Both trading companies were able to raise money and share risk among a substantial number of merchant investors. They received charters from their respective governments granting them trading monopolies and the power to make war and to govern conquered peoples.
The **Dutch** controlled the production and shipping of spices, and seized control of a number of small spice-producing islands. The Dutch killed, enslaved, or left to starve the entire population of 15,000 people and replaced them with Dutch planters
The **British** East India company was less well financed and less commercially sophisticated. They fell back on India, and were no match for the powerful Mughal Empire. They secured trading bases with the permission of Mughal authorities or local rulers, with substantial payments and bribes as the prices of admission to the Indian market.