Description

Smarter Ventures demystifies the world of venture capital and the VC decision-making process.  From insight on the structure of venture capital firms, and its influence on their objectives, to advice on how to dress for the initial meeting with a potential investor,  Smarter Ventures is the bible of the European venture capital market and your complete companion to the venture cycle.

Table of Contents

SMARTER VENTURES

Preface

1. Introduction

   PART ONE - THE INDUSTRY
   

2. Inside the venture industry
3. Cycle Psychology
4. An eclectic¿s history of venture capital in Europe
5. Silicon Valley compared
6. Other species :angels and corporate venture capitalists
   

   PART 2 - THE PROCESS
   

7. Fit for venture capital
8. The Approach
9. Choosing a venture capitalist
10. The Business Plan
11. Early meetings
12. Due diligence
13. Term sheets
14. Negotiations
15. Close
    

    PART 3 - WORKING WITH VENTURE CAPITAL
    

16. VC on board
17. Down rounds
18. 'Exits'
    

    PART 4 - THE FUTURE
    

19. A European industry matures

VC JARGON BUSTER

Author

Katharine Campbell is the former private equity correspondent of the Financial Times. She spent five years delving into the secretive world of private equity, and became one of the leading commentators on the sector. A weekly column on the Enterprise Page of the FT provided an outlet for her particular interest in entrepreneurship and venture capital.     Previous roles at the FT, where she spent a dozen years in total, included Frankfurt correspondent at the beginning of the 1990s, covering the early years of German unification.  She studied German and ancient Greek at Oxford University, and international relations at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, in Washington DC.    She now works in the private equity industry.

Reader Review(s)

 

"Smarter Ventures is essential reading for anyone interested and involved in new ventures and venture capital - whether funding it, using it, providing it or teaching potential entrepreneurs…. The book is so complete it is almost a funding cookbook…. Anyone involved in enterprise, as a practitioner, venture capitalist or academic, should regard Smarter Ventures as required reading." 

Book Review, Financial Times.  Christopher Saunders, founder of the Cambridge Enterprise Conference

'It took me 20 years to lean what's in this book. Every budding entrepreneur should read it if they want a win-win relationship with their VC.'

Stuart Evans, CEO, Plastic Logic

'Smarter Ventures is a must-read for any entrpreneur seeking venture capital investment. Katharine Campbell's straightforward language de-mystifies what for anyone who has been through the process is a daunting and stressful experience. On the basis that knowledge is power, I have no hesitation in recommending Smarter Ventures to entrepreneurs and expect it will also appear at the top of venture capitalist's reading lists.'

Charles Cotton, former CEO, Virata Cororation

'Katharine Campbell provides a unique insight into the European venture capital industry, while also explaining the critical differences between the VC scene in Silicon Valley and that in Europe. This books is absolutely essential reading for European entrepreneurs, VCs and advisers. In fact, no European entrepreneur should seek to raise capital without first reading this book.'

Chris Grew, senior partner, Hale and Dorr

'Katharine Campbell knows her stuff. While Smarter Ventures is very readable, it goes way beyond delivering the fine insights one would expect from a crack former journailistt. Ms Campbell has distilled her extensive experience into useful wisdom. As the books becomes standard fare, it will acceleratue entrepreneurship in Europe by making the new venture capital process more streamlined and professional.'

Kenneth P. Morse, managine director, MIT entrepreneurship Center.