Confessions of a Venture Capitalist helps you bypass the most common errors made by startup entrepreneurs. And it provides everyone, businesspersons and casual readers alike, with an intimate, front-row understanding of how the venture capital economy and Silicon Valley are radically changing the world we all inhabit.Here, behind the closed-door meetings, you'll watch the decision makers at work. You'll see what the big investors look for: how not only numbers and projections count, but passion and commitment. You'll learn from Ruthann Quindlen's real-life examples -- both her rookie mistakes and her hard-won successes. If you're a woman, you'll get valuable advice on escaping the pink ghetto. All the while, Quindlen shows how high technology is creating mind-boggling new venues ... and tells you where to look for them, how to get in early, how to stake out the prime territory, and how to keep on expanding.