Many start-ups turn to angel investors, venture capitalists, and private equity firms. Angel investors are people with a lot of money who want to invest in early-stage companies. They invest smaller sums of money in start-ups and then hope for a return on their investment. VCs are venture capitalists who invest large sums of money in early-stage companies. While VCs usually have a higher chance of making a return on their investments, they also tend to take a more hands-on approach than angels. Private equity firms are unique, and they invest in late-stage companies. They're looking for high returns on their investment, so they may be more demanding when it comes to the terms and conditions of the investment.