Venture Capital Vs Private Equity – Which is Right For Your Company?

When evaluating the two primary investment vehicles, the terms “venture capital” and “private equity” come up frequently. For example, VC firms tend to invest in start-ups because they prefer predictability and less risk. In addition, venture capital firms tend to return more cash than private equity firms do. Which is better? Read on to discover whether venture capital is right for your company. There are many benefits to both types of funds.

VC firms prefer predictability

There are some differences between private equity and venture capital firms. A private equity firm may be more apt to invest in a company that has a proven track record and has a strong market presence. A VC firm, on the other hand, may be more apt to invest in companies that have shown some promise but are still in the early stages of growth. Whether a VC firm is right for a company is largely dependent on the type of due diligence it performs.

For instance, VC firms often prefer to invest in niche business models, especially tech startups, while PEs generally prefer stable, well-established markets. However, the biggest difference between private equity firms and VC firms lies in their risk tolerance. VC firms believe that the only way to make money is to take risks, whereas PEs tend to prefer more predictable investments in mature industries. So, how can private equity firms compare to VCs?

VC firms prefer lower risk

VC firms usually invest in small, low-risk companies. These investors are extremely … READ MORE ...