Based on the famous Computer Science course CS183: Startup at Stanford University
, Zero to One proposes an inspiring thesis for what it takes to create an impactful startup and win in the long run.
"If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets."
(Peter Thiel)
Peter Thiel begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of technological stagnation, even if we’re too distracted by shiny mobile devices to notice. Information technology has improved rapidly, but there is no reason why progress should be limited to computers or Silicon Valley. Progress can be achieved in any industry or area of business. It comes from the most important skill that every leader must master: learning to think for yourself
.
Doing what someone else already knows how to do takes the world from 1 to n
, adding more of something familiar. But when you do something new, you go from 0 to 1
. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. Tomorrow’s champions will not win by competing ruthlessly in today’s marketplace. They will escape competition altogether, because their businesses will be unique.
About the authors
Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur and investor. He started PayPal
in 1998, led it as CEO, and took it public in 2002.
In 2004 he made the first outside investment in Facebook, where he serves as a director.
Also in 2004, he launched Palantir Technologies
, a software company that harnesses computers to empower human analysts in fields like national security and global finance.
He has provided early funding for LinkedIn
, Yelp
, and dozens of successful technology startups, many run by former colleagues who have been dubbed the “PayPal Mafia.”
He is a partner at Founders Fund, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has funded companies like SpaceX
and Airbnb
.
Blake Masters was a student at Stanford Law School
in 2012, when his detailed notes on Peter Thiel’s class CS183: Startup became an internet sensation. He went on to co-found Judicata, a legal research technology startup.
Based on the famous Computer Science course CS183: Startup at Stanford University
, Zero to One proposes an inspiring thesis for what it takes to create an impactful startup and win in the long run.
"If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets."
(Peter Thiel)
Peter Thiel begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of technological stagnation, even if we’re too distracted by shiny mobile devices to notice. Information technology has improved rapidly, but there is no reason why progress should be limited to computers or Silicon Valley. Progress can be achieved in any industry or area of business. It comes from the most important skill that every leader must master: learning to think for yourself
.
Doing what someone else already knows how to do takes the world from 1 to n
, adding more of something familiar. But when you do something new, you go from 0 to 1
. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. Tomorrow’s champions will not win by competing ruthlessly in today’s marketplace. They will escape competition altogether, because their businesses will be unique.
About the authors
Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur and investor. He started PayPal
in 1998, led it as CEO, and took it public in 2002.
In 2004 he made the first outside investment in Facebook, where he serves as a director.
Also in 2004, he launched Palantir Technologies
, a software company that harnesses computers to empower human analysts in fields like national security and global finance.
He has provided early funding for LinkedIn
, Yelp
, and dozens of successful technology startups, many run by former colleagues who have been dubbed the “PayPal Mafia.”
He is a partner at Founders Fund, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has funded companies like SpaceX
and Airbnb
.
Blake Masters was a student at Stanford Law School
in 2012, when his detailed notes on Peter Thiel’s class CS183: Startup became an internet sensation. He went on to co-found Judicata, a legal research technology startup.