{"product_id":"straight-talk-for-startups-100-insider-rules-for-beating-the-oddsfrom-mastering-the-fundamentals-to-selecting-investors-fundraising-managing-boards-and-achieving-liquidity-isbn-9780062869067","title":"Straight Talk for Startups: 100 Insider Rules for Beating the Odds--From Mastering the Fundamentals to Selecting Investors, Fundraising, Managing Boards, and Achieving Liquidity","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e memorializes age-old best practices and empowers both experienced and new investment professionals to beat the odds.\"—David Krane, CEO, Google Ventures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e 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 \u0026amp; Founder of Nest Labs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVeteran venture capitalist Randy Komisar and finance executive Jantoon Reigersman share no-nonsense, counterintuitive guidelines to help anyone build a successful startup.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOver 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut, 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 \u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVital rules you’ll find in \u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e include:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe best ideas originate from founders who are users\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreate two business plans: an execution plan and an aspirational plan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNet income is an option, but cash flow is a fact\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDon’t accept money from strangers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersonal wealth doesn’t equal good investing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall boards are better than big ones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd independent board members for expertise and objectivity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eToo many unanimous board decisions are a sign of trouble\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose an acquirer, don’t wait to be chosen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearn the rules by heart so you know when to break them\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eFilled with helpful real-life examples and specific, actionable advice, \u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003eBest practices for successful startups—from veteran venture capitalist Randy Komisar and startup executive Jantoon Reigersman\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn today’s world, everyone seems to aspire to be an entrepreneur. Brilliant, multimillion-dollar ideas are a dime a dozen, and huge success appears inevitable. But when it comes to transforming that idea into a lucrative business, most people fall short. The excitement of starting a company quickly fades when budding entrepreneurs face a stark reality—they lack the know-how and experience to get the job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRandy Komisar and Jantoon Reigersman are the knowledgeable mentors every entrepreneur needs. With decades of experience, they know firsthand what works—and what doesn’t. In \u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e, they share the knowledge, tips, and tricks they’ve gleaned from years of being on both sides of the table.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTheir list of 100 rules will give insight into every part of the process, tackling topics from “Mastering the Fundamentals” and “Selecting the Right Investors” to “The Ideal Fundraise,” “Building and Managing Effective Boards,” and “Achieving Liquidity.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e includes such vital rules for founders as:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe best ideas originate from founders who are users.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreate two business plans: an execution plan and an aspirational plan.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNet income is an opinion, but cash flow is a fact.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDon’t accept money from strangers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaise capital in stages as you remove risk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersonal wealth doesn’t equal good investing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall boards are better than big ones.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd independent board members for expertise and objectivity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConflicts of interest and conflicting interests are elephants in the room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose an acquirer; don’t wait to be chosen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuccess is not linear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearn the rules by heart so you know when to break them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eFilled with helpful real-life examples and specific, actionable advice, \u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e is the ideal handbook for anyone running, working for, or thinking about creating a startup, raising venture capital, or just curious about what makes high-potential ventures tick.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“Straight Talk’s venerable best practices provides global startups outside the US with the advantages of a Silicon Valley insider.”     - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJennifer Li, CEO of Baidu Capital\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Straight Talk for Startups memorializes age-old best practices and empowers both experienced and new investment professionals to beat the odds.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDavid Krane, CEO, Google Ventures\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“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!” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTony Fadell, Coinventor of the iPod\/iPhone \u0026amp; Founder of Nest Labs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Not only one of the most useful and fun books ever written for founders, but these 100 rules will help any manager become wiser and more effective—and anyone with a passing interest in the human side of business will find this book a delight to read.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRobert Sutton, Stanford Professor, author of Good Boss, Bad Boss\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It’s never easy to launch a new venture, but 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.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eElaine Paul, Chief Financial Officer, Hulu\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Straight Talk generously shares the collective wisdom of decades of startup leadership and investing.”   - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMihir Desai, Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance at Harvard Business School\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Aspiring entrepreneurs are hungry to combine knowledge with experience, mentorship, and character.  \u003cem\u003eStraight Talk for Startups\u003c\/em\u003e provides a PhD in entrepreneurship.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eProfessor Tom Byers, Endowed Chair Entrepreneurship Education, Stanford University\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Business","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888511021285,"sku":"NP9780062869067","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062869067.jpg?v=1730229242","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/straight-talk-for-startups-100-insider-rules-for-beating-the-oddsfrom-mastering-the-fundamentals-to-selecting-investors-fundraising-managing-boards-and-achieving-liquidity-isbn-9780062869067","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}