Why This Founder Left a $160M Startup to Fix Supply Chains with AI | Cedrik Hoffmann

Why This Founder Left a $160M Startup to Fix Supply Chains with AICedrik Hoffmann is the co-founder & CEO of Ameeba, a startup bringing AI-powered intelligence to supply chain operations. Before that, he scaled and exited Valoreo — a $160M VC-backed roll-up of consumer brands across Latin America.In this conversation, Cedrik shares the raw truth of leaving high-paid jobs, building in overlooked industries, and how personal loss and failure shaped his founder mindset. From hustling trade shows in Taiwan with no product, to raising millions and leading hundreds — this is a story of grit, reinvention, and staying obsessed with the problem.—Chapters00:00 – The only career where failure is rewarded01:00 – Cedrik’s early life and unlikely path to Goldman Sachs03:00 – Realizing banking wasn’t the dream04:40 – The turning point: advice from his wife06:00 – Going all in: no business, no plan, just hustle08:00 – Meeting Jack and taking over a Taiwanese factory11:00 – How a cold call from old friends led to Valoreo13:00 – Raising $160M and scaling across Latin America15:30 – Why fundraising isn’t the milestone17:00 – The truth about exit returns and dilution18:50 – The origin of Ameeba and building the tool he wished he had21:00 – AI in supply chains: hype vs real problems23:30 – How Cedrik found the right co-founder26:00 – Choosing co-founders like life partners29:00 – Why co-developing with customers worked32:00 – What most B2B founders get wrong about product34:00 – The zombie tech stack inside global supply chains36:00 – How geopolitics is reshaping where goods are made38:00 – Nearshoring, cost misconceptions, and supply chain as a brand story42:00 – Competing with Shein and surviving retail disruption44:00 – Why founders need to understand their supply chain48:00 – Balancing fatherhood and founder life52:00 – Cedrik’s biggest failure — and what he learned54:00 – Luck vs talent vs grit56:00 – Where to find Cedrik online—Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with the founders behind real businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.