spiring venture capitalists often wonder about the best resources to learn about the industry. While venture capital is primarily a hands-on business, there are numerous materials that can provide valuable insights into the workings of this dynamic industry. In this article, we have curated a list of books, podcasts, videos, and other resources that are relevant for aspiring venture capitalists in 2023. These resources will help you gain knowledge, understand the latest trends, and navigate the world of venture capital with confidence.
"Done Deals: Venture Capitalists Tell Their Stories" by Udayan Gupta (book)
This timeless book provides a unique glimpse into the minds of successful venture capitalists. With essays written by prominent VCs spanning multiple generations, it offers invaluable perspectives on how they evaluate entrepreneurs, products, and markets. The book remains a treasure and continues to be highly relevant, even after almost two decades since its publication.
"Break Into VC: How to Break Into Venture Capital and Think Like an Investor Whether You're a Student, Entrepreneur, or Working Professional" by Bradley Miles (book)
Bradley Miles' book is a valuable primer that demystifies the venture capital industry. It covers various stages of venture investing, company performance metrics, accounting fundamentals, and case studies on young VCs. This book provides approachable advice on entering and succeeding in the venture capital industry, making it an essential addition to any aspiring VC's library.
"EBoys: The First Inside Account of Venture Capitalists at Work" by Randall Stross (book)
This insider account follows Benchmark Capital during the internet wave, showcasing their investments in industry-shaping companies like eBay, Juniper, and Priceline. By delving into the decision-making processes of the firm and providing an inside view of venture capital, this book offers valuable insights for both new and experienced venture capitalists.
"The Monk and The Riddle" by Randy Komisar (book)
Randy Komisar's book combines personal narrative with fictional interactions to highlight the critical aspects of entrepreneurship. It emphasizes the importance of passion and purpose in building meaningful partnerships with entrepreneurs. Reading this book will help venture capitalists understand the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and foster successful collaborations.
"Founders at Work" by Jessica Livingston (book)
In this compilation of interviews, Jessica Livingston, Co-Founder of Y Combinator, provides candid accounts of startup founders' early days. The book offers inspiring stories from industry giants like Steve Wozniak, Evan Williams, and Max Levchin, allowing readers to experience the uncertainties and triumphs of building successful startups.
"Venture Capitalists at Work: How VCs Identify and Build Billion-Dollar Successes" by Tarang Shah and Shital Shah (book)
This collection of interviews with prominent VCs from both current and past generations offers valuable insights into their investment strategies. Understanding the rationale behind successful deals, such as YouTube's opportunity in the broadband market, provides instructive lessons for new venture capitalists.
AVC (Fred Wilson) Blog
Fred Wilson's blog is a popular resource for venture capital enthusiasts. Known for his ability to explain complex topics in a straightforward manner, Wilson offers insights into key concepts, trends, and phenomena in the venture capital industry. Reading his blogposts, including his prescient explanations for investments, is highly recommended for aspiring VCs.
"Venture Deals: Be Smarter than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist" by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson (book)
Written by experienced venture capitalists, this comprehensive guide breaks down the key aspects of venture capital investments. It provides valuable insights into deal structuring and negotiation, empowering entrepreneurs to make informed decisions. "Venture Deals" is an excellent companion to understand the intricacies of term sheets and valuations.
“Creative Capital: George Doriot and the Birth of Venture Capital” by Spencer Ante (book)
George Doriot is considered the father of the venture capital business. Nicknamed the “General”, Doriot founded American Research and Development Corporation, the first venture capital firm, in addition to founding INSEAD. This book traces Doriot’s life and career, and provides insights into how the venture capital industry was created. It’s an excellent primer for students who seek to understand the beginnings of this once cottage industry, and how it evolved to what it is today.
Don Valentine, Sequoia Capital: Target Big Markets” (video)
Delve into the perpetual VC debate over the fundamental elements of early-stage companies - team, product, or market - with insights from the esteemed Don Valentine, founder of Sequoia Capital. In this captivating video lecture presented at Stanford GSB, Valentine shares the secrets behind Sequoia's most iconic investments and reveals how the firm strategically leveraged the pursuit of substantial markets to identify and seize lucrative opportunities. The infusion of Valentine's dry humor throughout the talk adds an extra layer of intrigue, making it a must-watch for aspiring venture capitalists looking to glean wisdom from his illustrious and extensive career.
“Mastering the VC Game” by Jeffrey Bussgang (book)
Drawing from a wealth of personal experience, Jeff Bussgang, co-founder of Flybridge - an early-stage venture firm managing an impressive $600 million - brings forth invaluable insights in his book, "Mastering the VC Game." As a distinguished lecturer in entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School and a former co-founder of Upromise, a loyalty marketing company acquired by Sallie Mae, Bussgang expertly guides entrepreneurs on their startup journey.
By intertwining real-life profiles of accomplished entrepreneurs and delving into their triumphs and tribulations, Bussgang presents a relatable narrative that sheds light on the hurdles they faced. Moreover, the book offers enlightening interviews with successful VCs, providing a comprehensive understanding of their mindset. For aspiring venture capitalists seeking a holistic perspective from both the entrepreneur and VC standpoint, "Mastering the VC Game" is an essential read.
“Something Ventured” (Documentary film)
This is a documentary film that focuses on the growth of the venture capital industry in Silicon Valley, and the early pioneering VCs who funded companies such as Apple, Cisco, Atari and Genentech.
The Consumer VC (Podcast)
Hosted by Mike Gelb, this podcast serves as a valuable resource for understanding consumer trends and gaining insights into the fundraising process at its nascent stage. Gelb engages in captivating interviews with renowned global venture capitalists who possess extensive experience in investing in a diverse range of industries, including SaaS, social, and non-tech subscription businesses.
Moreover, "The Consumer VC" offers enlightening conversations with founders who have successfully created or are currently developing disruptive consumer-facing companies. By focusing on the origins of these entrepreneurial journeys, Gelb delves into the inception of groundbreaking ideas, the strategic approaches to fundraising, and the art of the pitch itself. Whether you seek to comprehend the intricacies of consumer investing or draw inspiration from innovative founders, this podcast is a must-listen.
The Twenty Minute VC (Podcast)
Host Harry Stebbings brings you face-to-face with influential investors shaping the VC landscape. With each episode, you'll gain invaluable insights into what investors seek in startups, equipping you with actionable strategies to enhance your chances of securing funding.
As an added bonus, select episodes feature invaluable content on breaking into the venture capital industry, providing you with the necessary guidance to pursue a career in this exciting field. Moreover, esteemed VC guests share their expert commentary and offer advice on the ever-evolving technology market, delving into the latest investing trends and sharing their astute predictions. Prepare to be inspired as you hear from distinguished guests, including the visionary founders of 23andMe, Snowflake, and Instacart, among others.
The GoingVC Podcast
Shameless plug! The GoingVC Podcast uncovers new paths into VC, diving deeper into alternative models, and addressing areas of weakness.It offers insights and strategies that are directly applicable to aspiring and seasoned investors alike. The podcast equips its audience with the knowledge and tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of venture capital!
For aspiring venture capitalists, there is a wealth of resources available to gain knowledge and navigate the dynamic world of venture capital. The curated list of books, podcasts, videos, and other materials presented in this article offers a comprehensive range of insights. From the timeless wisdom of "Done Deals" and the practical advice in "Break Into VC," to the insider accounts in "EBoys" and the entrepreneurial perspective of "The Monk and The Riddle," these resources cover various aspects of venture capital. Armed with these resources, aspiring venture capitalists can enhance their understanding and confidently pursue a career in venture capital.
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