“Readers . . . will find a real-life 'The Office,' Silicon Valley version, alternately comical and poignant.”―New York TimesThis systematic analysis of everyday life inside a tech startup dissects the logic of venture capital and its consequences for entrepreneurs, workers, and societies.In recent years, dreams about our technological future have soured as digital platforms have undermined privacy, eroded labor rights, and weakened...

In recent years, dreams about our technological future have soured as digital platforms have undermined privacy, eroded labor rights, and weakened democratic discourse. In light of the negative consequences of innovation, some blame harmful algorithms or greedy CEOs. Behind the Startup focuses instead on the role of capital and the influence of financiers. Drawing on nineteen months of participant-observation research inside a successful Silicon Valley startup, this book examines ...