A group of friends with big ideas and little capital, now taking the first steps with a promising startup, will likely require a financial boost to get higher off the ground. Even an experienced entrepreneur might need some help with a new business. Enter a venture capitalist.

These individuals or firms that invest in companies that are often at the early stages of entering the market spent a record $130 billion on deals in 2018, making them an increasingly pivotal piece of the business world—one that can be a life saver for new businesses in need of cash.