Starting Startups

""Starting Startups is the rare book that bridges vision and execution. Doug Park distills decades of hard-won insights into a clear, evidence-based roadmap for building companies that last. As a founder and investor, I wish I'd had this playbook earlier--it's a must-read for anyone serious about turning great ideas into enduring impact."" -- Kevin Chou Founder, Bright Saver; Managing Partner, SuperLayer; Former CEO, Kabam ""As a venture capitalist, I've seen how bright people and good ideas still fail without the right framework. In Starting Startups, Douglas Park shows founders how to systematically align team, product, and market strategy while leveraging legal as a force multiplier. This book is a must-read for anyone serious about building not just a startup, but a company that lasts."" -- Carey Lai Cofounder & General Partner, Conductive Ventures ""Starting Startups delivers a clear, evidence-based framework that every founder and investor should read. Douglas Park uniquely integrates law, strategy, and organizational science into a practical playbook for building companies that not only attract capital but last."" -- Roger Royse Partner, Haynes Boone; author, Dead on Arrival: How to Avoid and Legal Mistakes That Could Kill Your Start-Up and 10,000 Startups: Legal Strategies for Startup Success ""In a space where speed often beats structure, Starting Startups proves that the smartest founders never treat legal strategy as an afterthought. Doug breaks down how to scale fast while staying aligned, compliant, and fundable. If you're building in technology, this book isn't optional--it's an edge."" -- Troy Murray WEB3 DeFi Entrepreneur, Barnbridge Founder ""Grounded in evidence-based insights and distilled from decades of legal expertise and real-world startup advising, Starting Startups is a true standout in the crowded world of founder resources. As a former corporate lawyer turned angel investor and strategic advisor, I've seen countless founders stumble over the very challenges Park addresses head-on--legal, strategic, and executional. This guide equips founders and ecosystem players with a practical playbook for building companies that are not only fundable but also scalable and durable-I highly recommend it to every founder, investor, and advisor."" -- Oriana Li Halevy Investor & Board Director, Sand Hill Angels ""Essential reading for founders and early-stage operators. Starting Startups' integration of the 3Ps with law and social science provides a new approach that is clear, practical, and genuinely useful."" -- Bernard Moon Cofounder & Partner, SparkLabs Group ""From the court to startups, you need a system to turn talent into winning. Starting Startups is the playbook founders need to win."" -- Nick Van Exel NBA All-Star with the Los Angeles Lakers; Cofounder & Partner, Kold Sports ""Every startup founder and investor should read Dr. Park's magnificent book. It is simply brilliant, written by a master strategist who has successfully represented myriad companies, often at their most existential moments. Park is an extraordinary public intellectual who possesses world-class training and insight in three distinct disciplines: sociology, business strategy, and law. This exceptional background imparts on the work the rare quality of combining both cutting-edge academic research with real-world examples--all drawn from Park's deep, personal experience. The beautiful writing--concise, declarative, and immensely insightful--make it a joy to read. I simply cannot recommend Starting Startups highly enough."" -- Reza Dibadj Professor, University of San Francisco School of Law ""Douglas Park's Starting Startups distills decades of wisdom into a clear framework for building companies that last. As a founder, I've seen firsthand how his 3Ps--People, Product, Position--turn vision into disciplined execution and durable success."" -- Niki V. Santo CEO & Co-Founder, Swaza ""In a world where many startups fail because they never see how the pieces fit together, Dr. Park's unique vision and experience help you integrate the strategic, organizational, legal, and technological keys to envisioning your venture, formulating it, and guiding you towards your next steps. This eminently practical book helps you see both the forest and the trees. An innovative take on innovation!"" -- Dr. Gary Katzenstein Graduate School of Management, UC Davis ""Listen to the lawyers. They always know what's best."" -- Toby Stuart Leo Helzel Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business; faculty director, Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program; author of Anointed: The Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World