Want to build the best possible foundation for your start-up tech company? There’s no substitute for knowledge, so it’s time to hit the books if so!

These top picks will show you everything you need to know, from creating the best working environment, to building a strong network of connections. There’s so much you can learn from the experience of others, so be sure to check these titles out:

The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future

Take a look into the future as this work explores the effect of technology over the next 30 years. The best part of The Inevitable is how it paints a picture of ways in which technological forces will overlap, mix and come to co-depend on each other — crucial to know if any of these trends relate to your business. From home-based virtual reality to manufacturing-focused AI, author, Kevin Kelly, discusses the long-term effects of technology and how they could affect how we live, work and buy. Want to prep your company now for the customer of tomorrow? Then, get ahead of the game.

How Google Works

Everyone starts from somewhere, but it’s easy to forget that once upon a time, no one had heard of Google! How Google Works was written by Google executives, Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg, and offers an authentic view in the corporate strategy, workplace culture, decision-making, and management philosophy of the brand. Renowned for its innovation, creativity, and ability to bounce back from errors (remember Wave?), this glimpse into the birth and evolution of Google is a must for anyone who wishes to emulate even a part of its success.

Networking Like a Pro

If you’re new to the sector, this one’s definitely a must-read. New tech businesses must reach out if they want to expand in the industry. From making useful contacts to develop your business, to implementing an effective referral marketing campaign; Networking Like a Pro offers tools, templates and a results-measuring system to help you action your networking strategy and make valuable business connections.

The Lean Start-Up

Eric Ries has also produced this book that is perfect for new tech entrepreneurs. This book looks at how new companies can launch, adapt and grow within an industry that has a lot of competition. Offering real examples of setting up a new business, you get a great insight into how to make a success of your business and avoid the typical pitfalls.

This book is essential to anyone who wants to remain innovative as their company picks up momentum.

The Industries of the Future

Stay one step ahead with Alec Ross. A New York Times bestseller, Ross delivers an extensive insight into your industry’s most important advances, from cybersecurity and robotics to genomics and big data, using input from global leaders. Ross was once the senior advisor for innovation to the former Secretary of State in the US, Hilary Clinton, and as such, his viewpoint is perceptive, learned and unique. His extensive travel has given him access to the some of the most powerful people in business, and his book is packed with astute observations regarding opportunities for growth and the unknown tech forces that are changing — or will change — the world.

Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World

Split into three parts, this next book has it all. The first section gives you an incredible insight into how start-up companies are today going from ‘initial concept’ to ‘multi-million-pounds status’ quicker than ever, and how tech — like 3D printing and androids — might be influencing this trend. Next, you read extraordinary comments and trade secrets from successful business people, such as Richard Branson, before you reach the section that night interest you the most. Bold’s finale discusses the various, actionable ways you can build your company, with tips on creating lucrative campaigns designed to rocket your start-up to the top. A must-read for the big dreamer.

Your One Word

Having created and sold his biotech company at 19 years old, Evan Carmichael should definitely be able to help you! Your One Word helps new entrepreneurs analyse their businesses, verify their aims and unlock their potential. If you need a boost of confidence and injection of motivation to start making your tech-business dreams come true, immerse yourself in the powerful words of Carmichael.

The Upstarts

Brad Stone offers those all-important real-life examples that are so useful for new businesses. The best thing about this book is the incredibly detailed account of two global companies: Uber and Airbnb. Reading this book, you find out how these giants began and developed to become two of the most respected and innovative brands in the world. As an entrepreneur yourself, this fascinating read will show you how you can also change standards — such as how people travel and what they expect from accommodation — to mirror these companies’ almost renegade attitude towards the established rules of business. What can your business do to change the world?

Conscious Capitalism

Author, Raj Sisodia, and CEO of Whole Foods John Mackey want to tell you how capitalism can work for your employees and for your network. Whether you’re new to business entirely or just new to the tech market, you need to have solid knowledge of how to treat everyone from your workers to your investors to be successful. Referencing several other leading companies — such as UPS, Google and Amazon — Conscious Capitalism gives an insightful and expert analysis of how you can infuse your business environment with positivity for the optimum workplace culture (an essential component of Google’s success and almost expected by many people working within the innovative tech industry today).

Understanding how your company can and will impact the world around it is crucial not only for creativity within your company, but for its overall success.

This article was researched and created by Where The Trade Buys, a leading print company based in the UK that produces quality life size cutouts.