Whether you're working in the startup ecosystem, involved in venture capital, or simply exploring how new ventures are built, the learning curve can be steep. Fortunately, some well-chosen books can speed things up, offer fresh perspectives, and help you make better decisions along the way.
Here’s a selection of valuable reads that explore key areas of the startup journey:
How venture capital works and how to navigate it;
What it means to lead and scale a team in fast-growing environments;
How to make smarter decisions in high-risk, high-reward scenarios;
How to work better, not just harder, rethinking productivity and company culture;
How the tech ecosystem has evolved, through the lens of its most influential players;
Each book offers insights that are both practical and thought-provoking, useful whether you're building, investing, or simply learning how startups grow.
by Allison Baum Gates
What it’s about:
A powerful guide to understanding how the venture capital industry really works, from the inside out. Allison blends personal experience with strategic insights to make VC approachable, inclusive, and purpose-driven.
Who should read it:
Early-stage founders seeking insight into how investors think, aspiring VCs, or accelerator staff looking to deepen their industry fluency.
Why read it:
It strips away the mystery of venture capital and delivers real-world tools and mental models. The book goes beyond financial strategy: it emphasizes how to build meaningful, high-impact portfolios and careers.
Find it here.
by Kara Swisher
What it’s about:
A brutally honest, insider look into the rise of the U.S. tech startup ecosystem, told through the stories of its most controversial figures: Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and more. Kara Swisher’s style is direct, sharp, and rich in context.
Who should read it:
Startup founders interested in tech history and power dynamics, media professionals, and anyone navigating relationships within the tech world.
Why read it:
It teaches you how to ask better questions, challenge narratives, and observe power structures: skills essential for any founder engaging with investors, media, or big tech.
Find it here.
by Claire Hughes Johnson
What it’s about:
A comprehensive, operator-driven manual on how to lead, manage, and scale teams in fast-growing startups. It’s packed with templates, systems, and real-use scenarios from the author’s time at Stripe.
Who should read it:
Startup founders, COOs, and team leads looking to professionalize how they hire, onboard, and lead people.
Why read it:
It helps you build internal systems that grow with your company: from early-stage scrappiness to post-Series A structure. A must-read for anyone moving from founder to CEO.
Find it here.
by Ilya Strebulaev & Alex Dang
What it’s about:
An analysis of how top investors and visionary founders make high-risk, high-reward decisions in uncertain environments. It’s a playbook for understanding calculated risk in the venture world.
Who should read it:
Both entrepreneurs and investors who want to think more like venture capitalists. Especially useful for those navigating ambiguous or high-stakes choices.
Why read it:
It arms you with frameworks for thinking about innovation, timing, and portfolio strategy. Critical skills for scaling a successful startup.
Find it here.
by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
What it’s about:
A refreshing take on startup culture, productivity, and team building. This book debunks the hustle myth and offers a new vision of what it means to work smart and stay lean.
Who should read it:
Founders, indie hackers, and small team leaders looking to scale without burnout or unnecessary overhead.
Why read it:
Its actionable insights and counterintuitive wisdom will help you do more with less, and keep your sanity while building something meaningful.
Find it here.
by Simon Sinek
What it’s about:
An exploration of leadership rooted in trust, safety, and empathy. Sinek challenges traditional corporate hierarchies and makes a strong case for servant leadership, especially in high-pressure environments.
Who should read it:
Startup founders, team leads, or accelerator mentors working to build values-driven organizations.
Why read it:
Because culture scales from the top. This book will push you to rethink how you show up as a leader, especially when stakes are high.
Read it here.
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