This interview first appeared in my newsletter here. Sign up to be the first to read all my interviews here.

Ryan Hoover is the founder and CEO of Product Hunt — the site where anyone can launch and discover new products. He started it as a side project back in 2013 before selling to AngelList three years later for a reported $20 million. Following the sale, Ryan started Weekend Fund in order to invest in early stage startups.

In this interview, we revisit his childhood, how Ryan got into tech, and how being curious has led him here today.

Here’s his story:

Newnham: Can you tell me about your background? What were you like growing up?

Hoover: I grew up in Eugene, Oregon and for those who don’t know, Eugene is a college town. The University of Oregon is there so a lot of the culture and social activity revolves around the school and sports.

I grew up in a middle class family. My parents are entrepreneurs — my dad, specifically, has been starting companies since his mid-twenties, in all kinds of different industries. He always had this saying that stuck with me which was: “Find a need and fill it.” It is a very simple saying but it’s an interesting way to frame entrepreneurship. It’s all about finding some sort of need whether it’s super obvious like, here’s a business that has a very specific problem even to psychological needs like loneliness… so, people are lonely so how do you solve loneliness?

My father was always encouraging entrepreneurial projects. I grew up with him saying, “Do yard work Ryan and we’ll give you an allowance.” Basic, normal kid stuff where you’re mowing lawns, doing household chores and then doing more creative things.

#startup #entrepreneurship #startup-lessons #technology #founders #security