Podcast 939: Surviving a Startup with Steven S. Hoffman

My guest for this podcast is Steven S. Hoffman or more likely to known as Captain Hoff and this is not the first time I am interviewing him for the show. We have him on the show not too long ago for Podcast #918 - The Five Forces That Change Everything: How Technology is Shaping Our Future and I invited him back for his other book entitled Surviving a Startup: Practical Strategies for Starting a Business, Overcoming Obstacles, and Coming Out on Top which is very intriguing for me. Steven is the CEO of Founders Space which is a global innovation hub for entrepreneurs, corporations, and investors, with over 50 partners in 22 countries. Moreover, he has served on the Board of Governors of the New Media Council, was the Founder and Chairman of Producers Guild Silicon Valley Chapter, and was a founding member of the Academy of Television Interactive Media Group. In Surviving a Startup, Hoffman brings readers on a wild ride, sharing with them the tumultuous journey of launching a venture-funded startup and revealing what it takes to make it. This book prepares entrepreneurs to avoid mistakes, overcome obstacles, and master the skills necessary to make the right choices along their path to success. If you are interested on learning more about Steven S. Hoffman, his company and books, click here to visit his website. I hope you enjoy this engaging interview with Captain Hoff. Thank you for listening! THE BOOK The fact is that most new startups fail. The path to success is filled with pitfalls, wrong turns, and obstacles. Decisions along the way can make or bankrupt a small company. Every entrepreneur must face this harsh reality and learn to master it if they hope to survive and wind up on top. The book takes you through the nuts and bolts and sweat and tears of running a real business. It’s about dealing with dysfunctional teams, hitting dead ends, messing up half the time, losing money and self-confidence, and then moving forward. It’s about what it’s actually like to run a startup. It’s also about the process and planning. Hoffman shows you exactly what he learned running his own startups and coaching others. He has mentored hundreds of founders, collaborated with some of the most brilliant minds in the world, and come to understand what it takes to break through. THE AUTHOR Steve Hoffman (Captain Hoff) is the Chairman & CEO of Founders Space, a global innovation hub for entrepreneurs, corporations, and investors, with over 50 partners in 22 countries. Hoffman is also a venture investor, founder of three venture-backed and two bootstrapped startups, and author of several award-winning books. These include “Make Elephants Fly” (Hachette), “Surviving a Startup” (HarperCollins), and “The Five Forces” (BenBella). In addition, Hoffman served on the Board of Governors of the New Media Council, was the founder and Chairman of the Producers Guild Silicon Valley Chapter, and was a founding member of the Academy of Television’s Interactive Media Group.

You may also refer to the transcripts below for the full transciption (not edited) of the interview.