Want Your Slice of Venture Capital Pie? Read These 15 Books
Reading lists often focus on various topics, but one that specifically targets rapid-growth startup businesses is rare. Here, you will find a selection of books recommended by serial entrepreneur David S. Rose. If you plan to start and develop a scalable, high-growth business, get ready to fill your bookshelves.
Each description is accompanied by a few words from David himself. If you know of an indispensable resource not on the list, let us know in the comments below! Make sure to read to the end for a "bonus read"!
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
In this book, Michael Gerber dispels the myths and assumptions that obstruct the process of starting and running a business. The ultimate startup guide for systematic business growth and guidance on what not to do.
Recommended by David Rose: “It explicitly outlines the difference between ‘small business ownership’ and ‘entrepreneurship.’ After reading this, you’ll have a good feel for whether you have what it takes to create a high-growth business.”
The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
This book teaches you how to continuously test your vision, adapt your plans, and make incremental changes to ensure you meet your goals. It introduces a methodology that startups with high-growth goals worldwide are adopting.
Recommended by David Rose: “Its premise is simple and stark: Build-Measure-Learn, and then keep repeating. This is the planning methodology of choice for startups worldwide.”
Lean Business Planning: Get What You Want From Your Business
Tim Berry, the expert on business planning, provides step-by-step advice on aligning strategy, tactics, milestones, and assumptions without the need for extensive business plan documents. The focus is on the planning process rather than a one-time plan.
Recommended by David Rose: “While you weren’t looking, the old school business plan was superseded by something that is critically important, intended for you instead of other people, developed by you instead of other people, and constantly reviewed and updated.”
The Startup Owner’s Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company
This book offers detailed guidance on building a profitable and scalable startup. It includes 77 checklists that will direct you towards profitability and cover topics such as customer development, business models, customer retention, and driving profits.
Recommended by David Rose: “This guide takes the lean theories and shows you how to put them into practice.”
Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
This book, co-created by 470 Business Model Canvas practitioners, provides tried-and-tested business model patterns. It helps you understand and adapt these models to fit the needs of your own organization.
Recommended by David Rose: “This book is where it all started and uses a deceptively simple graphic visualization to help you figure out the whys and hows of your business proposition.”
Lean Customer Development: Building Products Your Customers Will Buy
Before developing a product, you must know your customers and address their pain points. This book teaches you how to validate your ideas through customer development research, saving time and money.
Recommended by David Rose: “A great book to help you rapidly get sales and traction during your Lean Development process.”
Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth
Building a high-growth startup is challenging, and building a product isn’t enough to guarantee success. This book teaches you how to build a customer base and choose the right customers for your business. Interviews with successful founders provide valuable insights.
Recommended by David Rose: “A great book to help you rapidly get sales and traction during your Lean Development process.”
The Customer-Funded Business: Start, Finance, or Grow Your Company with Your Customers’ Cash
This book showcases five models that can help you start, finance, or grow your company without the need for venture capitalists or angels. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on your customers.
Recommended by David Rose: “This should be mandatory reading for every startup convinced that the only path to success runs through angel or venture capital.”
The Definitive Guide to Raising Money from Angels
Funding a startup venture is difficult, and while there’s ample advice on getting venture capital, there’s less on attracting angel investors. This free ebook shares insights on getting angels to invest in your business.
Recommended by David Rose: “This is the basic primer on startup fundraising.”
Angel Investing: The Gust Guide to Making Money & Having Fun Investing in Startups
In this book, David Rose provides guidance on becoming a successful angel investor while having fun. It’s equally useful for entrepreneurs as it offers insights into how angel investors think.
Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist
Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson, with their extensive venture capital experience, share their knowledge on how venture capital deals work, how to read a term sheet, and how to negotiate a fair deal.
Recommended by David Rose: “If you’re in the rarified group that can indeed attract a venture capitalist before your first meeting, you should read ‘Venture Deals.’"
The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Startups from Their Founding Entrepreneurs
In this book, David Kidder interviews influential entrepreneurs to uncover their secrets to success. It covers topics such as finding funding, choosing the right ideas, and overcoming obstacles.
Lucky or Smart: 50 Pages for the First-Time Entrepreneur
Bo Peabody shares his own experiences and insights on success, highlighting the importance of recognizing and capitalizing on opportunities.
Recommended by David Rose: “Bo’s lessons are simple, wise, and an easy read.”
INSIGHTS: Reflections From 101 of Yale’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs
This book features reflections from highly successful entrepreneurs, offering valuable advice and lessons on starting and running a successful company.
Basic Berkonomics
This ultimate resource explains what it means to be an entrepreneur and how to become a power entrepreneur. It delves into the genetics and learned aspects of entrepreneurialism.
Bonus read:
“Slow Tuesday Night” by R.A. Lafferty, a short story published in 1965, predicts the exponential pace of technology. A fascinating read to gain insight into future developments.
These books cover a range of topics crucial for startups and entrepreneurs. So grab a book, enhance your knowledge, and set yourself up for success!
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