Hi Zakia Many layers to your question! :) I will keep my definitions fairly simply, as there can be legal definitions as well language use for each. Company - a generic term for almost all types of business. Startup - Probably easiest to use time as a measure, Casper a new American company selling mattresses started in 2014 and is still considered a startup. Outfit - Hard to define in real terms. It could be any number of people who have a common business interest. But it doesn't have to be a business itself. Google/Apple/Microsoft could be called anyone of the following: Corporation, Enterprise, firm, Corporate (company) or simply a company. A venture or joint venture - Venture would have to be venture capital to fit the context, which could be a company or companies funding a startup. "Antony raised £2 in venture capital (No one liked my business :))" A joint venture is two or more parties with a common business interest.