Zero to IPO: Over $1 Trillion of Actionable Advice from the World’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs
by Frederic Kerrest · 2022
In a nutshell
A comprehensive startup guide by Frederic Kerrest, cofounder of Okta, distilling lessons from building Okta and interviews with top founders and investors. It covers idea validation, fundraising, go‑to‑market, scaling, culture, and leadership, making it a must‑read playbook for startup founders aiming to grow from inception to IPO.
Zero to IPO: Over $1 Trillion of Actionable Advice from the World’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs
Category: Fundraising & Investment
Type: Book / Startup guide
Author: Frederic Kerrest
Brand / Publisher: Harper Business (HarperCollins)
Source:
Overview
“Zero to IPO” is a comprehensive guide for startup founders that distills lessons from building Okta and from conversations with leading founders and investors. It is designed as a practical playbook for taking a company from initial idea through growth, scaling, and ultimately IPO.
Features
-
End‑to‑end startup playbook
- Covers the full journey from idea validation to IPO.
- Focuses on practical, repeatable lessons rather than theory.
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Founder‑operator perspective
- Written by Frederic Kerrest, cofounder and longtime executive of Okta.
- Grounded in experience building an enterprise software company that IPO’d in 2017.
- Incorporates insights from hosting the Zero to IPO podcast with founders and investors.
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Core topics addressed
- Idea & validation: How to evaluate and pressure‑test startup ideas.
- Fundraising: Approaches to raising capital and working with investors.
- Go‑to‑market: Guidance on launching products and building early traction.
- Scaling: Lessons on growing headcount, customers, and revenue.
- Culture & leadership: Building company culture and developing as a leader.
- IPO readiness: Considerations for preparing a company to go public.
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Audience focus
- Startup founders and aspiring founders.
- Early‑stage software and technology entrepreneurs.
- Operators interested in the path from startup to public company.
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Author background integration
- Draws on Kerrest’s roles in setting corporate priorities, driving innovation, and engaging with customers, partners, and investors.
- Informed by his advisory work with early‑stage software founders and entrepreneurship programs.
Ideal For
- Founders planning to raise capital and scale a technology startup.
- Operators in growth‑stage companies preparing for later‑stage financing or IPO.
- Readers seeking distilled lessons from multiple successful entrepreneurs and investors.
Pricing
Pricing is determined by the retailer (e.g., Amazon) and may vary by format (hardcover, audiobook, e‑book). See the source link for current pricing.
Reference
Zero to IPO: Over $1 Trillion of Actionable Advice from the World’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
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