Product Description

Having the big idea is merely the beginning. Raising and using venture capital is pivotal to the success of many an ambitious new venture, but venture capital is more than money. It’s far too expensive to be treated merely as cash, and if used well, far more critical to the successful venture.This can be a daunting process.

Smarter Ventures leads you inside the world of European venture capital, and takes you step-by-step through the venture cycle.

By holding a mirror up to both sides of the money-raising process, Katharine Campbell shows how entrepreneurs can better understand venture capitalists - and vice versa – leading to more productive relationships and smarter ventures.

Katharine Campbell explains how venture capitalists think, what they are looking for and why. Learn how to spot the good -and the bad – investors, and equip yourself with the tools and the knowledge to seal a successful partnership.

Smarter Ventures is the bible of the European venture capital market and your complete companion to the venture cycle.

"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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #268822 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 319 pages

Review

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.

About the 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.

Customer Reviews

Incredibly Useful
As someone who has recently been involved in a significant funding round with some major VCs, I can only say that I wish this book had been published before I had started the negotitations. The book has some great anecdotes, refreshingly about European rather than US examples, but also has the best material I have seen on the elements of the "term sheet", and the points surrounding the key clauses. Anyone contemplating dealing with centure capital should read this book.

It is topical, entertaining and useful - what more can you ask for in a business book?

Essential Reading for Entreprenuers and Investors
The best business book I read this year! Unlike most books about business Katherine Campbells analysis of the venture capital industry provides real value for anyone considering raising private equity funds. The venture industry has been considered a private club with mystifying rites that are difficult for outsiders to understand. This excellent book provides a clear understanding of what it takes and how this world operates.
As a well known journalist, Campbell also does the reader the huge favour of making the book a great read. Well done.

First class analysis of the VC industry for entrepreneurs
For anyone wanting to raise money for a venture capital project this is the book to read. The author explains a a lot about how the VC industry works in practice---not all of it flattering. This is "straight from the shoulder" stuff. VC firms have the upper hand in any transaction. Reading this book will help the budding entrepreneur redress the imbalance in the relationship.