Venture capital involves investing in projects with high risk but also high potential for growth. It provides start-up companies with capital for development, in exchange for ownership equity. Venture capitalists typically provide capital to small, high-risk companies in exchange for convertible preferred stock or common stock. They also offer management assistance to help the company grow quickly to the point where it can go public or be acquired. Venture capital originated in the United States after World War II and helped fuel innovative new industries like technology and biotech. It later spread globally, including to India starting in the 1980s to promote new businesses.