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Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Brad Feld’s Give First presents decades of experience in venture capital and mentorship and transforms that experience into a philosophy of non-transactional generosity that boosted his career and the Techstars accelerator network. The book starts with an enigmatic opening that instantly arrests the reader’s interest: “They can’t kill you, and they can’t eat you.” The author then defines Give First as the science of investing energy without thinking about returns; it is distinct from altruism and “paying it forward.” The first part of the book explores this philosophy in his personal story; the second part examines the eighteen principles of the Techstars Mentor Manifesto, including being Socratic and expecting nothing in return. The third part of the book focuses on the downsides, including obligatory behavior and burnout. Part four discusses the concept of Entrepreneurial Tzedakah, which reframes angel investing and philanthropy as extensions of the same ethos.
Give First fascinated me with the vivid stories, like almost missing the Fitbit opportunity due to distraction and a near-death rescue of Simple Energy. I learned a lot from this book about being authentic in mentorship. Brad Feld attacks transactional networking and advocates for a genuine one-to-one kind of mentorship that builds on emotional intelligence. I loved the way the author discusses authenticity, insisting that mentors should practice what they preach and excoriating venture-capitalist phrases such as “founder-friendly” and “I’m value-added.” There is something intimate about the voice, and that makes the book enjoyable. The author came across not just as an expert but as someone I can trust, especially when he shares personal stories related to marital issues and bipolar depression. This book was an utterly engaging, eye-opening, and informative read, and one that any mentor should have.
