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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
Breaking into VentureWhat 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
Burn BookWhat 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
Scaling PeopleWhat 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
The Venture MindsetWhat 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
ReworkWhat 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
Leaders Eat LastWhat 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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