The Big Book of BrainDumps - How To Grow Run and raise capital for your software business

Chris Tottman

Summary

What if you could shortcut years of painful trial and error with the hard-won wisdom of Business Software Founders who’ve already been to war?

How to Grow, Run, and Raise Capital for Your Software Business is your tactical field guide to building, scaling, and funding a successful B2B SaaS company. Curated by Chris Tottman (MessageLabs and Notion Capital), Richard Blundell, Paul Watson and Daisy Tottman, this isn’t another theory-heavy business book. It’s a raw, practical, battle-tested toolkit built around more than 70 visual ‘BrainDumps’ – frameworks that have racked up over 20 million impressions on LinkedIn and transformed how Founders think, pitch, lead, and grow.

Each BrainDump distils a critical startup concept into a punchy, one-page visual. But in this book, for the first time, they’re unpacked in full, with Founder commentary, investor psychology, and step-by-step guidance to apply them in your business.

Whether you’re stuck at $150k ARR or sprinting toward your Series A or way beyond, this book gives you the clarity, confidence, and tools to move faster. From defining your Value Proposition to crafting a killer Investor Deck, it’s all here – no fluff, no filler.

Loved by Founders, Operators, and Investors alike – this is the book every software CEO wishes they had when they started.

"I learned from Chris what thinking in systems was and it changed my life and business. This book encapsulates that and much more – this is a must read for all SaaS Founders.” - Guillermo Flor, VC Investor and author of the top rated ProductMarketFit.tech Newsletter

"A book that cuts through the noise of founder advice. Equal parts sweat, scars, and sharp strategy – this is Founder-first content at its finest.” - Ivan Landabaso, Founder, VC and author of 'StartupRiders.com' newsletter

"A must have companion for any Tech Founder. It's an honest, tactical, and relentlessly practical toolkit we all wish we had sooner.” - Rachel Turner, author of the bestselling book The Founders Survival Guide

“The BrainDumps that took over LinkedIn and the Most Useful SaaS Book I’ve Read In Years. No filler. No fluff. No 300 pages of things you already know. That’s why *How to Grow, Run and Raise Capital for Your Software Business* stands out.” - Ruben Dominguez Ibar, The VC Corner

Available since: 08/14/2025.

Science & Technology

Other books that might interest you

Fixer-Upper - How to Repair...

Jenny Schuetz

Much ink has been spilled in recent years talking about political divides and inequality in the United States. But these discussions too often miss one of the most important factors in the divisions among Americans: the fundamentally unequal nature of the nation's housing systems. 
 
 
 
And this divide deepens other inequalities. Increasingly, important life outcomes—performance in school, employment, even life expectancy—are determined by where people live and the quality of homes they live in. 
 
 
 
Public policies enacted by federal, state, and local governments helped create and reinforce the bad housing outcomes endured by too many people. Taxes, zoning, institutional discrimination, and the location and quality of schools, roads, public transit, and other public services are among the policies that created inequalities in the nation's housing patterns. 
 
 
 
Fixer-Upper is the first book assessing how the broad set of local, state, and national housing policies affect people and communities. It proposes practical policy changes than can make stable, decent-quality housing more available and affordable for all Americans in all communities.

Show book

Streaming Sharing Stealing: Book...

Briefly Summaries

This is a concise summary and analysis of Streaming, Sharing, Stealing , by Michael D. Smith and Rahul Telang.
 
It is not the original book and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Michael D. Smith and Rahul Telang.
 
Ideal those seeking a quick and insightful overview.
 
Streaming, Sharing, Stealing explores the impact of digital streaming on the entertainment industry, analyzing how platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and others have transformed how we consume media. The book delves into the economics of streaming, the rise of piracy, and the evolving relationships between consumers, content creators, and distributors. It provides a detailed look at how digital platforms are reshaping the media landscape, offering both challenges and opportunities for businesses and artists.

Show book

Fighting Phishing - Everything...

