EP. 143 · 16.01.2026 · 2:07:11
THE TAO OF INNOVATION: STEVEN HOFFMAN ON BUILDING GLOBAL STARTUPS
with Steven Hoffman (Captain Hoff)
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
THE CONVERSATION
In the third episode of The DAO video podcast, Captain Hoff — Steven Hoffman, founder of global venture builder Founders Space — sits down for an open conversation bridging Silicon Valley and China. He shares how Founders Space partners with entrepreneurs across the US, Europe, and Eurasia, what separates founders who survive from those who don't, how AI is rewriting the startup playbook, and the cross-cultural mindset required to build truly global companies in 2026.
GUESTS
ON THE ROUNDTABLE
Captain Hoff — Founder & CEO, Founders Space
Known worldwide as Captain Hoff, Steven Hoffman is the founder and CEO of Founders Space, one of the world's leading startup accelerators and venture builders. A serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and Silicon Valley veteran, he has mentored hundreds of AI and deep-tech founders across the US, China, Europe, and Eurasia. He is the author of bestsellers Make Elephants Fly, Surviving a Startup, and The Five Forces, and a frequent keynote speaker on AI, innovation, and the future of entrepreneurship.
