Starting and running a tech startup is an exciting but challenging journey. As a startup founder, having the right knowledge can make all the difference.
Thankfully, some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and industry experts have shared their insights in books that can guide you through the ups and downs of building a tech company.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best books for tech startup founders—covering topics like leadership, product development, fundraising, and growth strategies.
Table of Contents
ToggleTop Books for Tech Startup Founders
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- Zero to One by Peter Thiel
- Venture Deals by Brad Field
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
- How I Built This by Guy Raz
- Hacking Growth by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
- The Mom Test by Rob Fitzoatrick
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E.Gerber
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
- Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore
- Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal
- Measure What Matters by John Doerr
- Blitzscaling by Reid Hoffman and Chris Yeh
1. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Summary:
The Lean Startup is one of the most popular books for tech founders, teaching them how to build a successful business with fewer risks and wasted resources.
Eric Ries introduces the concept of the lean methodology, which focuses on creating a “minimum viable product” (MVP), testing ideas quickly, and learning from customer feedback.
The goal is to develop products that people actually want, without spending too much time or money on unnecessary features.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It helps startups avoid common mistakes like spending too much time building products without real demand.
- The book provides a step-by-step process to test ideas, measure progress, and pivot when necessary.
- Many successful startups, including Dropbox and Airbnb, have used these principles to grow their businesses.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2011, the book remains highly relevant for today’s startup ecosystem.
Where to Buy:
- Available on platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you’re looking to build a startup the smart way, The Lean Startup is a must-read.
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2. Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Summary:
Zero to One is a powerful book that teaches tech founders how to create truly unique businesses rather than copying what already exists.
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, shares his insights on innovation, competition, and building a startup that goes from “zero to one”—meaning creating something entirely new instead of improving existing ideas.
The book encourages founders to think big and focus on building monopolies by solving problems no one else is tackling.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It challenges founders to think differently and aim for groundbreaking innovation.
- The book offers valuable lessons on market dominance and long-term success.
- Insights come directly from Thiel’s experience in building billion-dollar companies like PayPal and investing in Facebook.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2014, the book continues to inspire entrepreneurs worldwide.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you want to build a startup that changes the world, Zero to One is one of the best books for tech startup founders
3. Venture Deals by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson
Summary:
Venture Deals is an essential guide for tech startup founders who want to understand the ins and outs of raising money from investors. Written by experienced venture capitalists Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson, the book breaks down complex investment terms and explains how funding rounds work.
It covers everything from negotiating with investors to understanding term sheets and building strong relationships with venture capitalists.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It simplifies the fundraising process, making it easier for founders to navigate deals confidently.
- The book provides practical advice on how to avoid common pitfalls when working with investors.
- It’s packed with real-world insights from experienced professionals who have been on both sides of the table.
Publication Date:
- First published in 2011, with updated editions to keep up with evolving investment trends.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you’re looking to raise funds and strike the best deals for your startup, Venture Deals is a must-read.
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4. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Summary:
Shoe Dog is an inspiring memoir by Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, where he shares the journey of building one of the world’s most iconic brands.
The book takes readers through the ups and downs of starting a business, from humble beginnings to global success.
It’s a raw and honest story about the struggles, risks, and perseverance required to turn an idea into a thriving company. Although it’s not directly about tech startups, the lessons on resilience, leadership, and innovation are highly valuable for any entrepreneur.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It provides an honest look at the challenges of entrepreneurship and how to overcome them.
- The book teaches valuable lessons on persistence, risk-taking, and building a strong brand.
- Phil Knight’s storytelling is engaging and relatable, making it an enjoyable yet educational read.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2016, it continues to inspire entrepreneurs worldwide.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you’re looking for motivation and real-world insights into the entrepreneurial journey, Shoe Dog is is one of the best books for tech startup founders
5. How I Built This by Guy Raz
Summary:
How I Built This is a fascinating book where Guy Raz, the host of the popular podcast by the same name, shares inspiring stories of entrepreneurs who turned their ideas into successful businesses. The book offers valuable insights into the mindset, challenges, and strategies of founders behind well-known companies.
It covers topics like overcoming failures, taking risks, and staying persistent in the face of uncertainty.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It provides real-life stories from a variety of industries, offering inspiration and practical advice for startup founders.
- The book shares valuable lessons on creativity, problem-solving, and business growth.
- It’s written in an easy-to-read, engaging style that makes learning enjoyable.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2020, it offers fresh insights for today’s entrepreneurs.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you’re looking to learn from the experiences of successful entrepreneurs, How I Built This is a must-read.
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6. Hacking Growth by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
Summary:
Hacking Growth is a must-read for tech startup founders who want to grow their businesses quickly and efficiently.
Written by growth experts Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown, the book introduces the concept of growth hacking—a data-driven, experiment-based approach to achieving rapid business growth.
It provides practical strategies used by successful companies like Airbnb, Dropbox, and LinkedIn to attract and retain customers without spending huge amounts on traditional marketing.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It offers step-by-step techniques to scale a business using innovative and cost-effective methods.
- The book focuses on actionable insights that any startup can apply, regardless of budget.
- It helps founders understand how to optimize products for growth and build a loyal customer base.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2017, and remains highly relevant for today’s digital startups.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you want to scale your startup fast and smart, Hacking Growth is a must-read.
7. The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
Summary:
The Mom Test is a simple yet powerful book that teaches startup founders how to talk to customers and get honest feedback about their business ideas.
The book explains how to ask the right questions without leading people to tell you what you want to hear—because, just like your mom, people often try to be nice instead of honest.
It provides practical advice on how to validate ideas, avoid common mistakes, and gather useful insights that can help you build something people actually want.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It helps founders avoid wasting time and money on ideas that won’t work.
