MAHENDRA RAMSINGHANI, B. Engg., MBA, has over fifteen years of investment experience and is the founder of Secure Octane, a San Francisco-based cybersecurity fund. He is the former Managing Director of First Step Fund and has advised investment organizations in the U.S., Asia Pacific, and Middle East regions. He is a frequent speaker at engagements around the world, and contributes regularly to professional publications, including Techcrunch, Forbes, and Venturebeat.

Foreword xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xxvii
Part One The Making of a VC
1 The Business of Cash and Carry 3
2 Why Choose a Career in VC 11
3 Attributes of Successful VCs 15
4 Welcome to the Land of Ad-Venture 21
5 Developing Your Investment Career 41
6 A Business Where Enemies Accumulate 57
7 Generational Transfer and Succession 63
Part Two Raising Your Venture Fund
8 LP Universe 73
9 LPs of Choice: Fund of Funds 89
10 How LPs Conduct Fund Due Diligence 95
11 Defining Your Fund's Investment Strategy 99
12 Investment Team Diligence 119
13 Fund Size and Portfolio Construction 129
14 Performance Analysis 137
15 Terms of Fund Investment 155
16 The Venture Firm's Ethos, Culture, and Values 173
17 Raising Your First Fund 193
18 The Fundraising Roadshow 205
19 Why LPs Seek First-Time Funds 221
20 Sourcing Investment Opportunities 229
Part Three Building Your Portfolio
21 Due Diligence Cheat Sheet 255
22 Diligence 259
23 Management Team Diligence: Assessing the Intangible 269
24 Market, Product, and Business Model Analysis 293
25 Terms and Conditions Apply 303
26 Structure of the Term Sheet 309
27 Buy Low, Sell High 317
28 The Closing Process 353
Part Four The Art of Value Creation
29 Serving on Boards 357
30 Board Culture and Orientation 367
31 Let Me Know How I Can Be Helpful: Value Creation 377
32 Challenges in the Boardroom 391
Part Five Exits: Liquidity Events and Champagne
33 Exit Strategies 407
34 Acquisitions 417
35 Initial Public Offering 435
36 Secondary Sales 449
Notes 451
Index 485