There are several synonyms for the term "venture capitalists," including angel investors, seed investors, early-stage investors, and startup investors. These individuals or firms provide funding to entrepreneurs and startups to help them bring their innovative ideas to life. Angel investors usually invest their own money, while venture capital firms use funds from institutional investors. Seed investors typically provide funding at the earliest stages of a startup's development, often before its first product launch. Early-stage investors focus on providing capital to startups that are still in the development phase, but have already launched their product. Overall, venture capitalists play a key role in fueling innovation and driving economic growth by helping startups succeed.