Building Wealth Through Venture Capital: A Practical Guide for Investors and the Entrepreneurs They Fund

ISBN-13: 9781119409359 / Angielski / Twarda / 2017 / 224 str.

Batterson, Leonard A.

Opis

Building Wealth through Venture Capital provides practical how-to guidance for investors as well as for entrepreneurs seeking venture capital to build the venture of their dreams written by career venture capitalist Leonard Batterson and his Harvard Business School classmate Kenneth Freeman. The book combines Batterson's extensive venture capital experience with Freeman's perspective as a successful corporate executive, entrepreneur, and individual investor who in recent years has become a strong advocate of the wealth-building opportunities offered by venture capital. After explaining why venture capital will remain the asset class best positioned to capitalize on technological innovation over the coming decades, the authors demystify this arcane but historically lucrative asset class. They draw upon Batterson's experience as a highly successful venture capitalist for over 30 years, along with the experience and wisdom of other nationally recognized venture capital colleagues. The authors create an easy flowing narrative enhanced by anecdotal illustrations, case studies and personal interviews. The introduction explains why venture capital, as the key asset class supporting ground-breaking innovation, is expected to continue to deliver rich returns over the coming decades. The four sections then focus on:

• The nature of the key players: venture capitalists, so investors and entrepreneurs understand whom they are dealing with; and entrepreneurs, to help investors better understand in whom they are investing and help aspiring entrepreneurs to better assess whether they are likely to have what it takes to win big;
• What investors need to know and how they can go about investing smartly in venture capital;
• How-to guidance for entrepreneurs in attracting and securing venture capital and then working with the venture capitalist toward a lucrative conclusion; and
• Where the venture capital market is expected to evolve in the company years, as information technology and other technological infrastructure facilitate an increasing flow of start-ups, supported by the increased numbers of investors participating in venture capital thanks to the door-opening features of the JOBS Act.

Spis treści

Preface vii

Introduction xi

Part I Understanding the Major Players 1

Chapter 1 The Venture Capitalist: Funder of Dreams 3

Chapter 2 The Entrepreneur: His Mind and His "Cultivation" 7

Part II For the Investor: A Guide to Realizing Big Returns 23

Chapter 3 Why Should You Invest in Venture Capital? 25

Chapter 4 How to Find the Right Venture Capital Firm 35

Chapter 5 Venture Capital Investment versus "Buffett’s Real Rules" of Investment 51

Chapter 6 Avoid the Seduction of Unicorns: Get in Early 63

Chapter 7 Finding the Highest Quality Investments at the Right Price 73

Part III For the Entrepreneur: A Guide to the Money Search and All That Follows 87

Chapter 8 The Mating Dance: Prospecting for a Venture Capital Investor 89

Chapter 9 The Final Exam: Due Diligence 101

Chapter 10 Finding Your Deal–Doing Lawyer 115

Chapter 11 Financing Has Arrived and "You’re Married" . . . Now What? 123

Chapter 12 The Last Dance: A Successful Exit 133

Chapter 13 Interview with a Successful Entrepreneur 149

Part IV Looking Ahead: What’s to Come 169

Chapter 14 The Foreseeable Future 171

Acknowledgments 187

About the Authors 189

Index 191

O autorze

LEONARD A. BATTERSON is Founder, Chairman, and CEO of VCapital, an online venture capital portal bringing institutional quality investment management to individuals. A pioneer in venture capital investment for individuals, his previous funds have generated gross returns averaging 28%/year.

KENNETH M. FREEMAN, an adviser to VCapital, brings the practical perspective of a traditional corporate executive and individual investor.

Blurb

PRAISE FOR BUILDING WEALTH THROUGH VENTURE CAPITAL

"Len Batterson was a founding investor in AOL, and helped make the Internet part of everyday life. Building Wealth Through Venture Capital is essential reading for budding entrepreneurs seeking venture capital, and for investors who want to lead in the Internet′s Third Wave."
—Steve Case, Co–Founder, AOL, Chairman and CEO, Revolution

"Len Batterson is a battle–tested and victorious participant and strategist in venture capital. I have worked with him for many years and in many deals. In Building Wealth Through Venture Capital, Batterson and Freeman cover the field of venture capital for entrepreneurs seeking to raise capital and investors looking to deploy it. If this is you, read this book."
—Casey Cowell, Co–Founder and former Chairman and CEO, U. S. Robotics

"Len Batterson is one of a very select group who has the experience to really understand venture capital. That makes this book a must–read–and a surprisingly easy–to–understand one too–for anyone thinking about investing in venture capital or looking to VCs for funding support. Because he has been a part of many major shifts in the venture capital industry and the ups and downs of generations of venture–backed companies, Len has the perspective needed to bring distinct insights to his analysis of the capital engine that drives an ever–growing portion of innovation and wealth creation."
—Chris Gladwin, Founder and former CEO, Cleversafe

"Straightforward, practical, and informative. I wish I had read this book before I made my VC investments!"
—James M. Kilts, Former Chairman and CEO, The Gillette Company