Venture capital (VC) is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as biotechnology, IT, software, etc. The typical venture capital investment occurs after the seed funding round as growth funding round (also referred to as Series A round) in the interest of generating a return through an eventual realization event, such as an IPO or trade sale of the company. Venture capital is a subset of private equity. Therefore, all venture capital is private equity, but not all private equity is venture capital.

In addition to angel investing and other seed funding options, venture capital is attractive for new companies with limited operating history that are too small to raise capital in the public markets and have not reached the point where they are able to secure a bank loan or complete a debt offering. In exchange for the high risk that venture capitalists assume by investing in smaller and less mature companies, venture capitalists usually get significant control over company decisions, in addition to a significant portion of the company's ownership (and consequently value).

Peter Barris is an American businessman and venture capitalist. He is a founding Venture Capital Investor in Groupon.

Barris is currently on the Board of Directors of eight companies; Broadview Networks Holdings, Inc., Echo Global Logistics, Inc., Groupon, Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc., InnerWorkings, Inc., Jobfox, Inc., MediaBank, SnagFilms and Vonage Holdings Corp. Barris is often featured on the Forbes Midas list and was ranked #8 on the list in 2011.

Barris joined the venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in 1992 and has served as Managing General Partner since 1999. Prior to joining NEA, Barris was President and Chief Operating Officer of Legent Corporation (LGNT) and Senior Vice President of the Systems Software Division of UCCEL Corporation (UCE). Both companies were ultimately acquired at valuations that were record breaking for their time. Earlier, Barris spent almost a decade at General Electric Company in a variety of management positions, including Vice President and General Manager at GE Information Services.