Roger A. Grimes

Fighting Phishing: Everything You Can Do to Fight Social Engineering and Phishing serves as the ideal defense against phishing. Unlike most anti-phishing books, which focus only on one or two strategies, this book discusses all the policies, education, and technical strategies that are essential to a complete phishing defense. This book gives clear instructions for deploying a great defense-in-depth strategy to defeat hackers and malware. Written by the lead data-driven defense evangelist at the world's number one anti-phishing company, KnowBe4, Inc., this guide shows you how to create an enduring, integrated cybersecurity culture. 
 
 
 
● Learn what social engineering and phishing are, why they are so dangerous to your cybersecurity, and how to defend against them 
 
 
 
● Educate yourself and other users on how to identify and avoid phishing scams, to stop attacks before they begin 
 
 
 
● Discover the latest tools and strategies for locking down data when phishing has taken place, and stop breaches from spreading 
 
 
 
● Develop technology and security policies that protect your organization against the most common types of social engineering and phishing

Show book

Covid Vaccine Adverse Reaction...

Caroline Pover

Understand the practical and emotional impact of your symptoms and learn to organize every step of your health management. If you’re dealing with a range of complicated and confusing health problems following a Covid vaccination, this guide is for you. An adverse reaction to a Covid vaccination can be a deeply distressing experience. It may leave you mystified as you attempt to deal with a range of physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms that few seem able to explain, diagnose, treat, or even acknowledge. The Covid Vaccine Adverse Reaction Survival Guide is here to help, taking you through this stressful experience in a way that will help you feel more in control of your life. The CVARS Guide addresses key areas of recovery to maximize your healing potential. It is also essential reading for anyone providing personal or professional support to someone who is dealing with an adverse reaction. Packed with recipes, worksheets, symptom charts, appointment records, and diary pages, the CVARS Guide demystifies nutrition plans and advice and includes ways of keeping track of symptoms so that you can tackle them without feeling overwhelmed, while you develop your own unique recovery plan.

Show book

Foraging Medicinal Herbs and...

Samantha Deere

Discover how to become self-sufficient through foraging — cut back on your expenses while living a healthy lifestyle!— Enjoy the freedom of knowing your way in nature and the fun of a foraging journey by yourself or with loved ones. 
But not every plant you find can be consumed, and some plants may be poisonous, endangered, or at-risk and shouldn’t be harvested. 
There are a lot of things to consider if you want to forage properly. 
That’s why this book was created! 
Inside, you’ll find everything you need to know to get started with foraging. For example:45 edible and medicinal herbs for foraging — know their specific health benefits, which parts to use, and how to consume themThe foraging traditions of the indigenous people in the Great Lakes region — get ready to learn from their ancient practicesHow to forage ethically and sustainably — ensure that you and other foragers get a continuous supplyHow to harvest, prepare and store different plant parts to maximize their utility10 essential things to bring with you when hunting for edible wild food and medicinal plants4 preservation methods to help you save time and moneyHow to identify and avoid poisonous plants — don’t compromise your life and the lives of those you loveHow to harvest highly nutritious plantsUrban foraging: best cities in the Great Lakes region to begin your forager’s journey 
And much more. 
The future is uncertain, but if you learn how to be resourceful, you’ll be able to get through the tough times. 
Start equipping yourself with the proper knowledge today! 
-> WITH PLANT PICTURES AND SEASONAL FORAGING CALENDAR DOWNLOAD!

Show book

Spring Ayurvedic Cleanse - A 14...

Noah Volz

What would your body be like if you felt light, flexible, and strong?What would your mind be like if you felt focused, engaged, and awake?What would your soul be like if you felt connected, aligned, and purposeful?Are you ready to find out? This book guides you through a seasonal approach that will unlock the transformative powers of your body through Ayurveda. This is accomplished by removing stagnation (Kapha) in your body, mind, and soul.Kapha can lead to being overweight, feeling stagnant, and being greedy.Not only will this book provide you with a step by step guide to reducing Kapha. It is also packed with cooking techniques and recipes that will turn your meals into nourishment and healing. You will both learn about Ayurveda and fresh, seasonal recipes that help you create and maintain balance. This book includes template meals, shopping lists and everything you will need to jump start your body this Spring.

Show book