---
title: Venture capitalists
description: Venture capitalists are investors who provide finance to small businesses they believe have long-term growth potential. The money is loaned to the company in return for shares in the company. That mea
---

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# Venture capitalists

Venture capitalists are investors who provide finance to small businesses they believe have long-term growth potential. The money is loaned to the company in return for shares in the company. That means that if the company uses the loan finance and achieves good growth, the investors will share in the profits. Venture capitalists usually invest in a company for a set period of time, after which the company is committed to buying back the shares at an agreed upon price.

- [Understanding funding](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/understanding-funding?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Challenges to accessing finance](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/understanding-funding?hsLang=en#challenges-to-accessing-finance)
    - [Different funding needs](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/understanding-funding?hsLang=en#different-funding-needs)
    - [Different types of funders](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/understanding-funding?hsLang=en#different-types-of-funders)
    - [Different types of funding products](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/understanding-funding?hsLang=en#different-types-of-funding-products)
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- [Funding for startups](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/funding-for-startups?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Angel investors](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/funding-for-startups?hsLang=en#angel-investors)
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    - [Social enterprise funding/impact investing](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/funding-for-startups?hsLang=en#social-enterprise-funding-impact-investing)
    - [Venture capitalists](https://knowledge.finfind.co.za/funding-for-startups?hsLang=en#venture-capitalists)
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