Deciding to invest in a startup is worth taking the time to think about to try to anticipate all the issues that you will probably face. However, never having been in this type of situation before, you put yourself at risk of making decisions that you will later regret. To avoid any pitfalls, we invite you to discover 5 books to benefit from the experience of seasoned investors and save time in your reflection.

“Zero to One” by Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel, co-founder of Paypal, shares his perspective on building a business. Through his book, Peter Thiel presents his singular vision, absolute and totally opposed to the doxa that prevails in the high-tech and digital world.

 

It is true that his talk about starting a startup resonates with readers, although some theories should not be taken literally. For the author, in the entrepreneurial world, each success is unique.

 

As long as companies foster creativity and inventiveness and make intensive, vertical progress, they can hope to be sustainable. According to Peter Thiel, good practices applied today will bankrupt companies tomorrow.

 

Only startups, which explore new avenues that generate value, are now in a position to impose themselves at the expense of traditional businesses.

“The Lean Startup”, by Eric Ries

The “Lean Startup” approach addressed by Eric Ries offers a constant adaptation of the startup to its offer and to the development of the market in which it operates. In his book, the author presents in detail the methodology to be followed in order to set up continuous innovation within a company.

 

According to Eric Ries, it is essential to apply the major principles of lean management to the development of new products. This revolutionary approach is illustrated by examples of companies (Dropbox, Groupon, etc.) that have chosen to encourage creativity and offer innovative solutions in response to the needs of their customers, hence an evolution of their business. initial model.

“The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz

Silicon Valley star and director of his own investment fund, Ben Horowitz presents different elements that aim to improve the management of a startup.

 

4 key ideas emerge from his book. The first emphasizes the importance of “learning by doing yourself”. No one is better placed to make a decision than you.

 

The second rule to apply concerns the obligation of transparency. “Is the startup having difficulties? “. It is essential in this situation to adopt a transparent attitude. This practice allows, if necessary, to apply major changes within the company.

 

The hierarchy to be respected: first, the personnel, then the products and then the profits. Ben Horowitz’s reasoning is this: To increase your chances of creating the “ideal product” that generates future profits, it is essential to surround yourself with the best employees.

 

The last suggestion? Focus on the job and only the job and not waste time trying to solve what is wrong with the company. This is the price for success!

“The Launch Pad Inside Y Combinator, Silicon Valley’s Most Exclusive School for Startups” by Randall Stross

The author of this book, Randall Stross, takes you behind the scenes of Silicon Valley and how this microcosm works. What matters? Skills far exceed experience.

 

Y Combinator is an entity that few people have access to and located in the heart of Silicon Valley. This place can be compared to a real “startup factory”. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the reality of modern entrepreneurship.

“Venture Deals” by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson

This book, written by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson, is very sharp. It is particularly aimed at investors or entrepreneurs operating in the startup ecosystem and who wish to call on VCs (Venture Capital) to raise funds.

 

This book has the merit of revealing the financing methods adopted by the most highly rated companies.

 

Finding behind the scenes of a few companies, some readers may be surprised. Hence the importance of reading these 5 informative books.

About The Author

CEO AfrikaTech

Comme beaucoup de personnes j’ai connu l’Afrique à travers des stéréotypes : l’Afrique est pauvre, il y a la guerre, famine… Je suis devenu entrepreneur pour briser ces clichés et participer à la construction du continent. J’ai lancé plusieurs entreprises dont Kareea (Formation et développement web), Tutorys (Plate-forme de e-learning), AfrikanFunding (Plate-forme de crowdfunding). Après un échec sur ma startup Tutorys, à cause d’une mauvaise exécution Business, un manque de réseau, pas de mentor, je suis parti 6 mois en immersion dans l’écosystème Tech au Sénégal. J’ai rencontré de nombreux entrepreneurs passionnés, talentueux et déterminés. A mon retour sur Paris je décide de raconter leur histoire en créant le média AfrikaTech. L'objectif est de soutenir les entrepreneurs qui se battent quotidiennement en Afrique en leur offrant la visibilité, les connaissances, le réseautage et les capitaux nécessaires pour réussir. L'Afrique de demain se construit aujourd'hui ensemble. Rejoignez-nous ! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boubacardiallo

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