Built Online Podcast Summary

Episode: Most People Don’t Start a Business — But He Made $150M Before 25 | ft. Erik Huberman
Host: Cody McGuffey
Guest: Erik Cuberman
Release Date: August 4, 2025

1. Introduction to Erik Cuberman

Erik Cuberman, the driving force behind Hawk Media, joins Cody McGuffey to delve deep into his entrepreneurial journey. From his early ventures to building a multimillion-dollar agency, Erik shares invaluable insights and experiences that aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from.

2. Early Entrepreneurship and Family Influence

Erik attributes much of his entrepreneurial spirit to his family's legacy.

[02:01] Erik Cuberman: "My grandfather ran a scrap metal yard... My dad went to work for him and then turned it into a massive waste business and got into commercial real estate."

Growing up with a father who was a CEO demystified the role of a business leader for Erik, making it more approachable. This background fostered his desire to build and run his own ventures rather than pursuing a traditional career path.

3. First Ventures and Lessons Learned

Erik's entrepreneurial journey began early, with various ventures that laid the foundation for his future success.

• Cutco Sales: During his college years, Erik honed his sales skills with Cutco, breaking sales records and even being asked to open a new office. However, a sudden opportunity led him to pivot.

  [12:24] Erik Cuberman: "It was like a real fine... I wrote the contract and did everything... I wasn't going to stick around and do this."

• Storm Drain Filtering Business: At 20, Erik co-founded a storm drain filtering business in response to new regulations in California. Despite initial success, personal decisions from a key partner almost jeopardized the business, teaching Erik the importance of reliability and crisis management.

  [08:30] Erik Cuberman: "It’s welcome to running a business. I got to run part of it."

• Subsequent Ventures: Erik continued experimenting with different businesses, including Fame Wizard, a business coaching platform for musicians, and Swag of the Month, a T-shirt subscription service. These ventures provided him with diverse experiences in marketing, customer retention, and product development.

  [14:08] Erik Cuberman: "Fame wizard was like business coaching for musicians... Swag of the Month was definitely more e-commerce based."

4. Building Hawk Media: From Inception to Success

Erik founded Hawk Media over a decade ago, transforming it into a powerhouse in the marketing industry.

• Growth Metrics: Hawk Media boasts impressive numbers, including over $3 billion in gross revenue, collaborations with nearly 6,000 brands, and a robust team of 250 full-time employees. Additionally, Erik has spearheaded 23 acquisitions of other agencies and established a second venture fund totaling $20 million.

  [16:35] Erik Cuberman: "Over 3 billion in net or gross revenue... We've got about 250 full-time people."

• Recognition and Awards: The agency has received numerous accolades, including Erik being honored as Executive of the Year by the LA Times.

  [17:04] Erik Cuberman: "I got honored with Executive of the Year by LA Times... I showed up on stage in a T-shirt and baseball hat."

• Market Focus: Unlike many agencies that target Fortune 2000 companies, Hawk Media focuses on small to medium-sized businesses. Erik believes this sector is vast and underserved, offering ample growth opportunities.

  [19:04] Erik Cuberman: "A business only focused on upmarket... has a massive market where there's 600,000 businesses starting every month in the United States."

5. Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Growth

Erik candidly discusses the hurdles faced while scaling Hawk Media, emphasizing resilience and adaptability.

• Employee Turnover and Crisis Management: An incident where a key employee abruptly left for personal reasons nearly cost the company significant clients. Erik navigated this crisis by taking immediate action and relying on his partner, Tony.

  [08:30] Erik Cuberman: "We lose those clients, we're done... 'Welcome to running a business.'"

• Maintaining Valuation Amid Market Shifts: Despite market fluctuations, Hawk Media has maintained its valuation between $100 to $150 million, showcasing stability and consistent performance.

  [38:27] Erik Cuberman: "We were valued at 150 million at the end of 2021... We've maintained that valuation despite market shifts."

• Leadership and Delegation: Erik recognizes the importance of building a strong leadership team to ensure the company's longevity and reduce burnout.

  [22:04] Erik Cuberman: "Building a business that I could do forever... Hire a CEO and don't care about the outcome anymore."

6. Business Philosophy and Entrepreneurial Advice

Erik shares his core beliefs and offers guidance to budding entrepreneurs.

• Invest in the Founder’s Ambition: Whether advising investors or others, Erik emphasizes the importance of a founder’s ambition.

