Angel audiobook

I doubted this book would be particularly useful to me, as I do this stuff for a living and have done 50+ early stage investments. Not so - while this book is aimed at a mass market and some of the info is quite basic, its filled with absolute gold for folks already doing this professionally. And having read everything else out there on VC investing, I can say this book is by far the best. Highly recommended.

Hard won lessons without promotional self-delusionHonestly, I thought there was a good chance that this might well be a self-congratulatory business memoir that would be a thinly veiled promotional effort for the author's next venture. Despite these misgivings, I was so eager to compare my own angel investing experience with someone else's that I impulsively purchased the book. --and then I couldn't put it down. This book seemed to be written for novice angel investors, but it actually would fit all investors. The author's suggestion to reread the book after a few years of investing and again a few years after that is very valid. As an experienced angel investor, I probably fit into that readership who should be on their second read, and as such I took away more from this book than any other book on the subject. It's remarkable to find a book that is this accessible on so many levels. Plus, it's a delight to read and thoroughly enjoyable--even or especially when cautionary examples hit too close to personal experience.

I got the audiobook and this one came at the perfect time since I've recently made investments in 4 startups and plan on making many more over the course of my career. Jason Calacanis is known in the Bay to be one of the top investors angel or otherwise and also a very entertaining guy you'll see often on CNBC and the like.  He's a Brooklyn dude, so he's known for his bluntness which comes across amazingly in the audiobook version.   If you have any interest in understanding how startups get funded, want to be an angel yourself, or are thinking about starting a company and want to understand how angels think, this is a VERY practical crash course on WHY it's important and HOW to get involved and do it.  Calacanis says it best early that he felt like the book should have been written before, but it hadn't yet. After reading this, I felt the same way. This book is up there with The Hard Thing About Hard Things in terms of best business books out there IMO. Don't expect management advice like every other business book out there. This book is about how companies get off the ground with typically first money in and the impact that can have on you as an investor or the world at large by funding the innovation occurring in the world.

While the author has disturbing delusions of grandeur this book is packed with specific, useful information that I wished I had solidified before making my first investments. Should be mandatory reading before handing your money over to startups.

Jason invited us to present at one of his conferences. He's very welcoming and it's great that he supports fledgling entrepreneurs as much as he can. Having been in Silicon Valley the last two years as an entrepreneur and investor, it's a solid book that covers the important points of fundraising. What I'm apprehensive about is the Valley's overzealous nature that has created so much uncertainty in the market, where billionaires are buying bunkers to prepare for end times. Technology is outpacing people's ability to educate themselves to keep up. I always question the ethics behind many investors and entrepreneurs trying to "make the world a better place" through VC backed tech. But I think that's why Jason writes the book - to empower others to invest in what they think will improve the world for the better. We could use more diversity in the investing pool. At the end of the day, no one really knows, but it's probably better that it's not just old white men making the investment decisions.

Favorite book (so far) in 2017. Massive highlights! Loved this book. Very actionable and motivating.

I enjoyed the book as It has a practical outlook and seems effective in not wanting to waste the readers time but the author made one two many analogies to star wars for my liking lol.

I stumbled across Jason's story via a podcast article on Forbes.com. Jason is the kind of guy you would love to have in your corner he lives on the edge of the future of business and technology. He's an inspirational because he's willing to take more swing for the fences hits. Angel is forward thinking and will stretch your understanding about where the world is going. A plus! Nuggets of Truth:The American Dream still exists it's just not a widely distributedThe job apocalypse is comingSequioa Capital No gamble no futureIf you think small you'll be small Capital Efficient I'm in the fuck you money zoneIf you think poor you stay poorHelpful present and considerate What does revenue look like in terms of revenue and my return?Be hyper present Unpack that furtherLet's talk about something more company specific Product market fitGo to market strategy Get my investments more attention That doesn't fit my investment thesis MMR: Monthy Re-curing Revenue ARR: Annual Re-curing Revenue Key MetricsThe big wins come late in the processStarting is easy finishing is hardMy equity is likely to growWe have more blind spots then we do clear vision Execute at the highest level Put aside massive doubts in logicIs your startup a vitamin or a painkillerAs I codify my playbook I need a large multiplier on future investing One investment goes supernova Soak in what you learned We are arguing the merits of the deal Give some candid advice Start originating deal flowRepeat abilityWhat keeps you up at night? What makes you sleep like a baby?A wider swath of dealsGrowth is prioritized over all else Grand vision Large outcomes I'm a little jaded in terms of my perspective

