The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company established in 1606 to create settlements in the New World, specifically in the area that would become Virginia. It was granted a charter by King James I of England, allowing it to establish colonies and trade in the region. The company's primary goal was to find gold and other resources to generate profit for its investors. In 1607, the Virginia Company successfully founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Despite facing numerous challenges, including conflicts with Indigenous peoples and harsh living conditions, the company played a crucial role in the early colonization of America and laid the groundwork for future English settlements.