10 Books Every Tech Startup Founder Should Read

The Lean Startup has become the go-to book for tech startups. Eric Ries introduces the “lean” method, which stresses creating a basic working product (MVP) and tweaking it based on what customers say.

The main idea involves building something, testing it learning from the results, and then choosing to change direction or keep going.

This book shows founders how to come up with new ideas and get more done. It teaches them how to avoid wasting time and money on ideas that won’t work in real life.

Peter Thiel, who helped start PayPal, shares a fresh take on launching a company that brings something new to the world instead of just making existing products better.

Zero to One questions common ideas that tell founders to focus on new things that push the limits of what we think we can do.

Thiel’s thoughts on rivalry controlling markets, and starting with a daring plan are key for any tech entrepreneur who wants to leave a mark.

Ben Horowitz, an experienced entrepreneur and venture capitalist, talks about running a startup.

In The Hard Thing About Hard Things, he gives straightforward advice on the toughest choices a founder needs to makeᅳfrom letting employees go, to staying sane, to steering a company through tough times.

This book looks at the difficulties of entrepreneurship offering insights from someone who has been there.

Startups find it hard to move their tech product from early adopters to the mainstream market.

Crossing the Chasm tackles this issue by offering ways to connect early adopters with the wider market.

Moore’s ideas on how to position, market, and sell products are key for tech founders who want their products to become popular.

“Innovator’s Dilemma” is a key book that shows why companies that do well often can’t come up with fresh ideas. Christensen talks about “disruptive innovation,” where new firms can beat big ones by making things simpler and cheaper.

People who start tech companies need to get this process to shake up current markets and protect themselves from possible disruptors.

You have to read this book to stay on top of the always-changing tech world.

What makes some companies inspire loyalty while others don’t?

Simon Sinek argues that the most successful organizations begin with “why”ᅳtheir core purpose or belief.

Start with Why encourages founders to lead with a clear vision and mission to build a company culture that resonates with employees, customers, and investors alike.

This book reminds us that the “why” driving your startup often carries more weight than the “what” or “how.”

Andrew Grove, who led Intel as CEO, offers practical advice to manage teams, make decisions, and grow a company in High Output Management.

While it doesn’t zero in on startups, Grove’s insights work well for any tech founder.

This book provides the essentials to build a well-oiled productive organization covering everything from setting goals to evaluating performance.

In the tech industry, speed often leads to success. Blitzscaling by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman looks at how companies can grow to outpace their competitors.

The book talks about ways to handle fast growth, from hiring the best people to dealing with the risks of expanding too.

This book is a key resource for driven founders who aim to grow fast while staying in charge.

Every tech startup wants to make products people can’t live without.

Hooked by Nir Eyal looks at why some products become habits and others don’t. Eyal’s “Hook Model” shows how to design products that have an impact on users and keep them coming back.

Founders who want to enhance their product development and user experience should read this book.

Guy Kawasaki, a former Apple evangelist, provides a comprehensive guide to starting a company in The Art of the Start 2.0.

His book covers all aspects you need to know to launch and grow a startup, from pitching to investors to building a brand.

Kawasaki’s straight-talking advice coupled with real-world examples, makes this book essential for anyone in the early stages of setting up a tech company.