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Review
'Down to earth, readable and often humorous...well worth a read'
Richard Branson
'A helpful, expert and practical guide for those risking the world of venture capital funding. Full of excellent advice.'
Tim Waterstone
An Insider's Guide to the opaque and much sought after world of venture capital… decodes the industry and offers sound advice for those who will engage with it.
Julie Meyer, Dragon on the BBC's Dragon's Den Online
'Anyone seeking outside investment from either an angel or venture capitalist should read this first…he'll have plenty of entrepreneur fans before long'
Director Magazine
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Richard Branson
'A helpful, expert and practical guide for those risking the world of venture capital funding. Full of excellent advice.'
Tim Waterstone
An Insider's Guide to the opaque and much sought after world of venture capital… decodes the industry and offers sound advice for those who will engage with it.
Julie Meyer, Dragon on the BBC's Dragon's Den Online
'Anyone seeking outside investment from either an angel or venture capitalist should read this first…he'll have plenty of entrepreneur fans before long'
Director Magazine
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Product Description
Are you an entrepreneur who's looking for funding, but daunted by the intricacies of venture capital? In this provocative and witty new book, learn about the inner workings of the venture capital industry and how its firms make their money. Discover how venture capitalists run their own businesses and the ways they can best help you run yours, as well as the alternatives to venture capital and how to make a successful exit.
Who are the different members of the venture capital industry?
An Angel invests his or her own money as venture capital in a business.
A Vulture hopes to earn enough out of making venture capital investments with other people's money to become as rich as an Angel.
A Dragon is an Angel with such a thirst for publicity that he or she enjoys exposing themselves on television.
Angels, Dragons and Vultures draws on a career's worth of experience of mistakes made by entrepreneurs – some of their own making, and some into which they were cajoled by their investors. Simon Acland shares the lessons of these mistakes and his personal expertise to help other entrepreneurs gain capital investment and professional assistance that is both lucrative and emotionally satisfactory.
Who are the different members of the venture capital industry?
An Angel invests his or her own money as venture capital in a business.
A Vulture hopes to earn enough out of making venture capital investments with other people's money to become as rich as an Angel.
A Dragon is an Angel with such a thirst for publicity that he or she enjoys exposing themselves on television.
Angels, Dragons and Vultures draws on a career's worth of experience of mistakes made by entrepreneurs – some of their own making, and some into which they were cajoled by their investors. Simon Acland shares the lessons of these mistakes and his personal expertise to help other entrepreneurs gain capital investment and professional assistance that is both lucrative and emotionally satisfactory.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have been in the VC industry ten years and I have not seen an explanation of the issues and factors at play when a company takes on investment that is so easy to follow. What is interesting is not only the things that an aspiring entrepreneur needs to know but also a detailed expose of the financial model at the heart of the VC's own business which drives his or her behaviour.
The text is made more authoritative by the frequent table and charts that show the hard numbers that substantiate the assertions made.
The book is also, perhaps surprisingly given the above, very readable and engaging.
Recommended.
Nick
The text is made more authoritative by the frequent table and charts that show the hard numbers that substantiate the assertions made.
The book is also, perhaps surprisingly given the above, very readable and engaging.
Recommended.
Nick
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I teach Private Equity modules at a leading business school, and recommend this book to my students as their set text on venture capital. In my view it gives all the practical details you need to understand this exciting area, but without getting unduly technical.
The author had a long career as a venture capitalist and it shows. However, for the purposes of the book he is a poacher turned gamekeeper as it is written very much for the entrepreneur, giving helpful tips on how to minimise the amount of equity and/or value which he or she will lose from their company as a result of choosing venture backing.
It also helps that Acland's writing style is so accomplished - a testament doubtless to his other life as a historical novelist (at which, incidentally, he is also very good). I read the whole book straight through from cover to cover when I first got it, and it really was a pleasure to read.
The author had a long career as a venture capitalist and it shows. However, for the purposes of the book he is a poacher turned gamekeeper as it is written very much for the entrepreneur, giving helpful tips on how to minimise the amount of equity and/or value which he or she will lose from their company as a result of choosing venture backing.
