venture catalyst
n. A firm or person that obtains financing for new companies that would otherwise not have access to venture capital.
Etymology
Examples
1999
Garage.com is part of a new and emerging group of so-called venture catalysts. Armed with more than just a catchy name, the catalysts help funnel some of Silicon Valley's venture capital to startups that for various reasons can't otherwise get their hands on it.
—Melanie Warner, “No Funding for Your Startup? Try a Venture Catalyst,” Fortune, April 12, 1999
1999
A small group of self-styled 'venture catalysts' has emerged to front young high-tech firms as they seek money from venture capitalists; such catalysts include Christine Comaford of Artemis Ventures LLC.
—Nick Wingfield, “With expertise, contacts and nurturing, 'venture catalysts' help start-ups start,” Wall Street Journal, February 26, 1999
1995 (earliest)
The Business Centurions like to think of themselves as venture catalysts.

"There are so many angel investors sitting out there with money," says president Donald Hillhouse. "And there is such a great pool of under-utilized resources that could contribute so much," he explains, referring to legions of senior managers who find themselves out of a job through downsizing or restructuring.
—Susan Bourette, “Matchmaker weds wisdom to youth,” The Globe and Mail (Canada), December 18, 1995
Notes
The origins of the bitter dispute are in a pair of takeover bids made by a company called Venture Catalyst which was the overseer for the financing of the proposed takeover.
—Beverley Head, “A major restructuring for the network 'twins',” Australian Financial Review, April 18, 1988
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