Rating: 
Summary: Insiders look
Review: Ever wonder what venture capitalists actually do? Read this excellent insiders account of Benchmark Capital and see how this firm catapulted itself to the forefront of VCs beating Kleiner Perkins in returns in just five years. The book goes in-depth on the stories behind how they funded eBay, Scient, Webvan and Ariba. Moreover the author does a fantastic job making the partners come to life; so much so that you feel you know Bob Kagle and David Beirne by the end of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Compelling, yet predictable
Review: As one who personally knows several of the Benchmark principals, Randy Stross, and others mentioned in the book, I was fascinated by the close-up portrayals of the Benchmarkers. Randy has his favorites among the group, and those men occupy center stage in a tale that's focused on personalities rather than on the mechanics of the vc business. Although Randy is an outstanding writer, and occasionally performs verbal magic on an otherwise mundane phrase, the most intriguing passages seem to have emerged straight from his tape recorder: slightly edited transcripts of Benchmark partner meetings. There is not much analysis of their interactions (occasionally we spot a hint that not all the partners are as equal as they claim to be, and that their much-vaunted camaraderie may be a bit forced). In contrast, the portrayals of the wannabe recipients are much more vivid because they depict the bad as well as the good. Ultimately, the book ran out of steam. After the partners took the same roles and recited the same lines in discussions very similar to those they'd already conducted a dozen times, I was ready for a punchy denouement. I didn't get one (too bad Randy wasn't around when the bubble burst--now, that would have provided some interesting reading). Instead, I was left with this message: if you want the backing of a vc firm, don't bother trying to invent a better mousetrap or find a cure for cancer--your best bet is to enroll your children in the same schools the vc kids attend--or at least sign them up for the same basketball team.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for beginners
Review: This book can be read in a few days, just like a novel. The stories are very insightful about the hype that went on in the Valley during the internet boom. Now that things have calmed down, it is interesting to see how some of these partners were far-sighted about what would happen. The only thing I wished would be described with more details was related to the rationality of the decision making process taken by the Benchmark Partners when deciding to invest in the company. But otherwise, excellent book to get familiar with the VC world.
Rating: 
Summary: Opportunity Missed
Review: Randall Stoss had a unique opportunity. It is unbelievable that the partners of Benchmark would allow an unknown and untested writer to sit in on their meetings. Stoss has gleaned many fascinating details and facits from his attendance at the Benchmark meetings. Unfortunately he is no writer and no journalist. It is a bad book because Stoss cannot write. The story played out over too long a time and his concentration wavered and fell off. As in some biographies that dig too deep and go on too long Stoss had the common problem of keeping his momentum amidst a mountain of material. He lost his way, I fear. Or, more likely, he lost interest, but felt he had to go on an finish the project although his heart was not in it any longer. Nevertheless, the book fascinates. We see how little the Benchmarkers knew about what they were doing. Just making it up as they went along. Getting lucky along the way, but making many bad bets and misjudgments. See how few of their companies look good in retrospect. It gives the rest of us encourgement to know that the emperor has no clothes. At least Stoss has shown this.
Rating:
Summary: A quick light read
Review: You'll want to read it in a day given the stabilization that has taken place in the "new economy": Contains some interesting examples of the different business dynamics in silicon valley. Paints a picture of VC guys being respectable during a time when the industry perceived them as vultures.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but light
Review: This book is a 'fly-on-the-wall' account of a specific example of the short-lived Silicon Valley bubble. It makes interesting bedtime reading, but is short on lessons for those trying to put together a startup. A better starting point would be John L Nesheim's "High Tech Start Up" - its the Valley's bible.
Rating:
Summary: FUN, FUN, FUN til my daddy took the t-bird away
Review: Imagine reading a book about a housewife who won the lottery and told about her secret for winning the lottery. Its bulls**t, right? I'm a VC and I'll admit, I'm jealous that these guys won on EBay. EBay is the one stock out of about 200 I track that is an actual real company (maybe Yahoo also). However, if you just threw money around in 1998 like these guys did you were bound to come up a winner, right? Right? Who knows. I am impressed by the sheer quality of the partners and the way they determined who should be a partner. I also like the way they zeroed in on management when making a decision. Very intuitive the way they avoided Priceline. And it turns out, in Priceline's demise, that it was the arrogance and ego of Jay Walker that was its doom. Benchmark is here to stay and any investor or historian interested in 'the Internet era' should give this book a shot.
Rating:
Summary: Essential Lessons for New Entrepreneurs!
Review: Do you want to found a business, take it public, and change the face of the world? This book can help you. Most people who want to found a new business dream about getting venture capital en route to going public. At least a third of these people who approach venture capital firms do not have any contacts to get them a hearing at venture capital firms. Even those who do will find the odds are long. Perhaps one deal in 100 from connected people will be funded by a particular venture capital firm. Almost all entrepreneurs I know think that venture capitalists get paid too much, and that they get in the way rather than being a help. This book will help you draw your own conclusions, as well as give you some ideas about what to look for if you do decide to go for venture capital. Many will be astonished to see that funded ideas often come with no workable CEO in place. The venture capitalist will often play a key role in doing the recruiting of the CEO and other key personnel. Also, others will be amazed to find out how important little things are to keeping deals together or tearing them apart -- usually the trust or lack of trust in those involved on all sides. For years, I have worked with executives whose firms were orginally funded by venture capitalists. I also have friends who are venture capitalists. Everything in the book rang true to me. The only thing that would have made the book bettter would have been equal access to the thinking of the people in the start-ups. We get their view through the VCs. Because of the relationships involved, that's hard to accomplish because there's a need to stay friendly that is harmful to candor. Although the book will be invaluable to entrepreneurs, it was not designed for that purpose. It really is more of a business history of one firm over a two year period of time, highlighting some of its most successful (eBay and Webvan) and unsuccessful (a venture with Toys R Us that went nowhere) relationships. You'll have to draw your own lessons along the way. So it's like reading a mystery novel. Keep your eyes open for the clues, and draw your own conclusions. People thinking about a career in venture capital will also find the book to be valuable. The demands and strains are large, and so are the rewards when it all works. Keep in mind that success in venture capital goes in cycles. My friends tell me that dot com investments have been the most successful class of investing ever for VCs. Some firms report making money 90 percent of the time in the last 5 years. It won't usually be that easy. Se remember that you are reading about the good times when you go through this book. Buy it, read it, and apply its lessons to make your own success greater! You're much more likely to create an irresistible growth enterprise when you do. I encourage you to always be building your relationships with outstanding people. You can learn from them, and often they will become important allies in your entrepreurial journey!
Rating:
Summary: Great Business Read
Review: I recommend this book to anyone interested in Internet startups. I am an MBA student and a Computer Engineer and this book is very insightful to the world of VC's. It is interesting to see how these men's attitudes towards the concepts evolved through the book. It is a great source of information to understand what it takes to become successful.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet!
Review: Fast paced book, tough for me to put down. It provides an inside view of what is was like to be in middle of all the excitement occuring on Sand Hill Road!
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