New Startup Mindset - by Sandra Shpilberg (Paperback)

About the Book

A must-read for aspiring startup founders and current entrepreneurs, especially those who may think they don't fit the mold of a Silicon Valley founder, this groundbreaking guide by the founder and CEO of Seeker Health systematically dismantles the current startup culture and offers a new way of building companies that can make a definitive and profound impact.

Book Synopsis

This provocative startup tale of success exposes Silicon Valley's startup myths and sets forth a new approach for aspiring and current founders to build companies that make an impact.

In New Startup Mindset, Sandra Shpilberg, founder and CEO of Seeker Health, introduces a new mindset for starting and building a successful company. Shpilberg shows that Silicon Valley's startup formula--a few young male cofounders attempting to build a unicorn funded by venture capital--is a broken system that puts excessive emphasis on hype and improbable outsized outcomes, disregards real results such as revenue and profit, and promotes limiting beliefs for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

When Shpilberg founded Seeker Health, a digital patient-finding platform, in 2015, she did almost everything differently than the blazed path: she chose to be a solo founder, didn't pursue an incubator, didn't accept outside funding, led development of software despite not being a programmer, and charged customers from month one. Instead of creating hype about fundraising based on fictitious valuations, Shpilberg focused on customer needs, yielding a startup with revenue, profit, and impact; and three years later, a large life science services company acquired her startup while she was still the sole owner.

In this expanded second edition, Shpilberg shares her success story of starting, building, and exiting her startup and provides readers with sage insights and practical tools to follow this approach. This book is simultaneously a needed dose of reality for Silicon Valley and a large serving of inspiration for those who want to create something from nothing. It is a must-read for aspiring startup founders and current entrepreneurs, especially those who may think they don't fit the mold of a Silicon Valley founder and are open to a new way of making a definitive and profound impact with the companies they create.

Review Quotes

"Sandra Shpilberg is a unicorn and this book is one, too. Simultaneously profound and practical, replete with the soundest advice and great storytelling while being tender toward the reader's soul, this is a game-changing must-read for anyone who dreams of creating a business--and in particular for those who don't fit the mold. Go Sandra Shpilberg, go!"--Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of the New York Times bestseller How to Raise an Adult and Real American: A Memoir

"Perfectionism and fear can be big internal stumbling blocks for entrepreneurs, especially women and minorities. New Startup Mindset offers insights that can transform your journey and enable you to build a successful company on your terms. A must-read for anyone who wishes to lead the creation of a company."--Sally Helgesen, author of How Women Rise and The Female Vision

"Sandra Shpilberg's phenomenal book, which showcases her literary talent and entrepreneurial skills, will change the minds of aspiring entrepreneurs . . . for the better."--Michael Szenberg, editor in chief emeritus, American Economist; distinguished professor of economics, Touro College and University System

"Sandra Shpilberg's book is a must-read for all founders or anyone contemplating starting a business. She graciously provides an insider's guide on how to overcome a wide array of challenges that founders face. This is a gem of a resource for any type of entrepreneur."--Mona Bijoor, founder of JOOR, partner of Kings Circle Capital, author of Startups and Downs: The Secrets of Resilient Entrepreneurs

"If you're thinking about starting a business, New Startup Mindset is THE book to read. Sandra's story offers lots of practical wisdom and inspiring examples delivered with even more heart. It's the book I was looking for during my early days of running CD Baby--this new way of thinking would have had me jumping out of my seat in excitement."--Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby and author of Anything You Want

"New Startup Mindset can dramatically change your approach to starting the life you want. No matter what stage of your life, this book will teach you how to value and honor yourself, how to overcome obstacles, how to continue the momentum, and how to (maybe for the last time) START your next chapter." --Shayla McMurray, So Fine Print

"For anyone who may think they don't fit the mold of a typical Silicon Valley founder, this book will provide you with practical wisdom and sound advice. It is an insider's guide to a game-changing new method." --BookThinkHers