"More than 600,000 new businesses are launched each year. How can a startup find the funding it needs to survive? When, if at all, should a company go public? How does an entrepreneur build and manage a work place--and create a lasting legacy? Maynard Webb has helped found, fund, and grow dozens of successful companies, and has driven strategic change at Salesforce, eBay, Everwise, and Visa, among other worldwide corporations. Known for offering savvy insight, encouragement, and a dose of reality in the form of engaging personal letters to a select group of business leaders, Webb now shares his lessons with the rest of America's aspiring entrepreneurs--at any age and stage in their careers--in [this book]. Featuring nearly eighty inspiring, informative, and instructive letters, Dear Founder is rich with sound advice on an array of business topics, from turning your idea into a reality to building a culture, to reaching key financial goals. This book is an indispensable guide to navigating the realities, risks, and rewards of being your own boss--and founding the company of your dreams."--Dust jacket. "Featuring nearly eighty inspiring, informative, and instructive letters, Dear Founder is rich with sound advice on an array of business topics, from turning your idea into a reality to building a culture, to reaching key financial goals. This book is an indispensable guide to navigating the realities, risks, and rewards of being your own boss and founding the company of your dreams."--jacket. "Wise, practical, and profitable letters to entrepreneurs, leaders, managers, and business owners in every field--from a leading executive, investor, and business founder" -- Amazon.com.

Includes index.

Part I: Getting started. The early days ; Financing your company -- Part II: Getting to relevance. Management basics ; Management challenges ; Personal challenges of leadership ; External roadblocks -- Part III: Getting to scale. Operational excellence ; Organizational challenges -- Part IV: Leaving a legacy. Building a company to last.