Dare Disturb the Universe

“Over my 35 years in venture capital, people have often told me how easy the business looks. You just invest in a company, take them public and everybody makes a lot of money. They say. The truth is that happens on occasion but there are way more gut wrenching challenges than victories. It is easy to celebrate magnificent wins in a portfolio, but successful venture capitalists know that the real satisfaction comes from doing the hard work and long hours helping struggling companies become successful. This part of our business is not visible from the outside looking in.”

“Dare Disturb the Universe is a fascinating description of the venture capital industry with a particularly human perspective. While many investors think about data rooms, investment gains and losses, deals per partner, pre- and post-money valuations, etc., the reality is that the venture and entrepreneurial ecosystem is all about people. Chuck Newhall, through the lens of NEA’s forty-year-plus history, relates the very personal and emotional highs and lows that are involved in creating new products, new companies, and new industries. It is a real-life story that is rarely documented.”

“An amazing story of family ingenuity in the venture capital industry. Chuck Newhall writes a beautifully candid and compelling account that integrates personal triumph and tragedy into the history of New Enterprise Associates, and more.”

"Love the book... so rich, so authentic, so you. It was hard to put down. You have uniquely captured the great personalities while telling the deep-down story of our industry. It is a story that has never been told in this depth."

"I have had the privilege to serve on NEA's Board of Advisors for almost all of the forty years they've been in existence. Chuck does a wonderful job of explaining the longer history of venture capital, including NEA's founding and what venture capitalists struggle to do in starting and building companies. His insights are revealing and informative."

"Considering that we benefit from an economy made - and remade - by venture capital, we know little of its inner-workings. Here, Chuck Newhall III, a pioneer of VC in the 20th century, offers deeper historical perspective and an insightful take of the industry's challenges and triumphs over the past five decades."

"The U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystem has made a significant positive impact on our economy, society, and innovation, by creating jobs, wealth, and life changing products and services. In his book, Chuck Newhall highlights the importance of patient, resilient, and long-term investors; strong, values-driven venture firms; and the starring role entrepreneurs play on the journey to success. The successes of venture-backed startups over the past fifty years—thanks in part to Chuck Newhall, his peers, and NEA—have helped make the U.S. venture industry the envy of the world."