The ENTREPRENEURSHIP encyclopedia

Two or more individuals who operate a continuing business for profit. A partnership is legally regarded as a group of individuals rather than as a single entity, and each of the partners file their share of the profits on their individual tax returns.

A property right granted to an inventor to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted.

Peer to Peer is a type of online fundraising campaign. Individuals create personal fundraising pages and solicit donations on behalf of an organization from their friends, family, and extended personal networks.

It means to practically test a project out to see how it is received and make any changes that need to be made before the project is launched on a grander scale. Running a pilot can save money in the long run, allowing to conduct market research and test any assumptions that you are making about goods or services. One may run a pilot following a feasibility study.

A short presentation that informs the audience about the details of a business that has an aim or function. This could be to provide information that will help people make a decision. There is usually an action request as a result of a pitch. Examples of this could be pitching to investors, a sales pitch wanting people to buy your goods or services, or pitching in a competition.

An official document that outlines how the organisation will act. Some examples are (but not exclusive to):

Health and Safety Policy – Sets out your approach and what arrangements you have in
place for managing the health and safety in your business.

Safeguarding Policy – How the organisation will operate to ensure the safety of children
and vulnerable adults.

The deliberate promotion of a specific image for a business. Often confused with publicity which is simply the materials used in a specific part of a public relations effort.

Private Equity is a type of investment made into a company that is not publicly traded on a stock exchange. private equity investors typically invest in companies that they believe have strong growth potential and are therefore willing to accept a higher level of risk.

There are four main types of private equity:

Venture capital: venture capital firms invest in early-stage companies that they believe have high growth potential. These companies are typically in the technology, healthcare, or life sciences industries.

Growth equity: growth equity firms invest in companies that are further along in their development than venture capital-backed companies. These companies typically have a proven track record of revenue growth capital to fuel their next phase of growth.

Buyout: buyout firms invest in companies that are typically more mature than growth equity-backed companies. These companies are often looking for capital to fund a major transition, such as a management buyout, an acquisition, or a recapitalization.

Mezzanine: mezzanine firms invest in companies that are typically later-stage businesses than those backed by venture capital or growth equity firms. Mezzanine financing is typically used to fund a company's working capital needs or to finance an acquisition.