“A compelling memoir revealing the heart and mind of a leading venture capitalist who shaped the industry. Chuck Newhall shares unflinching stories – both personal and professional – that shed light on how venture capitalists over the past half century have contributed to America’s ascendance as an entrepreneurial power.”
Why the venture capitalist is important
No one has ever explained how a venture capitalist plays an active role in creating world changing companies. Dare Disturb the Universe tells stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly of creating companies and explains how the venture capital industry created 80% of the American Economy and how the industry faces the chance of significant legislation which could severely damage it. Venture Capital is different from leverage buyouts and hedge funds – it needs to be regulated in an entirely different way.
Because they often hire the senior management, help develop the business model, introduce the company to its largest customers, and provide governance. It is a role akin to becoming an entrepreneur, not just an investor.
“A lot of people think venture capital is a game of numbers. It’s not. It’s a game of courage. It’s about having the courage to put trust in others, and the conviction to do the right thing – even when it’s hard.”
Read excerpts from the book
NEA’s First Fundraising & Corporate Culture
The following are excerpts from Dare Disturb the Universe. NEA’s differentiating quality lay in our willingness to invest in many more industries than the typical California partnership then focused on (semiconductors and computers). I wrote a ten-page document at T....
General Doriot’s words to Chuck: “How do you know who is an entrepreneur?”
The following is an excerpt from Dare Disturb the Universe. “How do you know who is an entrepreneur? It takes time. You meet his family, you visit his home, and you try every way to get inside his head. The technology entrepreneur must be thoroughly grounded in the...
Memory of Chuck’s father and Laurance Rockefeller, the birth of Reaction Motors
The follow is an excerpt from Dare Disturb the Universe. In 1938, it was obvious the world was going to war, so Father joined the Army Air Corps and was commissioned as a captain, rising in rank over the course of the war to colonel, under the command of General...
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About the author
Charles Newhall
As an author, Vietnam Veteran, and Venture Capitalist, Chuck has had a life full of both great challenges and admirable successes. His books take readers on a journey through his life starting with Fearful Odds, which recounts his service in Vietnam for which he earned a Purple Heart along with other distinguished medals. As a result of the war, Chuck experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that had a devastating impact on his life, further complicated when his first wife died by suicide. His second book, Brightside Gardens, is the story of building a formal garden with 54 garden rooms, over a 40-year period as a coping mechanism for dealing with PTSD. Chuck’s third book, Dare Disturb the Universe, tells the story of his career as a pioneer in venture capitalism and how his obsession with the New Enterprise Associates (NEA) was a defense mechanism for dealing with depression.