I am a big fan of Jason Calacanis. I've subscribed to his podcast "This Week in StartUps with Jason Calacanis". His interviews are superb. He's such a straight shooter and is a joy to listen to. I listen to the audiobook, which is read by Jason himself. (I think all audiobooks should be read by authors). If you've been a long-time follower of Jason's podcast, the materials in the books won't seem new as he has mentioned here and there in his blogposts and podcasts. However, the book is the comprehensive and covers all topics in one-guide. Some key take-aways off my heads:[1] you have to be in Silicon Valley to do well in angel investing;[2] you must have one of 4 things: money, time, network, expertise[3] invest in the founders, don't try (hard) to analyse the business/idea[4] Jason practiced playing poker (without reading his cards) to read people. That's how he developed his people's judgement. [5] use the angel syndicates to start off[6] get founders to send monthly updates (crucial)There are many more tips but I do not write them all down as I am not planning to do any angel investing. I do not meet the first few criteria to do well.

Jason Calacanis offers a playbook for the mysterious world of the generation's kingmakers - angel investing. Though the tips are quite tactical (and thus at times feel out of reach), there are big takeaways for future angels, current investors, and even corporate climbers. 1. The rules to the game have changed. Investing in those that are changing the word is the only surefire way to guarantee outsized returns, and that means focusing on disruptive innovation. 2. Location, location, location. There is something special going on in SF and it is truly the eye of the storm. Surround yourself with the best and the brightest and take advantage of it. 3. Karma is your friend. This is something that the Valley really adopted before the rest of the country. Figure out how you can help those around you (while still setting reasonable boundaries), and the universe will have a funny way of paying you back tenfold (or 50x, or 100x!)Finally, it's always great to hear things straight from the horses mouth. I loved Jason's performance. Only downside? He could've integrated his tack-on angel interviews better. They felt like research that was included as an afterthought, and offering a better, more consistent voiceover would've helped.

In typical Jason Calacanis style - slightly arrogant, yet genuine - he lays out very clearly how to go about putting your first chips on the poker table: How to start betting on startups as an angel investor.I found it insightful as a founder/operator myself to gain a better perspective of how difficult the job is of an angel investor - what it is they are looking for in a 100x startup and after investing, how to protect their interests.A direct takeaway I have is to start keeping a list of startups around me and value / qualify them on their potential. Then in a year's time or so, I check back in and evaluate the accuracy of my business antennae.

A great read, a very educational and insightful view of the angel and startup world told by someone who has experienced and lived through it all. Not only is the book highly informative, it is a great business biography of Jason's life. As a startup founder I found great value to learn what it's like on the other side and will hopefully use that knowledge to help me grow my startup www.Welcome.AI and be better prepared when the time comes to meet with angels.

This book lays out step by step how you too can get a piece of the action... and you don't need to be rich to get started.OR read this book as an entrepreneur to understand how your potential investors think.Seriously, read this book. Jason here is at his finest. He lays bare his history, how he became successful as an investor, and shares his insights and mistakes so you don't have to make them too.

Entertaining and insightful. Very silicon valley-centric though and even some wrong facts when it comes to the world outside US. Still a very good read, lots of interesting stories from the business world.

Concentrated startup hustle circa. 2011-2017. Jason does the work and shares a familiar truth that you have to be willing to hustle hard, with very little thanks for a decade to get the best deals/earn the trust. Moreover he shares an actionable step by step minimum investment path. It's both as simple and as hard as the truth of 'Angel'. Do the work.

Good Storytelling from the perspective of angels and a individual investors. Been listening to Jason’s podcasts for a while, did not agree everything he said, but appreciate his energy, honestly and sharing. This is a good introductory guide for readers who are interested in the startup world.

Insightful - will be re-reading the physical soon for further notes. A must read for both budding investors and startup founders

Nice introduction to angel investing and offers motivating insight on how to start in a syndicate for as little as $10,000. Time to get in Angelist 😂

Really useful, funny and insightful. Recommend!