Straight Talk for Startups memorializes age-old best practices and empowers both experienced and new investment professionals to beat the odds.--David Krane, CEO, Google Ventures
Straight Talk for Startups is filled with real, raw, and fact-based 'rules of the road' that you need to know when diving into our ultra-competitive startup world. A must read and a re-read!--Tony Fadell, Coinventor of the iPod/iPhone & Founder of Nest Labs
Veteran venture capitalist Randy Komisar and finance executive Jantoon Reigersman share no-nonsense, counterintuitive guidelines to help anyone build a successful startup.
Over the course of their careers, Randy Komisar and Jantoon Reigersman continue to see startups crash and burn because they forget the timeless lessons of entrepreneurship.
But, as Komisar and Reigersman show, you can beat the odds if you quickly learn what insiders know about what it takes to build a healthy foundation for a thriving venture. In Straight Talk for Startups they walk budding entrepreneurs through 100 essential rules--from pitching your idea to selecting investors to managing your board to deciding how and when to achieve liquidity. Culled from their own decades of experience, as well as the experiences of their many successful colleagues and friends, the rules are organized under broad topics, from Mastering the Fundamentals and Selecting the Right Investors, to The Ideal Fundraise, Building and Managing Effective Boards, and Achieving Liquidity.
Vital rules you'll find in Straight Talk for Startups include:
The best ideas originate from founders who are usersCreate two business plans: an execution plan and an aspirational planNet income is an option, but cash flow is a factDon't accept money from strangersPersonal wealth doesn't equal good investingSmall boards are better than big onesAdd independent board members for expertise and objectivityToo many unanimous board decisions are a sign of troubleChoose an acquirer, don't wait to be chosenLearn the rules by heart so you know when to break themFilled with helpful real-life examples and specific, actionable advice, Straight Talk for Startups is the ideal handbook for anyone running, working for, or thinking about creating a startup, or just curious about what makes high-potential ventures tick.
About the Author :
Randy Komisar is a venture capitalist with decades of startup experience. He is the author of the bestselling book The Monk and the Riddle and the coauthor of Getting to Plan B and I F**king Love That Company. He taught entrepreneurship at Stanford University and is a frequent lecturer at universities and a keynote speaker. Before joining Kleiner Perkins in 2005, he created the role of Virtual CEO, partnering with founders to build successful businesses. He has held numerous executive positions, including cofounder of Claris Corp; CEO for LucasArts Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics; CFO of GO Corp.; and Senior Counsel for Apple, following a private practice in technology law. He was also a founding director of TiVo and Nest. He serves on numerous boards and advises such organizations as Roadtrip Nation and the Orrick Women's Leadership Board.
Jantoon Reigersman is a seasoned financial operator with extensive experience in startups and growth companies. He serves as chief financial officer of publicly traded Leaf Group (NYSE: LFGR), a diversified consumer Internet company. Earlier in his career, he served as CFO of Ogin Inc., an investor and member of Goldman Sachs' European Special Situations Group, and an investment banker at Morgan Stanley in their mergers and acquisitions team. He is a fellow of the inaugural class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Review :
Aspiring entrepreneurs are hungry to combine knowledge with experience, mentorship, and character. Straight Talk for Startups provides a PhD in entrepreneurship.
-- "Tom Byers, Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship Education, Stanford University"
Belongs in a category by itself...The best thing I've read all year.
-- "San Francisco Examiner on The Monk and the Riddle by Randy Komisar"
Filled with real, raw, and fact-based 'rules of the road' that you need to know when diving into our ultra-competitive startup world. A must-read and a reread!
-- "Tony Fadell, co-inventor of the iPod and iPhone, and founder of Nest Labs"
Memorializes age-old best practices and empowers both experienced and new investment professionals to beat the odds.
-- "David Krane, CEO, Google Ventures"
This book accelerates your learning with advice from experts who've been there and done that. Read it cover to cover to save yourself from making rookie mistakes that upend all too many big ideas.
-- "Elaine Paul, CFO, Hulu"
