Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained

“This is a true ‘Street Fighters’ book. For a long time, I have searched for a book that honestly documents the secret, proven techniques used by America’s most successful entrepreneurs. Dr. Rao’s book does this. Read it.” 
—Bill Winter, Co-Founder, Merrill Custom Communications (Forbes list of 100 Top Small Companies)

“Turn off your investor pitch deck and boot up your business from the bottom up. This book is a how-to guide for those who have experienced (or want to avoid) the perils and misguided frustrations of the VC world. Rao shatters the Silicon Valley myth that billion-dollar businesses are predicated on the venture-capital method and makes compelling and well-defended arguments that lend credence to delaying or avoiding VC capital altogether. Finally, the entrepreneur is empowered to build a business and reap the rewards.”
—David M. Ochi, UCI Applied Innovation, Interim Director, New Ventures

“Dileep Rao’s holistic approach to entrepreneurship is an impressive, comprehensive, and practical guide for budding entrepreneurs—whether they are striking out on their own or have come to the realization that successful managers must have an entrepreneurial mindset. The book explains why skills are needed before capital: Capital is limited, and entrepreneurial skills, not hopes, are what attract capital. This book describes the skills that more than 90 percent of entrepreneurs use to develop the right opportunity for growth and to design the right strategy for growth without venture capital. As a former entrepreneur, I thought that the focus on ‘truths are myths’ was especially relevant. I found the book to be pithy, practical, and to the point—a must-read for budding entrepreneurs.”
—Stephen T. Barnett, PhD, Professor of Marketing Emeritus, Stetson University

“Instead of focusing solely on the opportunity, Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained lays out how the 99.98 percent of entrepreneurs who don’t benefit from venture capital—and the balance who do—can build big businesses with skills and smart strategies before seeking VC. With proven examples, Dr. Rao shows how all entrepreneurs can build businesses, control them, and keep more of the wealth they create.”
—Ban Aase, Principal, Public Sector, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

“In his latest book, Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained, Dileep Rao illustrates how to build a unicorn company without venture capital. He proves VC money does not necessarily buy happiness or success, and shows how bootstrap innovation skills, missionary sales skills, frugal operations skills, and revolutionary visioning skills create the most successful companies.”
—Judy Corson, Co-Founder, Custom Research Inc.

“Rao writes with insight and wisdom. He’s a really smart guy providing really smart skills and strategies to grow a successful company without giving up control of one’s venture.”
—Dr. Raymond Smilor, Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship, Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University

“With a quarter century of experience in financing the growth of hundreds of businesses, Dr. Rao has personally “walked the talk” in venture development. Now, using personal interviews and examples from some of America’s most successful entrepreneurs, his book provides a growth map for entrepreneurs who don’t get venture capital or could fail with it.”
—William Rudelius, Professor Emeritus, Marketing, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

“In Dileep Rao’s insightful new book Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained, he demonstrates that while venture-backed startups (particularly those backed by substantial money from the major venture firms) get all the attention, the vast majority of startups do not use venture capital. Furthermore, he shows that even without a dime of venture capital, one can build a billion-dollar business. Along the way, Rao gives practical, experience-based advice on just how to do it
—Mitch Maidique, Former President, Florida International University