It also helps that Acland's writing style is so accomplished - a testament doubtless to his other life as a historical novelist (at which, incidentally, he is also very good). I read the whole book straight through from cover to cover when I first got it, and it really was a pleasure to read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I recently read and enjoyed very much Simon Acland's novel and was therefore intrigued to see if someone who can write such an excellent 'entertainment' can also produce a serious business book. The answer is yes. Not only is this a well thought-through and practical guide, it is also amusingly written and very accessible.
No entrepreneur even considering talking to a VC let alone raising money should be without this book. It is packed with sensible and clearly explained advice.
As someone who has danced with the devil (or 'vultures' as Acland calls them) for more than two decades, it is my view that it is high time some of the myths were exploded. In contrast to their all too often inflated self image, I was intrigued to discover how lacklustre the returns are for many VCs. Apparently many have never achieved a 9X return on any single investment. There are, of course, some good ones around but the majority are vin ordinaire. A small minority are actually value-destroying buffoons. Many have remarkably little management experience.
For entrepreneurs raising money, Acland points out many of the tricks that VCs use to better their deal such as deploying interest bearing loan stock rather than equity. He is very good too on the role of the Chairman.
Two minor gripes: I could not find a mention of the excellent review site (thefunded) which rates VCs and no explanation as to why VCs who persecute their portfolio companies over every penny of cost choose always to inhabit Ritzy office palazzo themselves.
No entrepreneur even considering talking to a VC let alone raising money should be without this book. It is packed with sensible and clearly explained advice.
As someone who has danced with the devil (or 'vultures' as Acland calls them) for more than two decades, it is my view that it is high time some of the myths were exploded. In contrast to their all too often inflated self image, I was intrigued to discover how lacklustre the returns are for many VCs. Apparently many have never achieved a 9X return on any single investment. There are, of course, some good ones around but the majority are vin ordinaire. A small minority are actually value-destroying buffoons. Many have remarkably little management experience.
For entrepreneurs raising money, Acland points out many of the tricks that VCs use to better their deal such as deploying interest bearing loan stock rather than equity. He is very good too on the role of the Chairman.
Two minor gripes: I could not find a mention of the excellent review site (thefunded) which rates VCs and no explanation as to why VCs who persecute their portfolio companies over every penny of cost choose always to inhabit Ritzy office palazzo themselves.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unsurpassed Insights and Tactical Advice
As the manager of one of North America's largest angel groups I am constantly educating entrepreneurs about the nuances of VC funding. Read more
Published 7 months ago by John O. Huston
Very informative book
Excellent book that is full of useful information. It's easy to read, has lots of examples and is written in a very humorous tone. Read more
Published 14 months ago by James Hind, founder of carbuzz
Witty, knowing guide to venture capital for first-time entrepreneurs
When looking for capital to grow your small business, remember that it's a jungle out there: "Vultures" and "Dragons" abound, so try to get an "Angel" on your side. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Rolf Dobelli
Brilliant and essential for any business owners
Although the book is written to inform about the pitfalls and benefits of seeking investment, the content is much, much wider and more valuable than just that. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Avril Millar
If you are thinking about taking on investors/ment read this first.
Here is a book that all early stage business leaders should read; it took me about five hours cover to cover. Read more
Published 14 months ago by PJ - UK
A must-read for entrepreneurs
I was recommended Angels, Dragons and Vultures by a colleague. I have worked in financial roles for VC-backed tech businesses for a number of years and have encountered a broad... Read more
Published 15 months ago by An Italian in London
Seeing it from the other side
I came across this book in a publication aimed at business folk (such as myself). Although i'm currently 'bootstrapping' a company in the early stages of growth, I thought this... Read more
Published 15 months ago by D Singh
Outstanding
I have been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and have participated in raising Angel and Venture money on both sides of the pond. Read more
Published 17 months ago by barrie
Listmania!
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