  [25:25] Erik Cuberman: "Invest in the ambition of the founder... How bad do you want it?"

• Work Ethic and Scalability: Success demands relentless hard work and smart strategies. Erik underscores that building a substantial business requires substantial effort.

  [28:14] Erik Cuberman: "You have to work your absolute ass off and you've got to be smarter, work smart too."

• Navigating Stress and Burnout: Acknowledging the mental toll of entrepreneurship, Erik advises finding joy in the journey and building systems that prevent burnout.

  [22:23] Erik Cuberman: "Fight the burnout by making the business enjoyable... Gamify it and see what we can do."

• Self-Awareness and Continuous Improvement: Erik highlights the necessity of being self-aware and open to feedback to grow both personally and professionally.

  [42:36] Erik Cuberman: "I'm intense, which is not as self-aware as I want to be... Being self-aware is a blind spot I continue to try."

7. Personal Insights and Character Traits

Erik reflects on how others perceive him and his approach to leadership.

• Reputation for Integrity: Feedback consistently describes Erik as a hardworking, trustworthy, and fair individual.

  [39:56] Erik Cuberman: "I'm always fair... If a judge was sitting here, what would they say? I'll give you the right thing."

• Balancing Leadership and Approachability: Despite his demanding role, Erik strives to remain approachable and genuine, minimizing the distance typically created by positional power.

  [39:56] Erik Cuberman: "I do not take myself that seriously... It's about the desire to do it rather than the ability."

• Handling Criticism and Maintaining Humility: Erik acknowledges his blind spots and remains open to criticism, understanding its role in personal growth.

  [42:36] Erik Cuberman: "I don't take myself that seriously... I'm not cocky and I forget people look at me differently."

8. Rapid Fire Questions

Erik shares quick insights through a series of rapid questions.

• Favorite Business Book:

  [31:29] Erik Cuberman: Appetite for Self Destruction by Steve Knopper.

• One Thing He Wishes He Knew Before Starting:

  [32:05] Erik Cuberman: "The job's never done... It's about the journey."

• Worst Business Advice Received: Erik recounts advice against building an agency without long-term contracts, which he defied to establish a flexible, client-focused model.

  [36:58] Erik Cuberman: "They said, 'That's never going to work,' but it created a different type of agency where we find ways to retain our clients."

• Valuation of Hawk Media:

  [38:35] Erik Cuberman: "Between 100 and 150 million... maintained since 2021 despite market shifts."

• Character Traits According to Others: Erik identifies as a hustler, high integrity, trustworthy, and fair, while acknowledging his intensity and need for greater self-awareness.

  [42:36] Erik Cuberman: "I'm a driver, I'm a grinder... I'm always on and moving."

• Definition of a Creator: While Erik doesn't label himself as a creator, he recognizes that his role involves significant content creation to support his business.

  [46:57] Erik Cuberman: "We create a lot of content that helps drive the marketing agency."

• Who Should Be a Business Owner: Those driven by a genuine desire to build and manage a business, not merely for financial gain.

  [48:08] Erik Cuberman: "Someone that wants it to their core for the sake of doing it... 99% of people won't like it."

9. Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Erik emphasizes the importance of passion in entrepreneurship and encourages individuals to experience the realities of running a business before committing.

[49:31] Erik Cuberman: "99% of people won't like it... You have to thrive in that and enjoy it, or you're going to be miserable in life."

For those interested in Hawk Media's services or seeking advice, Erik can be reached through hawkmedia.com or via his social handle @EricCuberman.

Key Takeaways

• Family Legacy: Erik's entrepreneurial mindset was deeply influenced by his family's business background.
• Resilience: Overcoming challenges, such as sudden employee departures, is crucial for business sustainability.
• Market Focus: Targeting small to medium-sized businesses offers vast growth potential compared to solely focusing on large corporations.
• Work Ethic: Success requires relentless hard work, smart strategies, and adaptability.
• Self-Awareness: Continuous personal growth and openness to feedback enhance leadership effectiveness.
• Passion-Driven: Genuine passion for the entrepreneurial journey is essential to withstand the inherent stresses and challenges.

This episode offers a comprehensive look into Erik Cuberman's journey, blending personal anecdotes with actionable business strategies. Aspiring entrepreneurs can draw inspiration from his experiences, emphasizing the importance of resilience, adaptability, and a strong work ethic in building a successful business.