Top Startup books curated by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we have connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favouriteStartup books – and here are the answers.

  • Curated by industry experts
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Top Startup books recommended by experts
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Fundamentals of Startup

Understanding the concepts of Startup starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Why do some products capture widespread attention while others flop? What makes us engage with certain products out of sheer habit? Is there a pattern underlying how technologies hook us? Nir Eyal answers these questions (and many more) by explaining the Hook Model—a four-step process embedded i…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Zero to Sold

Zero to Sold

It's easy to build software products. The hard part is turning them into viable businesses that stand the test of time. If you want to build a business that survives, you have to know what challenges you will encounter. Zero to Sold tells the story of a sustainable, bootstrapped software busines…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Dotcom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online with Sales Funnels

Dotcom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online with Sales Funnels

Written by ClickFunnels founder Russell Brunson, Dotcom Secrets delves into the concept of marketing from A to Z and teaches marketers worldwide how to build effective campaigns, grab the user's attention and deliver relevant results for them in the buying process, all through the sales funnel a…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

The ChatGPT Millionaire: Making Money Online has never been this EASY (Updated for OpenAI o1) (The AI Wealth Engine - How to make money using Chat GPT and Generative AI)

The ChatGPT Millionaire: Making Money Online has never been this EASY (Updated for OpenAI o1) (The AI Wealth Engine - How to make money using Chat GPT and Generative AI)

We currently live in a world where businesses are paying hundreds of dollars to people for writing engaging articles and blogs, and thousands of dollars per month for social media marketing and SEO. Now using ChatGPT, anyone including you can do this really well - even if you have no experience …

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Thinking, Fast and Slow is a 2011 popular science book by psychologist Daniel Kahneman. The book's main thesis is a differentiation between two modes of thought: "System 1" is fast, instinctive and emotional; "System 2" is slower, more deliberative, and more logical.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

The Lean Startup

The Lean Startup

Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs—in companies of all sizes—a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Additional Startup Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Startup, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire

Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell is a productivity and time management guide that helps entrepreneurs maximize their time by focusing on their strengths and delegating tasks. It provides actionable advice on how to achieve more in less time and ultimately lead a more fulfilling life.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Startup CEO: A Field Guide to Scaling Up Your Business (Techstars)

Startup CEO: A Field Guide to Scaling Up Your Business (Techstars)

"Startup CEO is the definitive book for any CEO―first time or otherwise―of a high-growth company. While dozens of books have been written about starting businesses, it's time for entrepreneurs to focus on scaling them. Matt shows them how."

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

BE 2.0 (Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0): Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company

BE 2.0 (Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0): Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company

What's the roadmap to create a company that not only survives its infancy but thrives, changing the world for decades to come?
Nine years before the publication of his epochal bestseller Good to Great, Jim Collins and his mentor, Bill Lazier, answered this question in their bestselling book, …

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

The $100 Startup

The $100 Startup

Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and focused on the 50 most intriguing case studies. In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passions that c…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley's most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, offers essential advice on building and running a startup—practical wisdom for managing the toughest problems business school doesn’t cover, based on his popular ben’s blog.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-Growth Business

The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-Growth Business

The Startup Checklist is the entrepreneur's essential companion. While most entrepreneurship books focus on strategy, this invaluable guide provides the concrete steps that will get your new business off to a strong start. You'll learn the ins and outs of startup execution, management, legal iss…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Specializations and Deeper Startup Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Startup is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Mastering the VC Game

Mastering the VC Game

Jeffrey Bussgang is one of a very few people who have played on both sides of this high-stakes game. Now he draws on his unique perspective to offer high-level insights, colorful stories, and practical advice gathered from his own experience as well as from interviews with dozens of the most suc…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Unlock AI Mastery: Secrets to Accelerate Business Growth and Dominate Competitors with Proven AI Strategies

Unlock AI Mastery: Secrets to Accelerate Business Growth and Dominate Competitors with Proven AI Strategies

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a tool—it's a game-changer. Unlock AI Mastery demystifies AI and reveals practical strategies for leveraging its transformative power to revolutionize your business. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just s…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Mastering the VC Game: A Venture Capital Insider Reveals How to Get from Start-up to IPO on Your Terms

Mastering the VC Game: A Venture Capital Insider Reveals How to Get from Start-up to IPO on Your Terms

Jeffrey Bussgang is one of a very few people who have played on both sides of this high-stakes game. Now he draws on his unique perspective to offer high-level insights, colorful stories, and practical advice gathered from his own experience as well as from interviews with dozens of the most suc…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

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