Venture Capitalist Pens Children's Book to Demystify the Startup World

Deena Shakir, a general partner at Lux Capital, has taken an unconventional approach to explaining her profession to her children. Rather than relying on traditional methods, she has authored a children's book, "Leena Mo, CEO," which aims to demystify the world of startups and venture capital for young readers.

Bridging the Gap Between Venture Capital and the Next Generation

Explaining Venture Capital to Children

Venture capital can be a complex and opaque industry, even for adults. Shakir has found creative ways to explain her work to her own children, such as bringing a chia pet that transforms into a unicorn to a preschool career day. However, the publication of "Leena Mo, CEO" represents a significant milestone in her efforts to make the startup world more accessible to her family."My older kids now understand that I help people who are starting businesses, and the book really helped explain it to them," Shakir said. "Before that, it depended. They'd see me on Bloomberg, and thought I was a TV personality. They know I taught a class at Stanford, and they used to think I was a teacher."

The Journey of Writing "Leena Mo, CEO"

Shakir's experience in writing "Leena Mo, CEO" was not unlike that of a startup founder. The process began in 2020 and faced numerous challenges, including rejections and a slow pace of progress. "This book almost didn't exist so many times," Shakir said. "It was against every force of nature that this is coming out—so many rejections, such a slow process. I could have given up a million times. I can't believe it's actually going to be out there in the world."However, Shakir persevered, and the book was recently published by Simon & Schuster. The story follows Leena, a young girl who builds a robot named Helmy to help with the snow-shoveling chore she dislikes. Leena's neighbor, Miss Irma, a venture capitalist-like character, invests in Leena's robot startup, helping it grow.

Stripping Away Jargon and Telling a Story

One of the key features of "Leena Mo, CEO" is its avoidance of industry jargon. Terms like "ARR," "multiples," and "valuations" are nowhere to be found. Instead, the book focuses on the core elements of entrepreneurship and venture capital, telling a story that can be easily understood by children.This approach serves a dual purpose. Not only does it make the content more accessible to young readers, but it also reminds adults of the fundamental principles underlying their work. "Stripping away jargon and telling a story to kids can remind us of what something is in its purest form," Shakir said. "It's helpful for them (as Shakir points out: 'You can't be it if you can't see it') and it's helpful for us, the adults."

Revealing the Essence of Venture Capital

The way Shakir has chosen to explain her profession to her children also provides insights into her own perspective on venture capital. Through the lens of "Leena Mo, CEO," it becomes clear that Shakir sees her role as an advocate, a believer, and an explorer, rather than just a financial gatekeeper."It reminds us of what we do in the first place, and why we do it," Shakir said. "And how someone explains their profession to kids also reveals how they feel about what they do. Do they see themselves as an advocate, a believer, an explorer? For Shakir, it's clear that VC is about backing creativity, making something for yourself—and for the world."