The VC Field Guide Fundamentals of Venture Capital

The Venture Capital Investment Framework

Venture capital is the economic engine that drives entrepreneurship and innovation through capital investments, board membership, advice, introductions to relevant employees, and customers. Despite the outsized importance of venture capital, the inner workings remain hidden. Venture is still a mentor-led industry and it is an industry where you have to do a lot of self-education—you have to learn by doing, and you have to get up to speed quickly.

Until now.

Author William Lin spent over a decade in venture capital, starting in an entry-level position, helping to start a leading VC firm from scratch, and eventually becoming Managing Partner. In The VC Field Guide: Fundamentals of Venture Capital, Lin shares his unique framework, the Venture Capital Investment Framework, to help any venture capitalist, entrepreneur, or investor make better investment decisions, quicker. He delivers an incisive and practical handbook for the world of venture capital. You’ll learn about the industry, how to break into it, and discover the art of investing in startups, and more, including:

• How VC deals are analyzed, vetted, and made
• Which questions experienced and successful venture capital investors ask startup founders when making investment decisions, and why those questions matter
• The venture capital mindset that dominates the thinking of the most prominent venture capital investors
• The best ways to begin a career in venture capital and tips on advancing your career
• Key differences between multi-stage and boutique firms and what it means for entrepreneurs
• The different factors VCs use to evaluate early-stage versus late-stage companies

If you want to be close to company creation and innovation as a venture capitalist, investor, or entrepreneur, this book is for you. If you want to be involved in situations that impact economic growth, innovation, and the founders, employees, vendors, and communities that support the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, this book is for you. The VC Field Guide is not only a primer on the inner workings of the venture capital industry, but a timely framework for how investment decisions are made. Anyone who wants to better understand how venture capital investments are made, and why will find this book helpful.

WILLIAM LIN has spent his career close to creation and creators, as an entrepreneur, founder, innovator, and investor. Over a decade as a venture capitalist, Will started as an entry level investor and eventually became Managing Director and member of the founding team at Forgepoint Capital, a $1 billion AUM venture capital firm with roots in cybersecurity. He co-founded and is Chairman of the Security Tinkerers, a nonprofit organization that gathers information for security professionals seeking opportunities in the security community. He is now pursuing the next stage of his career as a founder of a cybersecurity startup. Will graduated from UC Berkeley and lives in the Bay Area with his life partner, dog, and cats.

Section 1: Conflict

Chapter 1: Omelets and Arguments

Chapter 2: Trouble in Serenity

Chapter 3: The Outburst

Chapter 4: Online but Disconnected

Chapter 5: Red vs Blue

Chapter 6: Burnt Out

Chapter 7: GOLFMAST3R_DAD3288

Chapter 8: Retreat and Refocus

SECTION 2: Connection

Chapter 9: A Little Now Or A Lot Later

Chapter 10: Silly Beans

Chapter 11: Truly Troubled Tony

Chapter 12: Serious Digital Beef

Chapter 13: A Little Ad Hominem

Chapter 14: A Cooling Ember

Chapter 15: Trading Vinegar for Honey

SECTION 3: Collaboration

Chapter 16: One Problem Too Many

Chapter 17: Freedom Through Acceptance

Chapter 18: Breakthrough

Chapter 19: Face to Face

Chapter 20: Hemispheres

Chapter 21: Remembering Why

Chapter 22: Defused

Chapter 23: Harvest

GOING DEEPER: Monica’s Journal

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