The Launch Path: Getting from a startup idea to a launch-ready venture.

by Bret Waters

Written by a Silicon Valley startup veteran who teaches entrepreneurship at Stanford and coaches startup CEO's at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, this book is for anyone who wants to follow an effective and efficient path from a startup idea to a launch-ready, funding-ready venture. Written in a compelling, first-person style (and peppered with Silicon Valley anecdotes) the author explores patterns of startup success and failure while providing a clear process for turning your startup idea into a launched venture that is poised for success and growth. Whether your goal is launching the next billion-dollar tech “unicorn,” a rock-solid mid-sized business, or a social venture focused on global impact, The Launch Path will help to get you there safely and successfully. The book comes with a companion website that has additional resources and tools for entrepreneurs and innovators.

310 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2023

Reviews

[Jasmeet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book when I was looking for business courses at Stanford continuing education to help me understand startups in Silicon Valley. I had a good idea but I didn’t know what to do with it! Fast forward Spring 2025 I enrolled into Bret Waters course at Stanford continuing education and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made since moving to the Bay Area. The book is a wonderful guide for anyone aching to turn their idea to a venture and the course…is the cherry on top. Thank you Bret!

[Mikhail Filatov · Rating 2 out of 5]

And for the “Launch path” of the book a good editor is absolutely mandatory. This book definitely didn’t have any - it has sentences like “here are the submission guidelines ”(p.185)…probably copy paste from a deck, same stories repeated several times (e.g. about a startup founder asking 10 of his friends opinion about his idea), etc.
But overall-nothing really new and while there is a lot of information, there is no really “path” or cohesive story.

[Veronica Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem!

It’s so easy to read but so full of insightful lessons, bunch of inspiration and couple of jokes in the between.

I definitely feel everyone who even dreams about become an entrepreneur needs to read this book. I am pretty sure you will get to action right after finishing it.

Thank you Bret. And long live to Tacos!

[Matt Davison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insane amount of typos and grammatical errors. But the content was undeniably enlightening