"World of DaaS" We the Builders Podcast l From LiveRamp ($RAMP) to NQB8: Auren Hoffman’s Founder Journey
16 snips
Dec 30, 2025 
In this episode, Auren Hoffman, a prolific founder and investor in data businesses, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including growing LiveRamp to a $300M exit. He discusses the importance of curiosity over optimization when choosing ideas, the balance between 'who you know' and 'what you know' in venture capital, and the growing significance of community in the AI era. Auren also touches on the challenges of hiring exceptional talent and shares his thoughts on moonshot thinking and the books that have influenced him.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Data As A Valuable Commodity
- Data became a central valuable commodity as companies grew more data-oriented and easier to buy.
- AI labs and big tech now buy large datasets, but the number of steady buyers remains limited.
College Hustle: Building A Consulting Business
- Auren ran an internet consulting company to pay for his last year of college after misbudgeting.
- That early venture grew enough to cover tuition and launch other opportunities.
Give Talent Stretch Assignments
- Give high-potential people responsibilities that increase their chance of failure to accelerate growth.
- Aim for roughly one-third to two-thirds chance of failure to maximize learning and growth.
