risk, high-reward strategy.
Since private equity investments are made on proven businesses in saturated markets, the amounts invested tend to be more than those made by VCs in a start-up. Indeed, PE investments are normally north of $100 million while VC investments tend to be $10 million or less.

Also consider:

Stage of Company: VC focuses on early-stage startups or young businesses with high growth potential, while PE targets more mature companies that may be in need of growth or operational improvements.
Risk Level: VC investments are riskier due to the early-stage nature of the companies and their potential for failure. PE investments are generally considered less risky as they are made in more established and proven businesses.
Investment Amount: VC investments are usually smaller, ranging from a few hundred thousand dollars to several million dollars. PE investments, on the other hand, are often much larger, with amounts exceeding $100 million.
Control and Influence: In VC, investors usually take a minority stake and have limited control over the company’s operations. In PE, investors often seek majority control, giving them significant influence in decision-making.
Industry Focus: VC investors often target technology startups and disruptive businesses, focusing on emerging markets. PE firms invest across various industries and often prefer established markets and businesses.
Purpose of Investment: VC investment is primarily focused on jump-starting early-stage startups and supporting their growth. PE investment may involve acquisitions, streamlining operations, and eventually selling the company for profit.
Investment Timeline: VC investments are made at an early stage and typically take longer to mature and provide returns. PE investments are often made in companies with more stable cash flows, and returns may be realized within a shorter timeframe.
Exit Strategies: VC investors may exit their investments through IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) or acquisitions by larger companies. PE investors often seek to exit their investments through strategic sales or secondary buyouts.
Management Involvement: VC investors may provide advice and support to startups, but they are generally less involved in day-to-day operations. PE investors may take a more hands-on approach and may make significant changes in the company’s management or operations to improve performance.
Geographical Focus: VC investments are often concentrated in regions with a strong startup ecosystem and access to technology talent. PE investments may be more geographically diverse, spanning various countries and regions.

Key takeaways:

Venture capital (VC) is money invested into start-ups or similarly young businesses with potential for long-term growth. Private equity (PE) describes any capital invested in a private company or entity. In other words, one that is not publicly listed or tradeable.
Since venture capital is invested in early-stage companies or start-ups with the potential for future growth, the investment itself tends to be riskier. Private equity is invested into proven companies in proven industries with investors possessing a higher degree of operational control.
Venture capital and private equity investments also differ according to the level of risk, market preference, investment amount, and maturity of the company in question.

Case Studies

Venture Capital (VC) Examples:

Dropbox:
- In its early stages, Dropbox secured VC funding from Sequoia Capital to expand its cloud storage solutions. This investment helped Dropbox grow from a small startup to a major player in the cloud storage industry.
WhatsApp:
- The messaging app received an investment from Sequoia Capital. The VC funding supported its growth until its acquisition by Facebook for $19 billion.
Slack:
- The team collaboration tool secured venture capital investments from firms like Accel and Andreessen Horowitz, enabling it to enhance its platform and gain significant market share.
Uber:
- Before becoming a global ride-sharing giant, Uber raised significant VC funding from investors like Benchmark and GV (Google Ventures), facilitating its rapid expansion worldwide.

Private Equity (PE) Examples:

Dell:
- In 2013, Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners acquired Dell in a PE deal. The acquisition took Dell private, allowing it to restructure away from the public eye.
Burger King:
- In 2010, 3G Capital, a PE firm, acquired Burger King. They revamped the business strategy, leading to a resurgence of the brand.
Heinz:
- The renowned ketchup and food company was bought by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital. This PE deal allowed Heinz to merge with Kraft, creating one of the largest food and beverage companies globally.
Toys “R” Us:
- In 2005, the toy retailer was acquired by a consortium of PE firms including Bain Capital, KKR, and Vornado. However, this story serves as a cautionary tale in PE as the company struggled with debt and eventually filed for bankruptcy.

Scenarios Illustrating the Difference:

Early-stage Tech Startup:
- VC: A new tech startup, “TechieToys,” has developed an innovative AR gaming device. They seek funding to manufacture their product and launch it to the public. A VC firm sees their potential and invests in exchange for equity.
- PE: Not typically involved at this early stage.
Mature Manufacturing Company:
- VC: Less likely to be involved since the company is mature and not a high-growth startup.
- PE: A PE firm sees that “MatureMachines,” a manufacturing company, has solid revenues but lacks modern operational efficiencies. The PE firm acquires a controlling stake, streamlines operations, and aims to increase profitability.
Innovative Health Startup:
- VC: “HealthHive” has developed a wearable that predicts flu outbreaks based on user data. It’s in the prototype stage. A VC firm invests, hoping the product will revolutionize healthcare predictions.
- PE: Not typically the primary investor at this early stage.
Struggling Retail Chain:
- VC: Not the typical domain for VCs given the lack of rapid growth potential.
- PE: “RetailRush,” a retail chain, is facing declining sales. A PE firm buys the company, revamps its strategy, optimizes store locations, and introduces an online presence to rejuvenate the brand.