The Art and Science of Venture Incubation

Even adaptive “lean” planning and experimentation cannot guarantee success when uncertainties are as great as a venturer’s ambitions. Instead of relying exclusively on such scientifically-grounded approaches, venture craftsmen artfully redirect the energy of startups that might otherwise spin out of control towards failure.

In Spinning Into Control, Amiel Kornel weaves together the stories of entrepreneurs like Sun Basket’s Adam Zbar, Minecraft’s Markus Persson, Y Combinator’s Paul Graham, and Metacode Technologies’ Joel Schatz, along with examples from beyond business, including legendary ocean racing sailor Isabelle Autissier, acclaimed urban designer Gerard Penot, and historical figures like gypsy-jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. In a surprising discovery, Amiel shows how meeting challenges in a broad variety of fields rife with uncertainty relies on skilful improvisation.