Confessions of a Venture Capitalist: Inside the High-Stakes World of Start-up Financing

Silicon Valley and its superstar companies are household names. Lesser known to the general public is the small world of a handful of venture capital firms, centered on Sandhill Road near Stanford University, that made Silicon Valley possible. Ruthann Quindlen began working at one of these firms in 1993, just prior to the Internet boom. Her new book, Confessions of a Venture Capitalist, is her story of "life in the bubble"—the localized world that drove the global high-tech revolution through hands-on financing of tiny start-ups. While the book has practical tips and advice from major players in the industry, its chief value comes out of what is an undeniably personal story. The stories she tells provide a unique perspective for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs on the key role of relationships in early-stage financing. It's a close-up look at how partnerships between financiers and founders enable employees, markets, and business models to either foster or destroy a budding venture.