15 Best Venture Capital Books for Startup Founders

Learning from experts who have experience in the venture capital industry is essential for any startup founder. The authors of these entrepreneur books have already gone through the process of obtaining venture capital. They share practical advice you can use to secure funding for your business.

Also Recommended: Check out our lists of the best startup books and top venture capital firms.

The problem for most businesses when they get venture capital is they become under the control of all those who invested. In "Mastering the VC Game,” Bussgang shows you how to avoid this common pitfall through his own experience as a venture capitalist and an entrepreneur who needed funding.

He also provides advice on how to negotiate with investors and get the best possible terms for your business. You'll also get interviews from some of the most successful entrepreneurs and VCs to learn deeper insights into the venture capital world.

“The Business of Venture Capital” is a masterclass on everything related to venture capital. In this book, Mahendra Ramsinghani walks you through the process of raising a fund, making investments, portfolio management, and exits.

You'll learn how to structure deals with investors that are beneficial for both parties. And if you're looking to raise money for your startup, this book will show you how to pitch to investors and get them to believe in your business, making it a must-read.

Sand Hill Road is located in Silicon Valley and is the epicenter for venture capital. Some of the biggest names like Andreessen Horowitz are located there, and that's where Scott Kupor became managing partner.

In "Secrets of Sand Hill Road,” you'll get insider access to the world of venture capitalists, how they think, and what factors lead to bigger funds. Kupor provides a look into the shadows of how VCs operate and teaches readers how to develop the right relations.

To get in-depth looks into the minds of venture capitalists, Sebastian Mallaby interviewed the most celebrated ones and brings you unprecedented access to their thought processes. In "The Power Law,” he delves into how they think about risk and reward when it comes to investments.

Readers can get an understanding of what goes on in a VC's head when they're making decisions and how those decisions can impact your business. Insights into minorities in the VC game have never had a light shined so brightly on them.

Too often is the case that entrepreneurs get blinded by the money VCs offer, and they forget how much of a role they play in the scenario. In "Venture Deals,” Feld and Mendelson aim to give power back to the startup founder and teach them how to negotiate the best deal possible.

You'll learn about the different types of financing, how to value your company, and what kind of equity you should give up. This book is full of actionable advice and real-world examples that you can use when dealing with VCs.

Looking for more book recommendations? We asked startup founders to share their favorite books on entrepreneurship, and here's what they said.

The technical aspects of negotiating a venture capital deal can be lengthy and confusing. In "Venture Capital Deal Terms,” the authors attempt to provide all the terminology and technical aspects necessary for entrepreneurs to feel secure in securing funds.

Any startup founder looking to become more informed about the process can learn exactly what it means to get a deal with a venture capitalist.

Fundraising doesn't just have to be about the technicalities of getting money for your business, it can be an art too. In "The Art of Startup Fundraising,” Cremades goes into the subtleties and psychology of how to raise money for your startup.

You'll learn how to tell your story in a way that captivates investors and gets them on board with your vision. And once you have their attention, Cremades will teach you how to negotiate the deal so that you get the best terms possible.

In order to truly understand how venture capital works you'll need to understand the history behind how it all started. In "Creative Capital,” Ante details the story of Georges Doriot who essentially started the venture capital industry.

Get insights into the mindset of one of the most important figures in VC history and learn about how the industry has changed since its humble beginnings.

It's not easy to get one-on-one advice from one of the major players in the venture capital industry, but that's exactly what you get in "The Hard Thing About Hard Things.”

Horowitz is the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, and in this book, he gives insights into some of the hardest decisions he's had to make as a CEO. Horowitz is a long-time rap fan so readers will get a contemporary take on lessons in VC funding.

Berkery is a well-known venture capitalist himself, and in "Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur,” he gives case studies, charts, and exercises to learn exactly how to raise money for your business.

This book is perfect for entrepreneurs who want a more hands-on approach to learning about venture capital. After reading, you'll feel you have all the tools needed to start securing funding.

Instead of getting an inside look into the mind of one venture capitalist, "eBoys” takes you into the minds of the entire firm of Benchmark. The successful venture capital firm has been behind some of the most well-known startups like eBay, Twitter, and Snapchat.

eBoys gives an intimate look into how these VCs operate and what goes on behind closed doors. You'll get an understanding of how top firms in the industry function so that you can learn how to position your business correctly.

At the end of the day, you could prepare your finances and be connected with the top VCs in the game, but if you can't sell your business, you're not going to get very far. In "Pitch Anything,” Klaff provides a step-by-step process on how to craft a winning pitch and close the deal.

You'll learn how to keep your cool under pressure and deliver a presentation that will have investors eating out of the palm of your hand.

Legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel gives inspiration to any entrepreneur in any industry in "Zero to One.” Rather than being satisfied with the technological revolution seen in the last two decades, he theorizes what comes next.

Thiel challenges entrepreneurs to find their niche and create value that doesn't exist yet. It's an ambitious book that will inspire you to take your business to the next level to become more attractive to VCs around the world.

Another book that takes great lengths to show entrepreneurs exactly what goes on in venture capital firms and how they can better secure funding.

In "The Entrepreneurial Bible to Venture Capital,” Andrew Romans gives entrepreneurs an action plan with case studies and practical advice on how to secure funding for their business. The book details the legalities of raising capital and how to know when it's time to change strategies.

Perhaps the best place to start for entrepreneurs looking to learn more about venture capital, this "For Dummies” version gives a broad overview of the topic.

This book is perfect for entrepreneurs who want to understand the basics before moving on to more complicated books about VC. You'll learn about different types of funding, how to find investors, and what you can do to make your business more attractive to venture capitalists.