In this episode, I’m joined by Doug Hardman, a lifelong entrepreneur whose journey reveals the grit, curiosity, and self-awareness it takes to build and rebuild a venture-backed business from the ground up. Now, I should mention that I tend to avoid the venture-backed tech founder stories on this show. I’ve long felt that these stories can sometimes overshadow the more relatable stories of everyday entrepreneurs. This conversation was different.
I first met Doug nearly 20 years ago when he and his brother were just getting started with SparkBase, a fintech company they launched to disrupt the store value and gift card industry. Even then, Doug impressed me with his technical chops, relentless energy, and instinct for solving problems. In this conversation, we revisit that journey from his early days selling candy as a kid and learning to code to the intense highs and lows of startup life.
Doug opens up about what it means to learn by doing, why surrounding yourself with smart people matters, and how hubris, especially when success comes quickly, can cloud your judgment and steer you off course. This is a story about ambition, resilience, and the hard-earned humility that only comes from being knocked down and choosing to get back up. Doug’s insights are raw, real, and packed with lessons for anyone building something in uncertain terrain. Let’s get into it.