Nicole Junkermann: Five Books That Shaped Me

Nicole Junkermann is an international investor and entrepreneur who has founded and sold her own businesses, raised a private equity fund and, most recently, made waves in the venture capital world through her VC firm, NJF Capital. She is invested in more than 45 businesses, with a particular interest in sectors like FinTech, BioTech, Software as a Service (SaaS) and AgriTech, and 12 of the businesses she has invested in are considered unicorns – companies with a valuation of more than $1 billion.

She shared her must-read books for budding founders and investors alike with us; here they are:

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

“This is a book that appears repeatedly in recommendations and reading lists from founders, and for good reason,” says Nicole. “Phil Knight’s memoir about how he founded Nike – which would go on to become perhaps the world’s best-known brand, and which revolutionised the trainer industry – is the ne plus ultra of start-up origin stories. It’s a hugely compelling read.” 

The Cryptopians by Laura Shin

“Laura Shin is an excellent journalist covering the crypto space,” Nicole explains, “and her early-days retelling of the history of crypto, from the founding of various cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Etherium to today’s hype-crazed, market-upending crypto space is as thrilling and informative a saga as you could hope for. It’s also hugely in-depth and I’d recommend anyone interested in the technology and the market to read it to learn more, if they haven’t already.”

Virtual Society by Herman Narula

“This book only came out in October 2022,” says Nicole, “but it is a brilliant and up-to-date statement of philosophical intent as to what the metaverse could and should become. Herman Narula is a founder based in the UK, and his gaming company Improbable is looking into all the ways Web3 might influence the way we live in the future. The beautiful thing about this book is that at heart, he is an optimist – this is a rare take on the metaverse that is uncynical and enthusiastic, without being naïve.”

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

“It might sound funny to put such a huge, old, famous novel on a list like this aimed at businesspeople,” says Nicole, “but making time to read Cervantes or someone similar in another language – Shakespeare, or Victor Hugo, say – is an example of how businesspeople can keep in touch with the history and culture of a place that they love while remaining relentlessly focused on the future. In my case, I have a very close relationship to Spain, where I spent time growing up, so Don Quixote is my go-to.”

China Shakes the World by James Kynge

“I spent a few years living in China when I was younger, and it has really shaped my view of the world. Without wanting to state the obvious, the world is so much bigger than the West, and often, that informs my investing strategy: what are people in Indonesia, or Morocco, or Brazil spending their money on? China is the biggest and most significant example of that, and James Kynge’s book is a great explanation of the country’s transition from Maoist planned economy to capitalist (authoritarian) powerhouse.”

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