Auren Hoffman has always built for the long term. While others chased valuations, he laid the groundwork for how modern businesses access and activate data. Now, as the founder and CEO of SafeGraph, he’s doing it again — this time by mapping the physical world with data.
Hoffman is best known for founding LiveRamp, the data onboarding company acquired by Acxiom for $310 million in 2014. But SafeGraph, his current project, is attracting attention as the company quietly powers some of the world’s most sophisticated location-based applications.
As seen in Millionaire MNL, Hoffman isn’t just a founder. He’s an architect of the modern data stack — and he’s not done yet.
From startup exits to data world dominance
Before 30, Hoffman had already founded and sold three startups: Kyber Systems, BridgePath, and GetRelevant. But it was LiveRamp that positioned him as a key figure in the data economy. LiveRamp helped brands and advertisers connect offline data with digital user profiles, becoming a cornerstone of modern marketing infrastructure.
Following LiveRamp’s acquisition, Hoffman could have stepped away. Instead, he launched SafeGraph in 2016 with a mission to democratize access to high-quality geospatial data. That includes everything from store locations and building footprints to foot traffic patterns.
In a world increasingly powered by maps, machine learning, and movement data, SafeGraph isn’t flashy — it’s essential.
Why SafeGraph matters in a post-cookie world
As privacy laws tighten and third-party cookies phase out, access to real-world movement data has become increasingly valuable. SafeGraph provides the infrastructure that allows companies to understand where people go, how they move, and what physical spaces mean in a digital context.
From logistics and retail to AI and public policy, SafeGraph’s clients use its data to improve everything from urban planning to supply chain forecasting. Hoffman’s vision is simple: in a fragmented world, data should be the layer that connects physical behavior with digital insight.
And he’s built SafeGraph to be that connective tissue — clean, precise, and open.
Building influence behind the scenes
Hoffman’s impact goes beyond founding companies. He’s an active angel investor, with over 120 portfolio companies, including Superhuman, Carta, Airbyte, Clearbit, and Thumbtack. Through his role as General Partner at Flex Capital, he backs founders building technical tools that support long-term infrastructure — the kind of projects that quietly run everything.
He also co-founded the Dialog Retreat with Peter Thiel, a private gathering known for attracting policy thinkers, scientists, and entrepreneurs to discuss foundational ideas.
If Hoffman seems unusually interested in ideas that don’t trend, that’s the point. His podcast, World of DaaS, explores long-view thinking in data, technology, and governance — with guests like Balaji Srinivasan and Anne Wojcicki offering uncommon insight into where the world is heading.
Why Auren Hoffman’s career keeps accelerating
Unlike many serial entrepreneurs, Hoffman hasn’t pivoted away from his core passion. His throughline is clear: he builds platforms that help others access data more effectively, then uses his experience to advise, invest, and educate.
He writes regularly on his blog, Summation, covering topics like decision-making, venture capital, and the future of software. His style blends optimism with rigorous analysis — a reflection of how he builds.
In a startup world driven by noise, Hoffman remains a signal.
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