- The book teaches how to have better conversations with customers and uncover real needs.
- It’s short, practical, and easy to apply, making it perfect for busy entrepreneurs.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2013, and continues to be a go-to guide for early-stage founders.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you want to validate your startup ideas the right way, The Mom Test is is one of the best books for tech startup founders like you.
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8. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
Summary:
The E-Myth Revisited is a must-read book that helps startup founders understand why most small businesses fail—and how to avoid those mistakes.
Michael E. Gerber explains the difference between working in your business (doing the day-to-day tasks) and working on your business (building systems that allow it to grow).
The book offers practical advice on how to structure your startup like a franchise, so it can run smoothly and scale successfully.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It teaches founders how to build systems and processes that allow businesses to grow without relying too much on the founder.
- The book provides a clear roadmap for turning a small startup into a scalable and sustainable company.
- It’s full of relatable stories and practical steps that make business growth feel achievable.
Publication Date:
- Originally published in 1995, with updated editions to stay relevant for modern entrepreneurs.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you want to build a startup that works efficiently and can grow beyond you, The E-Myth Revisited is a must-read.
9. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
Summary:
The Hard Thing About Hard Things is an honest and no-holds-barred book by Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz.
The book shares his personal experiences of building and running a startup, highlighting the tough challenges that many entrepreneurs face but rarely talk about. Horowitz dives into topics like handling crises, managing people, making tough decisions, and staying resilient during hard times.
It’s a practical guide for anyone who wants to understand the real challenges of running a tech startup.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It’s full of real-world advice, drawing from Horowitz’s own struggles and successes as a startup founder.
- The book teaches you how to handle the tough, emotional side of entrepreneurship that often gets overlooked in other business books.
- It’s a candid look at what it takes to lead and grow a company through difficult times.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2014, and still highly relevant for today’s startup founders.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you’re ready to face the tough realities of entrepreneurship and learn from someone who’s been through it all, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is is one of the best books for tech startup founders like you.
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10. Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore
Summary:
Crossing the Chasm is a game-changing book for tech startup founders who want to successfully market their products. Geoffrey Moore explains the concept of the “chasm”—a gap between early adopters (the first people to use a new product) and the early majority (more cautious customers).
The book provides a step-by-step approach to help startups cross this chasm, reach a larger customer base, and achieve mainstream success.
It’s full of practical strategies for positioning your product and targeting the right customers at the right time.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It helps founders understand how to transition from niche markets to broader customer segments, a critical stage for any tech startup.
- The book offers a proven framework for successfully launching and scaling tech products.
- Moore’s insights have been used by many successful companies to make the leap from startup to industry leader.
Publication Date:
- Published in 1991, with updates in later editions to reflect the evolving tech landscape.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you’re ready to scale your tech startup and reach a wider audience, Crossing the Chasm is a must-read.
11. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
Summary:
Hooked is a must-read for tech startup founders who want to create products that keep users coming back. Nir Eyal explains the psychology behind habit-forming products and shares a simple, four-step model called the “Hook Model.”
This model helps founders design products that trigger user engagement, create rewarding experiences, and encourage repeat use.
The book is packed with actionable advice on how to make your product a part of your customers’ daily routines.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It helps founders design products that build long-term customer loyalty through habit formation.
- The book provides a practical framework that can be applied to a wide range of tech products.
- It’s ideal for tech startups focused on creating engaging and addictive products that users can’t put down.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2014, and still widely relevant for creating user-centric tech products today.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you want to create products that users will love and keep coming back to, Hooked is one of the top pick for tech startup founders.
12. Measure What Matters by John Doerr
Summary:
Measure What Matters is a powerful book for tech startup founders who want to set and achieve big goals.
Written by John Doerr, a legendary venture capitalist, the book introduces the concept of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), a goal-setting framework that has been used by companies like Google, Intel, and Bono’s ONE Campaign.
Doerr explains how setting clear objectives and measurable results can help your startup focus, align teams, and track progress towards meaningful goals. The book also shares real-world examples of how OKRs have driven success in various organizations.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It provides a clear and actionable framework (OKRs) to set ambitious goals and track progress effectively.
- The book offers insights from top companies and successful entrepreneurs, making it highly practical for tech founders.
- It helps startup teams stay aligned and focused, which is critical for growth and success in the early stages.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2017, and has become a key resource for goal-setting in both startups and established companies.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you want to set impactful goals and build a strong framework for growth, Measure What Matters is a must-read.
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13. Blitzscaling by Reid Hoffman and Chris Yeh
Summary:
Blitzscaling is an essential book for tech startup founders who want to scale their businesses rapidly and effectively.
Written by Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, and Chris Yeh, the book explains the strategy of blitzscaling, which is all about prioritizing speed over efficiency in order to grow your business as quickly as possible.
The authors share insights on how companies like LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Facebook achieved massive success by aggressively scaling at the right moments. This book covers topics like managing risk, building a scalable company culture, and navigating the challenges of rapid growth.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- It provides a proven strategy for startups aiming to scale quickly and dominate their markets.
- The book shares valuable lessons from some of the fastest-growing companies in history.
- It focuses on the unique challenges of scaling a startup, which can help founders avoid common pitfalls and seize growth opportunities.
Publication Date:
- Published in 2018, and remains an important guide for anyone looking to scale their tech startup quickly.
Where to Buy:
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
If you want to learn how to scale your startup at lightning speed, Blitzscaling is one of the best books for tech startup founders.
We hope this compiled list of books for tech startup founders fuels your startup hustle, keeps your motivation going, and hopefully help you learn one to hundred new things from startup gurus.