Venture capital is private equity capital provided to young, high potential companies. Often in the form of cash, venture capital investments are typically exchanged with shares in the company. Before World War II, moneyed individuals and families had monopoly of venture capital investments. The Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Warburgs invested in private firms and eventually gained control of many of them. After the war, however, steps were taken to democratize and professionally manage the venture capital industry. The Small Business Act of 1958 made it legal for the U.S Small Business Administration to help finance and manage small entrepreneurial ventures in the United States. This section provides helpful information relating to venture capital as well as the topics that fall under its umbrella.