Entering StartUpLand: An Essential Guide to Finding the Right Job

Description

Many professionals aspire to work for startups. Executives from large companies view them as models to help them adapt to today's dynamic innovation economy, while freshly minted MBAs see magic in founding something new. Yes, startups look magical, but they can also be chaotic and inaccessible. Many books are written for those who aspire to be founders, but a company only has one or two of those. What's needed is something that deconstructs the typical startup organization for the thousands of employees who join a fledgling company and do the day-to-day work required to grow it into something of value. Entering StartUpLand is a practical, step-by-step guide that provides an insider's analysis of various startup roles and responsibilities--including product management, marketing, growth, and sales--to help you figure out if you want to join a startup and what to expect if you do. You'll gain insight into how successful startups operate and learn to assess which ones you might want to join--or emulate. Inside this book you'll find: A tour of typical startup roles to help you determine which one might be the best fit for you Profiles of startup executives across many different functions who share their stories and describe their responsibilities A methodology to identify and evaluate startups and position yourself to find the opportunity that's right for you Written by an experienced venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and Harvard Business School professor, Entering StartUpLand will guide you as you seek your ideal entry point into this popular, cutting-edge organizational paradigm.

Jeffrey Bussgang is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and professor at Harvard Business School, where he teaches Launching Technology Ventures, a popular class for MBAs starting or joining startups. His firm, Flybridge Capital Partners, has over $600 million under management and has invested in more than 100 companies since its inception. He was previously a two-time entrepreneur (Upromise, Open Market), started his career with the Boston Consulting Group, and holds an MBA from HBS and a BA in computer science from Harvard College. His previous book, Mastering the VC Game, is an essential guide for entrepreneurs raising capital.

"Whether you're just getting started, or you're ten years into your career, Entering StartUpLand will be a useful tool to enhance your startup knowledge, accelerate your career, and navigate your way to StartUpLand success." -- Huffington Post "My strategic self loved this book because it empowers you to execute and and gives you the ability to dive deeper pending your interests; the resources that Jeffrey recommends for you (books, articles, courses) are listed out at the end of each chapter." -- HuffPost Advance Praise for Entering StartUpLand: Brad Feld, Managing Director, Foundry Group; cofounder, Techstars-- "The world is full of books for founders, but there are very few books for joiners. Entering StartUpLand provides an invaluable, step-by-step guide to various startup roles and responsibilities. A must-read for both aspiring and experienced visitors to StartUpLand!" Eric Ries, author, The Lean Startup-- "Just as the The Lean Startup has become a must-read for founders, Entering StartUpLand should be required reading for any joiner. The book is a sweeping and insightful view into a startup's full range of operations and entry points. I highly recommend it." Danielle Morrill, cofounder and CEO, Mattermark-- "Joining startups early in my career changed the trajectory of my career, and my life, in ways I never could have imagined. For those curious and brave enough to take a detour from the more predictable path of corporate life, Entering StartUpLand is a valuable guide to making the leap and understanding how startups work. I wish this book had been around for me, my coworkers, and my employees these past ten years." Tom Eisenmann, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Harvard Business School-- "Startups are changing the world, but it can be hard for outsiders to figure out how to join one. This book is a breakthrough. It describes the different roles at startups, the skills you need to succeed in them, and the best path for acquiring those skills and landing a great job."