"Americans now recognize an ugly underside to innovation, as technology spreads dangerous lies, harms society, and opens new lines of attack on democratic institutions. "Big tech" companies are frequently blamed for this, but how did we get here? The Venture Alchemists the stories of the entrepreneurs and investors behind tech firms such as PayPal, Uber, and Amazon-what their philosophies are, how they grew their companies, and the power they now wield through the data we've freely given them. As these tech companies grew, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs changed markets and culture by turning silicon into gold and gold into prestige and power. Readers will learn how and why we got to this point, how the conveniences of big business and technology are not "free," and what we can do to turn things around"--