Episode 133

full
Published on:

9th Nov 2021

133: The Keys To Launching A Start-Up With Steve Hoffman (Part 1)

One of the biggest mistakes start-ups make is sticking with the same idea that hasn’t been working for too long because they are afraid to fail. In today’s episode Steve pulls back the curtain for us and lets us in on the secrets to successful start-ups.

My Guest Steve Hoffman:

Steve founded three-venture funded and two bootstrapped start-ups, each of which is a unique tale. Steve is also the CEO of Founders Space, a global start-up accelerator, with over 50 partners in 22 countries and 50K entrepreneurs as members. Every year, he mentors hundreds of start-ups, helping them overcome their biggest challenges.​In addition, HarperCollins just published his book "Surviving A Start-up," where he delves into the hard questions, like why do most start-ups fail? And how can entrepreneurs beat the odds, overcome emotional stress, and break through both mental and market barriers.

Pivotal Moments

·       First company was a game company. Steve and his wife did it themselves. It was a rewarding profitable business. They sold over 1 million games.

·       Steve’s first venture-funded company in late 90’s was synchronizing online entertainment to on air broadcast. It was very stressful.

·       2nd venture was media company it was a online video on mobile

·       After bad experience with venture funded companies he founded Founders Space bootstrapped.

Current Challenge

Everyone has been working from home or from the road, Steve wants to continue that, so as things open up again should they open up their physical accelerator? It is a lot of work. Getting a little more money isn’t their goal. However can the clients get everything they can without coming to their physical space? This is their struggle.

Advice

For any start up:

1.     Who is your customer?

2.     Understand what value you are providing? Because there has to be a reason why people would come to you more than anyone else?

3.     Are there people who really need your product?

4.     Get recurring revenue, get a customer and never let go of that customer.

Quote:

Software ate the world

Links & Resources:

Part 2 of this episode where you hear more go to estierand.com/133-2

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About the Podcast

Create Your Own Salary (previously Business Breakthrough)
Humanizing business and businessifying humans.
We're humanizing business, and businessifying humans.

Join us as successful business owners talk about the PIVOTAL MOMENTS that got them to where they are AND what they still CURRENTLY STRUGGLE WITH.



My dream always was, and still is, to help small business owners live their dreams. I've noticed that ALL BUSINESS OWNERS STRUGGLE SOMEWHERE. Even those that look so shiny and perfect on the outside are hurting somewhere on the inside.

Many of the podcasts out there feature rags-to-riches success stories with the promise that you can do it too! Ever felt that you really can't?

That's why I've started the Business Breakthrough Podcast, FEATURING STORIES YOU CAN RELATE TO, SHARING STRUGGLES YOU CAN LEARN FROM. The show features business owners- from those just starting out to the super successful - and in addition to exploring previous TRANSFORMATIONAL BUSINESS MOMENTS, together we reach a Business Breakthrough live on air.

About your host

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Estie Starr

Estie Starr is an award-winning business consultant, exceptional marketing strategist, avid speaker, and founder of Strand Consulting, a multinational business consultancy that’s focused on helping small business owners scale their businesses to make big profits. She believes very strongly that people can build professional and profitable businesses doing what they love, and she’s here to guide them so they can bring their vision to life with a lot more ease.