Startup! Beyond the Myths to the Reality of Starting a Company [Hardcover]

Kevin Schehrer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 2002

Startup! The best kept secrets of the successful business and the most deadly mistakes to avoid. Whether new business or old -- simply, what works and what does not.

***Learn the ten most important characteristics to entrepreneurial success

***Discover what type of entrepreneur you and your team members are

***Screen opportunities like an investor to get investor-like returns

***Plan for successful action

***Test drive your future business before you invest in it

***Find and manage the talent you will need to win

***Establish the foundation for your best future

Throughout the book you will be given examples illustrating the principles - some of them humorous and some of them outright bizarre. Because it is written from experience, Startup! provides the kind of inside knowledge that just doesn't exist in any other book. The street-smarts that most people have to learn from trial and error over many years.

For example: Did you know that less than one in four hundred - that's less than 0.25% - of the new companies that start every year in the U.S. are started with institutional venture capital? Startup! will show you what people really do to start their ventures.

This book is the result of extensive experience with entrepreneurs, investors, inventors and executives. The result of starting and investing in companies, reading hundreds of plans, vetting hundreds of deals and forming all types of business relationships from joint ventures to investments and acquisitions.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

As I look over past experiences with companies large and small I see that the basic principles in this book can be generalized. Whether we are starting a business, investing in one or looking into a new venture as an employee or executive of an established company--the principles are very much the same. Unfortunately, so are some of the misconceptions.

I truly hope that this book will help entrepreneurs and investors of all sorts--whether within established companies or starting new ones. I hope also that it helps them come more quickly to their special keys to success and that it helps them to avoid some of the pitfalls that are some common as to be cliches.

About the Author

Kevin Schehrer is president of The Startup Group a startup consulting company in Boulder, Colorado that works primarily with startups and early stage companies nationally. He has co-founded, or helped through startup, more than thirty companies, and through his various business relationships and work in venture capital has seen the inner workings of hundreds of others. After seeing much of what works, and much more of what doesn't, he decided to write this book to help entrepreneurs prepare and start their companies while benefiting from the lessons learned by so many others.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: R O I Pr Llc (March 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971771405
• ISBN-13: 978-0971771406
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,317,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wise Business Principles That Must Not Be Overlooked !, October 29, 2002

By 

Stephen Adele "www.RealSOLUTIONSMag.com" (Golden, CO United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Startup! Beyond the Myths to the Reality of Starting a Company (Hardcover)

This book is essential for anyone who dares start a business. The reason I say dare is because the general assumption that surrounds "business" is that it's easy to start, and simple to make money. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kevin [the author of Start-Up Market] does an impeccable job of debunking many of the typical myths that circulate out there, and provides fundamental strategies that are required for any start-up venture to succeed. It's a thick book, but that's because Kevin doesn't leave anything out. I've personally used his practical techniques and strategies and found they've made a considerable difference in my business endeavors.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, Practical Book, October 17, 2005

By 

John P Bernat (Kingsport, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Startup! Beyond the Myths to the Reality of Starting a Company (Hardcover)

This book gives down-to-earth, simple advice to anyone thinking about starting their own firm.

My favorite part was his treatment of investors and other people who "want to help." His stories of how new businesses had been micromanaged to death by investors, particularly lawyers, were priceless and not to be found in other advice books of this type.

If you think you have a chance in starting up your own business in an economy which is, slowly but steadily, getting better, read this book first.

3.0 out of 5 stars Some good ideas., August 30, 2008

By 

lenonline (South Dakota) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Startup! Beyond the Myths to the Reality of Starting a Company (Hardcover)

This book takes you into the real problems of starting a business. I found it interesting reading. There really isn't much here that isn't covered in other entrepreneurship books, but it tries to give you a common sense approach. Easy reading, but lacks in advanced techniques.