What Is an LP (Limited Partner) in Venture Capital? The Capital Behind the Fund
LPs are the investors in VC funds. Understanding who they are, how they allocate, and what they want is critical for GPs, founders, and anyone building in venture.
Venture capital has its own vocabulary, incentives, and mechanics. Our VC explainers break down complex topics — from liquidation preferences to fund economics — so founders and analysts can make better decisions without wading through jargon.
Start with the explainers below to build a stronger foundation in venture capital.
LPs are the investors in VC funds. Understanding who they are, how they allocate, and what they want is critical for GPs, founders, and anyone building in venture.
An angel investor is an individual who invests personal capital in early-stage companies. Here's how to find, vet, and negotiate with them.
Vesting defines when you actually own your equity. Here's how 4-year schedules, 1-year cliffs, single/double-trigger acceleration, and early exercise work.
Venture debt is non-dilutive capital on top of a priced equity round. Here's how term sheets, warrants, covenants, and drawdown mechanics actually work.
A unicorn is a private company valued at $1B+. Decacorns sit above $10B; hectacorns above $100B. Here's the 2026 landscape and why the labels can mislead.
A term sheet is a non-binding document outlining the key terms of a proposed VC investment. Here's every section that matters and which terms to negotiate first.