Operating Segments - Active Partner Companies by Segment (Detail)	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015
Aventura [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage	19.90%
CloudMine [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage		30.10%
Full Measure [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage	25.40%
Healthcare [Member] | AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			40.10%
Healthcare [Member] | Aventura [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			19.90%
Healthcare [Member] | Dabo [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under cost method, percentage			15.30%
Healthcare [Member] | Good Start Genetics, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			29.80%
Healthcare [Member] | InfoBionic [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			27.80%
Healthcare [Member] | Medivo, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			34.50%
Healthcare [Member] | Novasom, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			31.70%
Healthcare [Member] | Propeller [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			24.60%
Healthcare [Member] | Putney, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			28.30%
Healthcare [Member] | Quantia [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			42.30%
Healthcare [Member] | Syapse, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			27.00%
Healthcare [Member] | Trice [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			27.70%
Technology [Member] | AppFirst, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			34.30%
Technology [Member] | Apprenda [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			21.40%
Technology [Member] | Beyond.com, Inc [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			38.20%
Technology [Member] | Bridgevine, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under cost method, percentage			17.20%
Technology [Member] | CloudMine [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			30.10%
Technology [Member] | Clutch Holdings, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			29.60%
Technology [Member] | DriveFactor Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			40.60%
Technology [Member] | Full Measure [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			25.40%
Technology [Member] | Hoopla Software, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			25.60%
Technology [Member] | Lumesis, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			45.30%
Technology [Member] | MediaMath, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			20.70%
Technology [Member] | Pneuron, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			27.60%
Technology [Member] | Spongecell, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			23.00%
Technology [Member] | Transactis [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			24.80%
Technology [Member] | WebLinc [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest under equity method, percentage			29.20%