Venture capital firms have a pool of money that has been raised from investors. They make equity capital investments (see Equity capital) in return for partial ownership of the business in which they invest, and they anticipate a profit upon exit (see Exit Strategy). Venture capital firms specialize in various industries and have different amounts they are willing to invest.

The technology industry can include businesses such as high-tech manufacturing, communications services, and software and computer-related services. It can also include businesses such as biotechnology and other physical or material sciences.

In New Mexico, there are several federal government laboratories and universities that create new technologies in the course of their work. When a technology is seen as having a commercial use – for example, to improve an existing product or create a new product – the lab or university may assist scientiests and entrepreneurs with getting the technology into the marketplace.

A startup business is in its earliest stages of development, typically before it has an established revenue stream. A seed stage business is the earliest point in the start-up phase.

Businesses in the service industry are primarily concerned with providing services for the benefit of the consumer and/or other businesses. Services may include insurance, banking and finance; provision of gas, electricity and water; transport; communications; retailing and wholesaling.

A seed-stage business is one that is typically in the idea or concept phase. There may be one or more people committed to the business concept, but there is no revenue yet.

Refers to the ability of a business to grow beyond a narrow audience to a larger one (usually beyond state lines) while maintaining an operations-to-revenue ratio where profits can be maintained during growth.

A nonprofit or not-for-profit organization is an entity whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit.

The manufacturing industry includes any businesses involved in the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale.

A loan is a type of debt. The borrower receives an amount of money from a lender such as a bank or community development financial institution (CDFI), and the money is typically paid back in regular installments. This service is generally provided at a cost that is referred to as interest on the debt. Often a loan is secured with collateral. (See Collateral)