Ryan Hoover
Founder of Product Hunt. Investor at Weekend Fund.
Description
Ryan Hoover is a dynamic entrepreneur, investor, and self-defense advocate best known as the founder of Product Hunt, a platform that helps people discover and share the latest tech products. As the founder of Weekend Fund, Ryan has backed dozens of early-stage startups and frequently shares insights on product design and startup trends on his blog, ryanhoover.me. Beyond the tech world, Ryan is deeply passionate about personal safety and empowerment. He has created self-defense programs used by civilians, athletes, law enforcement, and military professionals. His work in this space includes instructional tools, hands-on training, and published material aimed at helping people protect themselves and those around them. A contributing writer for the book Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products, Ryan is a frequent guest on podcasts and speaks at events covering tech innovation, product development, and personal growth. Whether in tech or self-defense, Ryan’s mission is to empower people with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive and stay safe.
Suggested Questions
- What do you think the educational system should do to encourage and support recent graduates in starting their own ventures?
- What is your goal with the investments you're making through your $3 million fund?
- What is one thing that can be done in an investment meeting that is most likely to get you, Ryan Hoover, to say yes and write a check?
- How do you think the role of fashion and branding in technology will evolve as wearable computing becomes more commonplace?
- Can you share a specific example of a startup that successfully pivoted and what they did right?
- How do you believe improving the efficiency of knowledge-transfer could impact the human race?
- How do you think observing the way different age groups and demographics use technology can help in identifying new product opportunities?
- What do you believe is the "non-technical" ingredient essential for a startup's growth?
- How can an understanding of people's motivations and biases provide "super powers" to designers and product builders?
- How did you feel about the tech industry's response to the re-launch of PlayHaven's platform?
- Can you share a specific example from your experience where balancing enjoyable and necessary tasks in a startup led to a successful outcome?
- What other studies or frameworks, besides Lean Startup, have influenced your perspective on product design?
- What are some reasons you believe "no code" tools will become more prevalent in building products or MVPs?
- How do you think nostalgia in product design influences user engagement and experience?
- What do you enjoy most about the process of creating new things?
- How have "no code" tools changed the landscape for creating things on the internet compared to when you first built a website with Dreamweaver?
- What are some key considerations to keep in mind when designing the user experience for a wellness app that promotes privacy and personal growth, especially for a younger demographic?
- Can you share a specific example of how your friends in Miami provided valuable insights or connections that impacted your entrepreneurial journey in a unique way?
- How do you balance doing tasks you enjoy with the necessary tasks that you might not enjoy in a startup?
- How do you think embracing rejection and pushing forward through challenges contributes to an entrepreneur's success?
- In your experience, what are the key challenges faced by startups in the AI companion market that focus on emotional aspects, and how can they overcome them?
- What are some key metrics that companies should track when implementing a PLG strategy to measure its success?
- How do you differentiate between a founder who is open to feedback and learning versus one who is resistant to change when evaluating their ability to pivot and adapt in a dynamic market environment?
- How do you assess a founder's ability to pivot and adapt to market changes during an investment meeting?