Venture Capital Handbook: New and Revised by David Gladstone
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Book Reviews of Venture Capital Handbook: New and Revised
Book Review: Spell check your book please!
Summary: 1 Stars
After reading the first 50 pages of the "updated and revised" 2002 edition I have found numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes. In the book's opening paragraph the author apparently doesn't know the difference between than and then. Such carelessness is disturbing and distracting (especially in a book that is supposed to tell you how to write a business plan). It also makes you wonder about the authors' credibility. Book Review: Not worth the money.
Summary: 1 Stars
I returned this book for a refund. It contains no more information about the VC business or getting VC funding that can be found on the Internet. It lacks the details about valuations, company structure, business plans, financing and other processes that one needs to understand before starting a company and going for funding. The advice given is so obvious, that one might think the process is easy. Most VC companies provide advice and information on their web sites and this book provides no additional value to what is already present.Book Review: A Classic for Entrepreneurs, since 1988...
Summary: 4 Stars
Not long ago, venture capital was a cottage industry and little information was available for entrepreneurs to get prepared prior to raising capital from VC firms. Gladstone was among the first authors to demystify Venture Capital and explain the process step by step, in plain English.Although sometimes superficial, this book is a classic (which justifies the 4th star). Since 1988, it has been a good introduction to the venture capital process written for entrepreneurs. Over the years, many venture capital colleagues borrowed it from my bookshelves too.
Whether your are an entrepreneur in the US or in Europe, the process it describes is fundamentally what you are going to face.
Book Review: Super Book -- One of the best when you need to raise VC
Summary: 4 Stars
This one of the best VC books you can own. If you are serious about raising money, this book has to be in your library.The author is obviously the real thing, and not someone that decided to jump on the bandwagon of writing a book on a hot subject.
The advice is great, and to the point. I especially like the part on "brokers". I know too many people that have been burned by these "experts". The book flows nicely, and gets you to really start thinking about your business. Even if you don't follow the format for you final plan, his outline will make you examine parts of your business you might not otherwise have thought about.
If you are serious about approaching Venture Capitalist, I would recommend hitting the "add to cart" button. You won't be disapointed.
SirJohnathon
Book Review: Plain-English primer for Main Street audience
Summary: 3 Stars
Rather than Silicon Valley technopreneurs, this plain-English book is oriented toward Main Street small business operators. Within those confines, the author actually does a diligent job of demystifying the interaction with potential investors, explaining the fundamental process, and breaking down the deal documents into understandable components.Is this the right book for you? Judge for yourself, from the following excerpts:
- Number 2 on the list of Ten Things Not To Say to a venture capitalist: "Some friends and I ... purchased the franchise to a doughnut operation. I am putting $25,000 of my money into the deal through a second mortage on my house, and my wife and I are going to help operate the doughnut shop."
- Put the financial history in columnar format.
Readers who find such caliber of advice instructive, are taught to negotiate and structure collateralized loans with equity kickers, typically denominated in the hundreds of thousands.
If your needs lie on a different plane, obviously you should look elsewhere.