Although most people know nothing about them, venture capitalists are the small yet elite group of people funding and shaping world-changing technology businesses like Google, Facebook, Uber, and Amazon. Whether you're an aspiring investor, entrepreneur, or career-focused business professional, this book will teach you how this historically exclusive and incredibly lucrative industry actually works. Through a combination of the author's real-life stories coupled with insights from other elite venture investors from unexpected backgrounds, Breaking into Venture draws the curtain on what it takes to break into venture capital, navigate the hidden pitfalls that insiders know to avoid, and build a long-term winning strategy that plays to your unique strengths. Drawing on her background building multiple successful venture funds and teaching venture capital at world-class business schools on both coasts, Allison Baum Gates shares the nine fundamental principles that lead to success in VC, providing everything you need to navigate the rapidly changing technology landscape. By learning how venture investors think, you'll unlock your own potential, whether you're looking to make angel investments, develop and launch a successful business, or create the career of your dreams.