“BE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM, AND BECOME FLUENT IN THE LANGUAGE OF SILICON VALLEY"

Andrew Romans, McGraw Hill, Masters of Raising Venture Capital: Inside Secrets from Silicon Valley

In the fast-approaching iteration of a new fashion economy we call Smart Fashion, designers and brands are evolving into startups. This shift is not as far off as it might seem. Today, the number of AI and Web3 startups focused on fashion is growing noticeably. Our prediction: their total number will multiply several times over in the next few years. This is where the venture mindset comes into play. To avoid the pitfalls, new startups need both knowledge and sound business fundamentals. There are two choices: learn from your own mistakes (as I made all mentioned in the book, having been an entrepreneur and angel investor in media and fashion since 2005 and in financial engineering and blockchain projects since 2014), or turn to a reliable source. A standout and timely guide is a new and cool book by Andrew Romans Masters of Raising Venture Capital: Inside Secrets from Silicon Valley.

Writing a review of Andrew’s book is challenging for two clear reasons. First, the book speaks for itself, delivering insights with the commanding clarity of Caesar narrating the Gallic Wars after his triumph. Romans writes from a personal, assured perspective—direct, inspiring, and precise, as only leaders do. It’s a straightforward and comprehensive manual, almost an encyclopedia for venture capital. "This book is about NOT making mistakes after the first or ninth VC funding round. Trust me when I tell you that raising angel and VC funding well is not very different from walking through a minefield" - he says in his own words. Just scanning the Table of Contents reads like a Pater Noster, and here’s a glimpse of just a few sections:

• The Big Picture of How to Get Funded While Still Owning Some of Your Company at the Time of Exit
• Be the Smartest Person in the Room, and Become Fluent in the Language of Silicon Valley
• Understanding VCs – The More You Speak Their Language and Understand Them, the Easier It Will Be to Get Funded
• Everything You Need to Know About Your Board of Directors (BoD) and How Not to Get Shot in the Back
• Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Raising Venture Capital
• Who Wins or Loses in a World of AI? Do I Need to Move to Silicon Valley to Attract Funding?
• Most Exits Are Sub-$50m
• Advice for Non-American Startups Raising VC Funding or Seeking to Raise from U.S. Investors
• How to Be a Successful Angel Investor
• Helping Others Selflessly Is the Magic Dust of Getting Ahead

The second challenge in reviewing a masterwork is the formidable expertise behind it. Previous endorsements of Romans’ work include industry giants like the head of Eric Schmidt’s family office and legendary crypto-investor Tim Draper. Collectively, these figures manage capital worth tens of billions—what more could I add?

Yet, there is immense value here for new entrants to the venture capital scene and the emerging economy of Smart Fashion. For them, Romans’ book will not only be a practical guide but also a foundation for the future. Someday, they’ll write their own reviews—and add new chapters to the history of fashion.