Both forms of partnership can be used to transfer technology, assets and knowledge between complementary companies. Strategic alliances are usually undertaken to allow each company to pursue a new market, product or strategy that they can't manage on their own. Joint ventures are often used to shield the parent companies from the risk of a new venture failing; if the new product flops, the joint venture can go bankrupt without harming the parent company except to the extent of its investment. Some countries require that all companies that do business within their borders be at least partly owned by citizens of that country. In this case, a foreign company can start a joint venture with a domestic company to comply with the law.