Venture capitalists are the magic behind 70 per cent of the biggest and most impressive stories of the technological revolution but little is known of the method in their madness or even who they are. A successful venture capitalist from Silicon Valley herself, Ruthann Quindlen directed the initial public offerings for Microsoft, among many others, and is uniquely placed to tell the remarkable tale of the rise of the venture capitalist economy. Known to be a fearless and inspired gambler herself, Quindlen has seen first-hand the best and worst of what venture capital can do. Is it just lots and lots of cash? Smarts? Critical, strategic relationships? Or just plain luck? Where does the money come from and how does one decide how much to put and where to put it? This book answers all these questions and more as it provides a portrait of what life and work are all about for venture capitalists.