Dean A. Shepherd is Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado. Dean received his doctorate and MBA from Bond University (Australia) and a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. His research interests include the decision making of entrepreneurs, new venture strategy, venture capital, growth, and optimization. He has published his research in Academy of Management Review; Entrepreneurship, Theory and Practice; European Journal of Operational Research; IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management; Journal of Business Venturing; Journal of Management; Journal of Management Studies; Management Science; the Strategic Management Journal, and others. Dean has also published two books - - New Venture Strategy: Timing, Environmental Uncertainty and Performance with Mark Shanley and Attracting Equity Investors: Positioning, Preparing and Presenting the Business Plan with Evan Douglas- - and along with Jerry Katz is co-editor of Advances in Entrepreneurship, Firm Emergence and Growth. Dean, his wife Suzie, and two children Jack and [soon to be born] love visiting their native land of Australia. Although he loves surfing, Dean no longer attempts to catch waves like those displayed on the cover of the book.