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Zero Gravity

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Zero Gravity

Riding Venture Capital from High-Tech Start-Up to Breakout IPO

Bloomberg Press,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

You can get venture capital money if you can do the venture capital tango: no gravity, unlimited growth, realistic risks, and plenty of passion — now reach for the big market and dance.

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

This book is a must-read for those who have an idea that they would like to develop into a business, but who have no idea where to start. Steve Harmon writes with the same passion he says entrepreneurs must show when they seek funding from venture capital firms. Harmon senses when his information might be overwhelming and regularly offers encouraging words to budding entrepreneurs. He has enlisted the support of several high-profile individuals who have "breakout IPO" experience. Throughout the book, readers share snippets of Q & A conversations with industry leaders such as Jerry Yang of Yahoo! and Marc Andreessen, the co-founder of Netscape. One chapter features interviews with venture capitalists from the largest firms. If your idea serves a big market, and could grab a large market share, then getAbstract recommends this book to you, particularly if you are a beginner at seeking funding. It introduces you to the world of venture capitalism and helps you understand what the key players in the VC game are seeking.

Summary

Five Ws, one H (Transforming Your Idea into a Business)

When a journalist researches a story, he finds out the answers to the five Ws and H: who, what, where, when, why, and how? An entrepreneur launching an Internet start-up must also answer those questions. Who will make up your management team? What are your key local, regional, and national markets? Where is your primary market? When is the best time to launch your business? Why will your business be viable? How will all the elements be put together? The answers will make up the heart of your business plan. To transform your idea into an actual business, spend time answering all these questions.

Zero gravity

Venture capitalists (VCs) want to invest in "zero gravity" companies. A zero-gravity business can operate one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-one in a purely digital environment. Information and communications flow up, down or sideways. VCs want a business that moves like an astronaut, able to go in any direction but weightless.

To understand zero-gravity companies, look at their heavy and mid-gravity business equivalents. Zero-gravity businesses in the sports field include Sportsline.com or ESPNSportszone...

About the Author

Steve Harmon contributes content to a number of finance Web sites including Yahoo! Finance, Upside.com, and Silicon Investor (techstocks.com). He was named one of the "Best of Wall Street" by CBS.MarketWatch.com.

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