The Power Law
Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future
The definitive history of venture capital and the bets that built tech.
Drawing on unprecedented access to leading firms like Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, Accel, and Andreessen Horowitz, Sebastian Mallaby chronicles how venture capitalists shaped modern technology. He argues their success rests on the power law: a handful of grand slam investments outweigh all the losses. The book is both a narrative history and an analysis of how risk and luck drive innovation.
Founders raise from an industry whose internal logic, the power law, dictates which companies get funded and pushed for outsized growth. Understanding that mindset explains why investors chase huge outcomes and how that pressure will shape your own company.
Sign in to mark this read or add it to your want-to-read list.