The Entrepreneur's Odyssey

A Novel Approach to Startup Success
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-032-89404-1
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 238 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey is an authentic window into what it really takes to turn an idea into a viable startup. It is both an essential how-to guide for would-be startup founders as well as an entertaining novel for the startup curious.

This textbook-as-novel has fictional first-time entrepreneur Marcus Williams recount his journey from would-be founder with a half-formed idea to a funded startup. His mentor, Jason Murath, a seasoned angel investor, guides Marcus step by step through customer discovery, validating and refining the product, market sizing, and more, all the way through closing his first round of financing.

There has never been a more fun – and effective! – way to learn how to build a startup.

Zielgruppe

General, Postgraduate, and Professional Practice & Development

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ackerman, Andrew

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Bereichsspezifisches Management Management: Führung & Motivation
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Unternehmensorganisation, Corporate Responsibility Kleine und Mittlere Unternehmen
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Unternehmensgründung
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Unternehmensführung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

PART I: LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A GREAT STARTUP, CHAPTER 1 - OPEN MIC NIGHT, STARTUP STYLE, CHAPTER 2 - IN THE END, THERE CANNOT BE ONLY ONE, CHAPTER 3 - A GOOD ELEVATOR PITCH PUSHES ALL THE RIGHT BUTTONS, CHAPTER 4 - TELL ME WHERE IT HURTS, CHAPTER 5 - LET’S GET PERSONAL, CHAPTER 6 - THE PERFECT PERSONA, CHAPTER 7 - THINK SMALL. THINK MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT, CHAPTER 8 - NEW PRODUCT FLOW, CHAPTER 9 - EATING UP CUSTOMER FEEDBACK, CHAPTER 10 - FULLY FED, CHAPTER 11 - DE-RISKING THE MODEL, PART II: PREPPING YOUR PITCH DECK, CHAPTER 12 - ORDERING THE NARRATIVE, CHAPTER 13 - JUDGING A DECK BY ITS COVER, CHAPTER 14 - HOLD THE SIZZLE, CHAPTER 15 - SOLVING THE PROBLEM, CHAPTER 16 - CO-FOUNDER WANTED, CHAPTER 17 - THERE’S NO COMPETITION, CHAPTER 18 - CO-FOUNDER… NOT, CHAPTER 19 - THE PRICE IS RIGHT (A.K.A. THE REVENUE MODEL), CHAPTER 20 - GO-TO-MARKET OR GO HOME, CHAPTER 21 - CO-FOUNDER WANTED (REDUX), CHAPTER 22 - (MARKET) SIZE MATTERS, CHAPTER 23 - THE ATTRACTION OF TRACTION, CHAPTER 24 - AVOIDING A FOUNDER EQUITY #FAIL, CHAPTER 25 - THE REGULATORY STORY, CHAPTER 26 - GETTING UP TO SPEED ON ACCELERATORS, CHAPTER 27 - 20/20 VISION, CHAPTER 28 - GETTING (MILE)STONED, CHAPTER 29 - THE ART OF THE ASK, CHAPTER 30 - TEAM (WHY, NOT WHO), CHAPTER 31 - SHOW ME THE MONEY FINANCIALS, PART III: FINDING AND MEETING INVESTORS, CHAPTER 32 - PROSPECTING FOR INVESTORS, CHAPTER 33 - “I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET…” (WARM INTRO REQUESTS), CHAPTER 34 - MASTERING THE INVESTOR MEETING, CHAPTER 35 - PORTCO JUJITSU, CHAPTER 36 - DRY FUNDS, CHAPTER 37 - PAY TO PLAY DOESN'T PAY, CHAPTER 38 - THE PERILS OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS, CHAPTER 39 - MONTHLY UPDATE EMAILS FOR FUN AND FOMO, PART IV: SEALING THE DEAL, CHAPTER 40 - NOTES, SAFES, PRICED ROUNDS, CHAPTER 41 - TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, CHAPTER 42 - BEYOND VALUATION, CHAPTER 43 - SEALING THE DEAL, CHAPTER 44 - MONEY IN THE BANK

Über Autor(innen)

Andrew Ackerman is a serial entrepreneur, startup mentor and early-stage investor. He has invested in over 70 startups and mentored hundreds more over the past 15 years. Previously, Andrew founded two companies and has a keen appreciation for how hard it is to build a successful startup, even under the best of circumstances. In addition to investing, Andrew consults for startups, venture and corporate venture funds, accelerators and venture studios.