About the Author

Matthew C. Le Merle is co-founder of Fifth Era (www.fifthera.com) and managing partner of Keiretsu Capital, the world's largest angel network and most active US venture investor. For more information go to www.matthewlemerle.com. Matthew is a sought-after speaker and innovation consultant. He is an expert on digitization and technology transformations having advised leading companies including Bank of America, eBay, EDS, Gap, Genentech, Google, HP, Microsoft, PayPal and Tata/JLR and many other companies on innovation-related issues. Matthew has advised sovereign and regional economic entities on issues of innovation, entrepreneurialism and cluster growth. Clients have covered the globe from China, the EU, and the UK to the US including in his home state of California and the Bay Area/Silicon Valley. Matthew's career has spanned being a global strategy advisor, professional services firm leader, corporate operating executive, private equity and venture capital investor, and board director for high growth public and private digital economy companies. Earlier in his career, Matthew spent 21 years as a strategy consultant and advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs, boards and executive teams with McKinsey & Company, and as a practice leader with EDS/A.T. Kearney and Monitor Group where he led both firms' West Coast practices and at Booz & Company. He was also a corporate executive at Gap Inc. where he was SVP strategy and corporate development and SVP global marketing. Matthew received a B.A. (Double First) and Master's from Christ Church, Oxford, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was born in London, UK, and is now a dual US/UK citizen and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Alison Davis, and their five children. Alison Davis is co-founder of Fifth Era (www.fifthera.com). She is a global strategist, finance professional, public company board director and active investor in growth companies. For more information go to www.alisondavis.com. Alison is currently a director of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Fiserv (FISV), Unisys (UIS) and Ooma (OOMA), and is chair of the advisory board for BlockChain Capital. She is a former director of, City National Bank (CYC), Diamond Foods (DMND), First Data Corporation (FDC), Xoom (XOOM), and many private companies and was the Chairman of LECG (XPRT) until its sale in 2011. She has chaired audit, compensation, and governance committees and is a frequent speaker on corporate governance. Alison was previously the managing partner of Belvedere Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in US banks and financial services firms. Prior to this, Alison was the Chief Financial Officer of Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock), the world's largest institutional investment firm with more than $1.5 trillion of assets under management. Earlier in her career, Alison spent 14 years as a strategy consultant and advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs, boards and executive teams with McKinsey & Company, and as a practice leader with A.T. Kearney where she built and led the global Financial Services Practice. Alison is active in the community supporting non-profits and social enterprises as a board director, fundraiser and volunteer. She has been frequently named a "Most Influential Women in Business" by the San Francisco Business Times. She received a B.A. Honors and a Master's in Economics from Cambridge University in England, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business after completing the first-year at Harvard. She was born in Sheffield, UK, is now a dual US/UK citizen and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Matthew C. Le Merle, and their five children.

Reviews

"The authors have been focused on innovation for most of their working careers. This book shares the lessons they have learned as investors, advisors and board directors."Tony Hsieh, NY Times bestselling author, CEO Zappos.com
"Build Your Fortune in the Fifth Era is a practical and informative toolkit straight from the heart of Silicon Valley... a must read for anyone looking to make it in today's world!"Linda Jenkinson, Co-Founder John Paul Group, Director Air New Zealand/Massey Foundation
"Investing in young companies is a hazardous undertaking where most participants lose. This book suggests ways to avoid that fate."Michael Moritz, Partner Sequoia Capital
"People are constantly asking me questions about angel investing and venture capital. Read this book if you want to understand the capital that fuels the entrepreneurs and technology innovation changing the world."Keith Rabois, General Partner Khosla Ventures
"Build Your Fortune in the Fifth Era provides an eye-awakening description of how technology today is changing our lives and creating new opportunities for wealth creation. No one can read this book and not be left struck by the uniqueness of our time, the potential for wealth creation, and the importance of embracing change."Eric Stang, Chairman/CEO Ooma
"We are in the Fifth Era where there are exciting new ways of raising capital, and building wealth by accessing investment opportunities in new asset classes that are uncorrelated with existing choices. Fintech is transforming everything between the consumers of capital and those who seek alternative investments. This book provides a roadmap to navigate and prosper in the Fifth Era."Denise Thomas, Founder/CEO ApplePie Capital
"Today's most valuable companies are built in the spirit of entrepreneurialism and technological innovation. And much of the value creation occurs before the companies go public, which means that most investors are not participating in this unprecedented wealth creation cycle. The authors clearly and simply outline ways to engage in this new 'Fifth Era, ' from active investing and entrepreneurship to crowdfunding and passive investing."Allan Thygesen, President Americas Google, Lecturer Stanford Graduate School of Business "Build Your Fortune in the Fifth Era is a timely and important read. Alison and Matthew share their deep and broad experience to encourage broader participation in the investment opportunity that is one of the most unique, and potentially rewarding, of our lifetime."Tracey Warson, North America Private Banking Head
"This inspirational 'must read' gives you a lens into the world of start-ups and the critical and seminal role angels play. There is great risk...and greater opportunity ahead for you if you challenge yourself to learn and grow from the knowledge and expertise of the authors. Dive in...It will change your life. It has mine..."Randy Williams, Founder/CEO/Partner Keiretsu Forum/Capital