The Way of the VC is the best book I have read on venturecapital with thoughtful advice for the entrepreneur. Yinglancaptures the wisdom of the ages, with the vision of an oracle hecaptures how a venture capitalist thinks, and how the best onesact.
--Timothy C. Draper, Founder & Managing Director, DraperFisher Jurvetson
With the emergence of venture capital investment as aprofessional practice, understanding the way in which this industryworks is critically important for practitioners and would-bepractitioners, whether they are (or aspire to be) working forentrepreneurial ventures, venture firms, or large institutionalcapital pools. I applaud Yinglan Tan, who has distilled manyinteresting „war stories“ and experiences of venture capitalistsinto a useful and effective framework in The Way of theVC.
--Professor Josh Lerner, Jacob H. Schiff Professor ofInvestment Banking, Harvard Business School
Yinglan gives valuable accounts coupled with insightfulobservations about the past, present and future of an industry thatis still in its infancy--but growing up fast. The book will alsohelp entrepreneurs who need venture capital financing by showingthem how VCs add value to their companies. This book belongs in thelibrary of anyone who has ever taken a serious interest in venturecapital.
--Neil Shen, Founding and Managing Partner, SequoiaCapital China
Venture capitalists rely heavily on personal judgment andexperience. This extensive collection of shared wisdom andviewpoints is therefore a valuable addition to the growing numberof VC textbooks and war stories. Yinglan has skillfully capturedthe Tao of VC practitioners and entrepreneurs in a lively andenlightening book.
--Lin Hong Wong, Author of Venture Capital FundManagement
Top-flight entrepreneurs are blessed with terrific ideas andboundless energy. But lacking capital, they must join together withVCs. The prescription is easy, the implementation tough. Entrepreneurs and VCs differ in orientation, background andinterests. In this lively and insightful volume, Yinglan Tan tellshow entrepreneurs can handle the relationship effectively, fromearly-stage conception through to a thriving company.
--Richard Zeckhauser, Frank P. Ramsey Professor of PoliticalEconomy, Harvard University
* How did Lip Bu Tan, when he was Chairman of Walden, manage toinvest in Creative Technology, despite the CEO's aversion forVCs?
* How did Nam Ho, Founder and Managing Partner of Altos Venture, turn an introduction by a Stanford Business School professor into aventure capital firm managing a quarter billion dollars ofcapital?
* How does Bing Gordon, Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and author of the business plan that resulted in KPCB'sinvestment in Electronic Arts, time exits properly?
* Why did Soo Boon Koh, Managing Director of IGlobe Ventures, back a GPS company which was filing for Chapter 11, in the post9-11 market?
The Way of the VC: Having Top Venture Capitalists on YourBoard is essential reading for venture capital practitioners, including partners, principals, analysts, consultants and limitedpartners--both institutional and private. It is also useful tostudents of finance who want a better understanding of what goes onin the venture capital world.
