Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure

Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure is Jerry Kaplan's first-hand account of founding GO Corporation, a pen computing company, in Silicon Valley during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The book chronicles the birth, growth, and challenges of a startup trying to pioneer new mobile computing technology in a competitive landscape. Kaplan documents the day-to-day realities of running a technology startup, from initial fundraising and recruiting to product development and market strategy. The narrative covers his interactions with venture capitalists, competitors, employees, and industry figures as he attempts to bring a revolutionary product to market. The author provides an insider's view of Silicon Valley's business culture during a pivotal period in computing history. The story includes details about meetings, negotiations, technical hurdles, and the complex relationships between entrepreneurs, investors, and established technology companies. This memoir serves as both a business case study and a reflection on innovation, risk-taking, and the human elements of technological entrepreneurship. The book reveals patterns and dynamics in the startup world that remain relevant to modern readers and entrepreneurs.

Readers consider this a candid look at the 1990s pen computing industry, with detailed accounts of startup fundraising, partnerships, and failures. Many cite Kaplan's honesty about mistakes and business challenges at GO Corporation. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex business dealings - Behind-the-scenes Silicon Valley dynamics - Personal narrative style that maintains interest - Practical lessons about startup pitfalls Common criticisms: - Too much focus on meetings and negotiations - Technical details can be overwhelming - Some found the ending abrupt Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (219 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) "A raw look at how startups actually work" - Amazon reviewer "Gets bogged down in corporate minutiae" - Goodreads reviewer "Best book about real startup life I've read" - Hacker News comment The book resonates with entrepreneurs who have experienced similar challenges, though some readers without business backgrounds find portions dry.

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In the Plex by Steven Levy This account follows Google's journey from Stanford project to tech giant through interviews with founders and employees.

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The New New Thing by Michael Lewis This narrative chronicles Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jim Clark's creation of multiple billion-dollar companies during the 1990s tech boom.

Revolution in The Valley by Andy Hertzfeld The book provides an insider's perspective of the development of the first Macintosh computer at Apple through personal stories from the engineering team.

🔸 Despite GO Corporation's innovative work on pen computing and tablet technology in the early 1990s (which the book chronicles), the company ultimately failed - but many of their ideas would later appear in devices like the iPad and other modern tablets. 🔸 Author Jerry Kaplan is credited with coining the term "pen computing" and was one of the first entrepreneurs to pursue the concept of a tablet computer with handwriting recognition. 🔸 The book provides a rare, candid look at the relationship between startups and venture capitalists, including detailed accounts of negotiations and the personal dynamics that can make or break funding deals. 🔸 While working on GO Corporation's tablet computer, Kaplan faced direct competition from Microsoft, which was developing its own pen computing system called "Windows for Pen Computing" - a David vs. Goliath story that forms a central conflict in the narrative. 🔸 The total amount of venture capital invested in GO Corporation before its eventual failure was approximately $75 million, making it one of the most well-funded startup failures in Silicon Valley during the early 1990s.