Venture Capitalists at Work: How VCs Identify and Build Billion-Dollar Successes

"This is probably the single most valuable resource for the entrepreneurs aspiring to build successful companies"Ron Conway, Special Adviser, SV Angel, and investor in Facebook, Google, Twitter, Foursquare, PayPal, Zappos

"I highly recommend Venture Capitalists at Work. This book captures the personalities and approaches of a number of leading VC practitioners and displays the heart and soul of the venture capital process, by offering an exclusive window into the voice of the practitioners."Gus Tai, Trinity Ventures

"Venture Capitalists at Work is a foundational pillar in an entrepreneur's understanding and resources. This is a first in terms of the level of detail, quality of discussion, and value to the entrepreneur."George Zachary, Charles River Ventures and Investor in Twitter

Venture Capitalists at Work: How VCs Identify and Build Billion-Dollar Successes offers unparalleled insights into the funding and management of companies like YouTube, Zappos, Twitter, Starent, Facebook, and Groupon. The venture capitalists profiledamong the best in the businessalso reveal how they identify promising markets, products, and entrepreneurs.

Author Tarang Shah, a venture capitalprofessionalhimself, interviews rising VC stars, Internet and software investment pioneers, and venture investment thought leaders. Youll learn firsthand what criteria venture capitalists use to make investments, how they structure deals, the many ways they help the companies they fund, avoidable mistakes they see all too often, the role of luck in a success, and why so many startups fail.

Venture Capitalists at Work also contains interviews with those on the receiving end of venture moneyentrepreneurs in high-profile startups that went on to achieve great success. Whether youre an entrepreneur, an aspiring VC, an M&A professional, or an ambitious student, the knowledge you will gain from Venture Capitalists at Work could provide a significant shortcut to success.

• How venture capitalists identify promising markets, entrepreneurs, and companies
• What venture capitalistsare looking for in entrepreneurs and business plans
• How to build an A team and a culture of success
• Successful relationship dynamics between entrepreneur and investors
• When to slow down, ramp up, and scale companies
• Knowing when to sell a business, keep growing, or shut it down
• Why startups fail
• Common entrepreneurial mistakes you can avoid

This book is a must-read for entrepreneurs and venture capital/private equity investors. It's also for venture capitalists and entrepreneursin emerging markets who want to apply to homegrown ventures theSilicon Valley mode...