Zero Gravity: Riding Venture Capital from High- Tech Start-Up to Breakout IPO

By Steve Harmon and Adams Morgan

"Zero Gravity" contains advice and lively anecdotes on business growth and Internet company etiquette from luminaries such as Jerry Yang of Yahoo and Jeffrey Bezos of Amazon.com. It provides the contacts you need, in tandem with the know-how it takes to operate successfully in the frenetic, high-stakes world of Internet business. This is "the little black book" for anyone interested in what's really going on in this news-making industry

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1576600327
• ISBN13: 9781576600320
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Bloomberg Press
• Length: 267 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

good basic data and insightful pieces, but buy version 2.0

HAVING READ BOTH EDITIONS of this book (Zero Gravity and Zero Gravity 2.0 published in June 2001) cover to cover it is refreshing to see the practical and candid advice in version 2.0 in the new environment where venture capitalists are slower to commit investments. More than ever, entrepreneurs need insights into venture capital SINCE most venture capitalists are extremely careful about new investments.Walking into a venture meeting without any kind of idea of what to expect is a sure-fire way of not getting funded, if you get a meeting at all. This book arms new entrepreneurs with what to expect and how to deal with some of it.Harmon revised the book in version 2.0 since the environment changed for financing startups. eBay, Yahoo and others built themselves on the approaches in Harmon's first book. The second generation of tech startups will benefit from the new tougher approach described in Zero Gravity 2.0. Harmon has kept up with the changes, alerting entrepreneurs to the new landscape. The book's core foundation is the same in any era. The data, interviews with successful entrepreneurs and methodological approach to approaching venture capital is more important now than ever. The book IS NOT an encyclopedia unabridged HOW-TO guide. Harmon cautions entrepreneurs in Zero Gravity 2.0 with some sound advice on building a company relying on profits rather than an endless supply of venture capital.Zero Gravity 2.0 IS a great primer for the necessary steps in getting funded. It is PART of getting ready to start a company.

now more than ever

now more than ever having a guide to getting venture capital in a more discerning venture capital market is needed. This book is really good for those new to venture capital who need enough guidance to move in the right way, glean some key insights and walk away with a positive and prudent attitude regarding what it takes to succeed in the Internet economy -- it's hard work!

A Starting Template

From the other customer reviews, consensus is that Zero Gravity to be extremely helpful--I'm definitely in that camp. When you find yourself in the middle of the frenetic pace of a start-up, how in the world are you going to avoid the common potholes & blunders, what in the world should you expect? This is an excellent starting point--extremely practical and easy to read. Harmon's list provides the essential resources needed to understand the world of VC's and Angels. Some critics wanted more details and specifics but,there are other books that drill down on the details to venture capital. Harmon's book is properly scoped as a good startpoint for those wanting to start-up their dot.com. It provided me with what I needed.

A must read for internet investors

Zero Gravity is the primer I've needed to begin to understand just a little the workings of zero gravity stocks. After reading it I feel I have been handed a road map. I hope there is a sequel in the works.

I was tempted to say this book sucks...

...just to throw other entrepreneurs off the money trail, but the truth is that I found this book to be a great introduction to the VC (and Angel) process, and to the people behind the runaway success of some of the net's hottest companies. This book tells you what to look for in yourself and your idea before seeking capital, and shows you how to take your venture to the RIGHT partners. Good luck, enjoy the ride, and stay out of my company's space ;-)