Financial Freedom Podcast with Dr. Christopher H. Loo, MD-PhD

🎧 Startup Strategy & VC Advice with Andrew Ackerman | Entrepreneur Mindset for Founders

Oct 6, 2025

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📝 Andrew Ackerman shares startup-tested insights on building a company from scratch, getting funding (or not), and avoiding the traps that kill most startups. If you're an early-stage founder, investor, or someone googling how to get VC funding, this episode is your shortcut to startup clarity.

💬 In this conversation, Andrew—entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey—breaks down what it really takes to succeed in today’s startup landscape. You'll hear directly from someone who's invested in over 70 companies and knows the real story behind success, struggle, and scaling.

This episode answers questions and problems founders are constantly searching for:

“How do I know if my idea is good enough?”
“Do I really need VC funding or can I bootstrap?”
“Why do so many tech startups fail?”
“Is my timing right, or am I too late?”

Through honest, unfiltered advice, Andrew explains:

The true cost (and risk) of venture capital
Why most founders misunderstand the entrepreneur mindset
How to create traction before raising money
What makes a startup idea investable today
The thinking behind his startup book written like a novel—and why that matters for real founders

📘 The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey isn’t your average business book. It’s a storytelling-first guide built to be readable, relatable, and relevant to the founder journey—without all the corporate fluff.

📘 Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/4gVotCN

To connect with Andrew, visit his website: https://www.andrewbackerman.com

📌 Timestamps (24:41)

00:00 – Intro to Andrew Ackerman

01:00 – From Founder to VC: His Story

03:00 – Tech Startups vs. Small Businesses

04:30 – Is VC Funding Necessary?

06:00 – Who The Book Is For

08:00 – Storytelling vs. Boring Business Books

10:00 – Why Now? Timing & Startup Success

13:00 – How VC Expectations Have Changed

15:00 – Tokenization & Funding Access

16:45 – Future of Work, AI & Startup Jobs

18:30 – Building a Book Like a Startup

21:00 – Behind the Book Cover Design

23:00 – Where to Find the Book & Connect with Andrew

24:30 – Final Words

🏷️ Hashtags

#AndrewAckerman #StartupFunding #EntrepreneurMindset #VCAdvice #TechStartups #StartupBook #FoundersJourney

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Disclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show.

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